LEARNING THE COMMON RULE Week 5 – Habits of Purpose for Our Life in Christ
Yes, we are starting week 5 of our common rule. We’ve been working to understand the use of spiritual disciplines in our life in Christ. Each week we have been working to drive our
understanding and practice a little deeper. We continue that process today. Early on, we learned that old habits can be difficult to break. New ones form slowly. It takes time and repetition.
Here are our daily practices: an hour away from media and phones, at least one shared meal, scripture before phone or media, and prayer to punctuate our day.
Monday, February 1– Day 29 - Morning Deuteronomy 6:6-9
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your
children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your
foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates
Now, as we are understanding the use of practices, we remember that God commanded Israel to take his commands, the word given to his people, and to make this word part of their lives in their homes. Think about it for a moment. How were they to keep the faith alive from generation to generation? At the time, God’s presence was located in a tent, the tabernacle, that was in their midst. But they didn’t have weekly worship services as we think about them today. Spiritual life largely sprang from life at home. Faith grew in the lives of children as their parents intertwined the word of God into everyday family activities. As they took walks, sat at meals or went about their daily business, the Lord’s presence was constantly to be acknowledged. How could that happen? They talked about the Lord. They explained the word of God, the law of God. They told stories about their redemption and the mighty acts of God. They did this with practices similar to the ones in our common rule. Their goals were first for the identity of their children to be formed around the knowledge of the Lord. This had been the command of the Lord to Abraham from the very beginning: For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just… Genesis 18:19 The Lord wanted his people to see themselves as his, to see their very identity as people rooted in him and his promises. Again, this would happen if they were always talking about the Lord, always drawing a line from why they did what they did, and the word of the Lord. So, first, they wanted to see this identity formation directed to God. Second, they wanted to remember the Lord, and so they used these life patterns to cultivate life-long memories about the Lord and all he had done for them. You see, it was not enough to receive the word of the Lord. They needed to learn how to pass it across the generations. This remains our challenge today. How can we ensure that the faith will be alive 200, 500, a thousand years from now, if Jesus has not returned? It will likely be through not just a set of ideas of the faith. It will be through practices animated by living in faith in Jesus Christ. For the Jewish people, they have the high holy days, the moments when they remember the mighty works of God on their behalf. As followers of Jesus, we have the church year, but few of us follow or use it. How might you use the power of celebration to remember the grace of Jesus? How can you use prayer and daily worship to pass on the faith to the next generation? Let’s pray:
Faithful Father, you are always faithful to remember your covenant of love. Teach us how to remember the Lord’s death until he comes. Remind us each day that we belong to you, that our identity springs for who you are and your love for us. For we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. Monday, February 1– Day 29 - Midday prayer
Let us pray:
Lord God, inscribe your truth on my heart, I pray. Make your word indelible through this time I am spending with you each day. Cause your word to dwell in my heart, cemented there by your love demonstrated through the cross of Jesus. For I pray in his name. Amen.
Monday, February 1– Day 29 - Evening prayer
Here is our evening prayer. God asked his people to put his word on the doorposts of their homes and gates. Consider where you can put scripture to remind you of your identity in Christ. Let us pray:
Lord God, remind me that because of Jesus, you have made us a people. We are united to each other by the cross. Teach us how to rejoice when our sisters and brothers rejoice, and how to mourn when they mourn. Give us the gift of entering in and sharing life together. This evening I pray for my family and friends, all those I love and that are mine. I bring them to you and
intercede on the behalf of each. In the name of Jesus, Amen. Tuesday, February 2- Day 30 - Morning
As we get started with our morning prayer and scripture, we do a rapid review of our weekly disciplines. First, there is taking a Sabbath, then spending at least an hour with a friend sharing life together. Third there is limiting your viewing and being careful what you watch, and finally, fasting.
Here is our scripture for today: Deuteronomy 26:4-7
The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the LORD your God. 5 Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: “My father was a
wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. 6 But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us
suffer, subjecting us to harsh labor. 7 Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our ancestors,
and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression.
These words were spoken by Moses, instructing the people how to approach God when they brought their tithes and offerings to present in worship. Notice what the people are instructed to do. They are to tell their story, going back to Abraham, and then remembering their bondage in Egypt. We see a number of key truths. We are always bringing our story of salvation into worship, sharing and resharing it before God. Why does God command his people to do this? The Lord desires his people to always live in the light of their redemption, to remember where they came from and how God brought them out. Actually, the festivals of worship the Lord commanded the people to celebrate were the ways they could remain connected to their story. Perhaps you have returned to the neighborhood where you lived in childhood, and this reminded you where you came from and how you have gotten where you are now in life. Worship for the people of God always included this. God’s people were always a storytelling people. Read scripture and you will find it to be the telling of stories all linked together, links in a chain held together by the Lord himself, the one weaving the great story of redemption in the lives of his people. So, we keep our faith alive by telling stories, remembering God’s work of redemption. Now, of course, this begs the question. Have you looked at your life as a story? Have you seen the scenes, the episodes, the chapters and where God has taken your personal story? Looking back on growing up, it surprised me that my own parents never really told me their story. I remember my mother, after her mother died, lamenting that there was so much she didn’t know about her mother’s story. We have amazing software for helping us track down relatives in our family trees, but we know so little of their stories. For that reason, our own stories are like plants meant to grow but cut off from the nourishment of family history where so much of their meaning lies. Like God commanded Israel, we want to get to the place where we come before God, knowing well our story because it too is a story of redemption. Second, we want to keep our stories alive. We do this by
remembering them, but also by sharing them with those we trust, our friends, our children, with those connected to our story in a meaningful way. You can use that planned time with a friend each week to ask him or her to tell you their story. Where did they come from? How has God worked in their lives? How did God redeem them and set them on their feet? Then as that person asks you, you can share your story with them. You can say, “My father was a wandering
Let us pray:
Faithful Father, it is true. We live our lives by story. You have given me a story to tell that reminds me I am loved and I am yours. It also points other people to you and your glory. Lord, help us to remember our stories because they tell of your wonders and your goodness. My story leads me to worship you. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Tuesday, February 2- Day 30 - Midday prayer Let us pray:
Abba Father, your truth tells us we are not living through endless cycles of meaningless history, but that history has a purpose and a destination. Help me to remember today that you are
working out your saving purposes through the events in our world, and you will bring all things to fulfillment, every promise of yours, to completion in Christ Jesus. We pray in his name. Amen. Tuesday, February 2- Day 30 - Evening prayer
Let us pray together:
Lord God, as I end another day with you, help me to reflect on your goodness and grace that you extend to me. Thank you for the gifts of food, and friendship, and of your creation. Thank you for your glory, that your glory fills the universe, and for creating me to have fellowship with you. I worship you and pray in your name. Amen.
Wednesday, February 3- Day 31 - Morning
One of the challenges of our common rule has been limiting our exposure to media. Americans watch about five hours of TV a day. It’s tough to change a habit that is so deeply ingrained. In 1985, Neil Postman published his book entitled: Amusing Ourselves to Death, explaining how the entertainment industry was reshaping America. Already, presidents were being elected not on the basis of their ideas and plans for American life, but on the appeal of their TV appearances. He could see the corrosive power of what we are viewing, and even how TV had become the plug-in drug, zoning us out for hours each evening after work. Now I want to look at our scripture reading for today:
Genesis 12:1-2
The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to
the land I will show you. 2 “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.
Notice that the Lord’s first command to Abram was to leave home. In those days, this was a very bold move. Your security and livelihood would be found in connection with your family and your people. Why would God ask him to do this? God asked him to cut ties to his family and, in a sense, to start a new life freed from the influences of those around him. God wanted Abram for himself. God wanted to be the chief influence in Abram and Sarah’s life. Now back to Postman’s book. He was trying to alert America to the subtle but powerful influence of a new way of life that had taken root in America. The nation was being reshaped by the power of a popular media. I think in many ways he was prophetic, and this is what we have seen happen across American life. Everything from news to government, and even church worship services, have been shaped by the power entertainment. So, how can our disciplines that are part of the common rule help us? First, we can see that our hearts and minds need reshaping.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. -Romans 12:2
Scripture says that nothing less than the transformation of our minds will do. This is how we come to understand and know what God’s will is in a world pulling us in the other direction. Our hearts and minds need to be reshaped by the word of God and by healthy worship practices that form us spiritually. Now, God did this in Abraham’s life by having him leave home. This is the only way God could sever him from the shaping influences of his pagan family and culture. But, how can we accomplish this? Likely, it will happen as we push away from entertainment and become
formed by God through his word and prayer. This is one of the major reasons why we have begun this year with the common rule and a reason you may consider continuing the rule after our 40 days are up. I hope during these days you hear the still small voice of God calling you to himself, that you might come to know what it means to be his. Of course, we will not cease to live in the world, but we can make every effort to avoid being shaped by it. How can you limit your exposure to media and entertainment and increase your exposure to God’s word?
Let’s pray:
Lord, it happens so subtly that likely I cannot see it. I know that the world wants to shape me and form me. I pray that you use your word to form me to the image of Jesus. Thank you for your faithful love that attends me at all times. I pray with gratitude in the name of Jesus. Amen. Wednesday, February 3- Day 31 - Midday prayer
Let’s pray together:
Gracious Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, open my eyes to your presence today. Open to me the way of life that I might walk in it. I ask for wisdom to know how to love the people you have placed around me. Teach me how to look not only to my own interests, but also to the interests of others. I pray in your name. Amen.
Wednesday, February 3- Day 31 - Evening prayer
This evening, before you pray, reflect on your day. Remember what filled your day and the people you spent time with in person, online or on the phone.
Let us pray:
Abba Father, I bring before you those people you swept into my life today. Use their presence to remind me that I am not alone. Help me to see that you often extend your gifts of grace through them and their lives. Help me to see the beautiful fabric of friendships that support me and the other people around me. Give to me, I pray, a deep gratitude for each person. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Thursday, February 4- Day 32 - Morning
One of the amazing beauties of south Florida is our plant life. The heat and humidity make every yard something like a greenhouse. One of the features I have noticed when passing Fairchild Tropical Gardens is a series of trellises. A trellis is a scaffolding often made of wood or plastic, erected to allow plants to climb. It provides a structure on which they can grow and flourish. This really is the purpose of our daily habits. They provide the structure to open the way for spiritual growth and spiritual formation. They are also meant to support each other. How so?
Our learning of scripture lends our prayers a new language with which to approach God and enjoy God. Our spiritual friendships open the way for a deeper understanding of scripture as our brothers and sister share with us their insights into the word. You get the idea. That leads to our scripture passage for today:
1 John 1:1-3
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of
life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the
eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen
and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Here is John’s introduction to his first letter. Notice that he shares the gospel message from his own experience, from what he has seen and touched. Interestingly enough, he says very little about the life of Jesus in his letter. There is no mention of the parables or miracles of Jesus, nothing about Jesus’ earthly ministry. Yes, there is much teaching here on love, forgiveness, the world, and the atonement. He does not tell us about a single incident in the life of Jesus. Why not? John walked with Jesus and has quite a story to tell. Indeed, he wrote an entire gospel
account. But something else is happening here. John has such a present and active experience of Christ; this is what he wants to share with us. Now, we would love to hear more about what Jesus did during his earthly ministry, but John sees Jesus alive and at work right then and there. This is more present and real and important than sharing the old stories. I wonder if we believe this today. Do we believe God is working now right here among us? I hope we do because scripture teaches us that God is present and active in the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is at work in you and in your life. This is what we share as we come together. This is the value of our spiritual friendships and why we plan time with friends into each week. We do as John does here. Let me tell you what I have seen with my own eyes, and what I have
experienced. By sharing our experience of the presence of God we help to encourage each other and sustain each other in the faith. I have seen amazing answers to prayer in the last few weeks. I can see and touch these works of God. They are a real testimony to the presence of God and the power of the gospel. Over the years, I have heard many people question whether God is active in our world. Sometimes people wonder if there is a God at all. Walk with him for a while and you will see him working, you will know he is present and that the gospel is the power of God to change human hearts and to restore us to sanity. This is what we share with each other when we spend time with our spiritual friends. How are you using the time you are sharing with others? Are you asking them how they see God at work in their lives? Are you sharing God’s mighty works with them? This is one critical way we can make the most of our times with friends. Let us pray:
Our heavenly Father, forgive me from thinking that you are not working today, that perhaps you were at work during the time of Jesus, but today you have fallen silent. Reveal to me your presence in the course of this day. Also, encourage me with the stories of your mighty works in the lives of others. For I pray in your name. Amen.
Thursday, February 4- Day 32 - Midday prayer
Let’s remember this week to set time aside to be with a friend. Look for an opportunity to ask them how they have seen God present and working in his/her life.
Let’s pray together:
Faithful Father, we know that your ways are higher than our ways, and your thoughts so much higher than our own. We also know that, though you fill the universe, you are also with me, present in our lives. We marvel at your glory and thank you that you care for us. You know when we stand and when we lie down. You are familiar with all of our ways. Thank you for revealing yourself to us in Jesus. Make yourself known to me today. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. Thursday, February 4- Day 32 - Evening prayer
Have you had a day fasting this week? It is not too late to plan that time. Fasts are even more helpful when we set aside additional time to pray.
Let us pray:
Lord, this time of COVID-19 feels like it is dragging on. We know that a thousand years are like a day to you, but these days feel long for us. Assure us of your good plan for humanity, and provide us with your joy for as many more days that lie ahead. Help me this evening to rest in you, not because I have everything figured out, but because I trust in you. Amen.
Friday, February 5- Day 33 - Morning
We will finish this week and start next week by learning a simple process for enjoying fellowship with God. For years, this was a mystery to me. How does one spend time with God? How can we draw close to God? The progress utilizes the word of God and depends on the Spirit of God. Often the metaphor of climbing a mountain is used to speak about coming into the presence of the Lord. Here is our scripture for today:
Psalm 24:3-6
Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD?
4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.
5 They will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God their Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.
Think of those encounters God’s people have had with him on mountains. Moses met the Lord on a mountain, and the Lord gave him the Law. The Lord also revealed his glory to Moses on top of a mountain. Add to this, the temple was built on a mountain and became the place where the Lord communed with his people. And, Jesus took his disciples up a mountain and was there
transfigured before them. There they saw the glory of Jesus. So, the progress up the mountain has often been used to understand the progress of prayer. Now when we think about climbing very high mountains, we climb in what are called stages. We begin with the first stage that ends at basecamp one and so on. There we may stay for a while and adjust to the attitude before going further up. So, the progress is from one stage to the next until you reach the summit. This is a good metaphor for thinking about our communion with God. So yes, there are also stages to ascending the hill of the Lord. Each of these stages draws us more deeply into the word of God. The first and most basic stage is reading the word. This requires us to really listen to what God is speaking to us. How do we do that? Here is a slow, gentle reading of Scripture. Repeating the words, looking for things not seen, appreciated, or enjoyed before. Maybe you have noticed this during our common rule. You have read a scripture many times, but then one day as you are reading it again, you see something you have never noticed before. You are surprised to
discover this because you can’t imagine that you did not notice this before. It helps me to record these new insights so that I do not forget them. These moments remind you that there are deep riches to God’s word and that God is always revealing himself and also his truth in surprising ways. That’s what you want to do. You want to taste the truth as God shows it to you. This
hearing and listening connects us to the most basic form of prayer. You use your words to speak with God. This is vocal prayer. Your words may be words of thanksgiving, of praise, of
repentance, or of request. In the most basic sense, this prayer orients our attention to God. I find it helpful to go to a place where I can pray aloud and also read the scripture aloud. You may find that praying silently is just fine for you. But we begin with God’s word, and then whether praying aloud or silently, we use words to speak with God. That is the first stage of our journey up the mountain. Tomorrow, we leave basecamp one and move up the second stage.
Let us pray:
Abba Father, you have given us words that the distance between us might be bridged. You speak your words in scripture that we might know you and your purposes. We use our words to praise and thank you, to seek your help and forgiveness. Father, thank you for opening the way for us to come to you freely through Jesus. We pray together in his name. Amen.
Friday, February 5- Day 33 - Midday prayer
For a few years, I spent time writing out my prayers. The idea in doing so was to think about how I was approaching God, and to learn to enjoy God even more. You may pray the prayers we share together here in the podcast or you may wish to write your own. Whatever is the case, we want to have a conversation with God.
Let us pray:
Lord God, we are tempted to think if we say the right words or commit enough time to prayer then you will hear us. Show us that you are always with us, and that you know all things. Remind us that more than anything you desire fellowship. Show us that is what this time is for. Remind us that we have nothing to prove and nothing to achieve, but we have you to enjoy. For we pray in your name. Amen.
Friday, February 5- Day 33 - Evening prayer Let us pray together:
Lord God, you word says that in Jesus we are already seated in the heavenly places. You tell us that you have finished your work in him. But we often feel stuck in patterns of life and behavior that we cannot easily change. Cause your word and your Holy Spirit to work in us during these days to lead us to deep fellowship with you. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Saturday, February 6- Day 34 - Morning
Ok, yesterday we started climbing the mountain, ascending the hill of the Lord through prayer and the word of God. Today, we take the next step. Perhaps, many of us have never left
basecamp one. We think of prayer only as vocal, the use of words. We say our prayers. This was the case for me for many years. That didn’t change until I was taught about meditation. Now, meditation is greatly misunderstood. It is not about checking out or disconnecting your mind. It really is finding your way to a deeper connection, a deeper engagement. You see, we often think God loves us because we are doing things for him, prayer, worship and reading the word. But we need to enjoy God apart from what we feel we are doing for God. It is here when we begin to realize that he really loves us. In a sense, we stop doing and begin to enjoy God.
Here’s our scripture then I will explain: Psalm 46:8-11
Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes
wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Did you hear that phase, “Be still and know that I am God”? How can we do that? In short,
meditation is the place to begin. Now, again the goal is not to empty your mind, but to focus even more closely on scripture. How can you do this? First, take a moment to quiet yourself and your heart. During this time, ask God to guide your thoughts and your imagination by the power of his Holy Spirit to bring his word to life for you. Let God know that you want to see Jesus and to
encounter him personally. To know his presence. Then take a passage from one of the gospels, a passage that talks about Jesus healing someone, perhaps. Read this passage through slowly a few times, paying attention to the details so that you get in mind what is happening. Then,
meditate on that passage. Imagine yourself there in that time and place with Jesus. Place yourself in the scene and make yourself attentive to Jesus. Think about; How do the words of Jesus sound? What is the look on his face when Jesus touches the person that is sick? Where do you see yourself in that scene? What is the day like? Is it sunny or overcast? Is it hot or cool? Place yourself there in that scene. Don’t try and analyze what happens, just concentrate on being present with Jesus. We want Jesus to become as real as possible to you as you turn your
attention to him. Spend three to five minutes there with Jesus in that moment. Movies try to bring this kind of connection to us. They try to relate scenes with such reality that we feel we have been there. We have shared the experience. This is the purpose of scripture and prayer. This is how meditation helps us. We do not simply want to know the words of scripture. That is good. But we want to know Jesus. We want to be still and know that he is God. I have spent many hours meditating on the actions of Jesus. At one time, I set out to meditate on every scene with Jesus from the gospels. Because I want to know Jesus. This is at the heart of prayer and the ascent up the mountain. Now, if you have never done this, it may feel strange at first, but I want you to come to know Jesus and experience his presence in your life.
Now our text for today is the call to come and see what the Lord has done. How will we do that so many years after those words were written? How can we know that the Lord almighty is with us, and that the God of Jacob is our fortress? Yes, we will see this as well through meditation on the word of God. You will find that God opens the way for us in our stillness to know him. We think that God is accessible to us in our busyness, but in truth it is in our stillness that we find deep fellowship with God. Now, of course, this takes time. We also need the clear witness of scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the process. We will pick up our journey on Monday.
Let us pray:
Lord God, we know what it means to probe more deeply in a conversation with a friend. We want to know you. You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. Amen.
Saturday, February 6- Day 34 - Midday prayer Let us pray:
Almighty God, thank you that you invite me to come to you. I rejoice that you do not place heavy burdens on me, but instead Jesus has come to remove the load, and to give me rest. Teach me how to rest in you even when I am working, how to set aside time to be with you even when I feel I am busy. I ask for your peace today. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Saturday, February 6- Day 34 - Evening prayer
As we come to the end of the week, we remember our common rule. Our weekly habits are: carefully chosen media, time with a friend, a day of fasting, and taking a Sabbath. You have come a long way. Five weeks of the common rule. Hopefully, you are seeing the benefits of your new pattern of habits.
Let us pray:
Gracious and loving Father, I pray for those that surround me with support and love. Keep them safe in your care. Provide what they need each day, and teach me to love even as Jesus has loved me. Thank you for access to you in prayer, and for Jesus, the one that has opened the way for me to come to you. I pray in your holy name. Amen.