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November 2, 2026October 31, 2026

The Limits of Ministry

Links for today’s readings:

Nov 2 Read: Ezekiel 33 Listen: (6:03) Read: 1 Timothy 5 Listen: (3:22)

Scripture Focus: Ezekiel 33.30-32

30 “As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.’ 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.

Reflection: The Limits of Ministry

By John Tillman

Ezekiel ministered during a drastic change in Jewish worship. Since the exodus, Jews had never been without the ministry of the priests at the tabernacle or the temple. With the sacrificial system dismantled, the gathering of God’s people to hear the teaching of priests and prophets like Ezekiel was all that was left of their worship practices.

Ezekiel was faithful but there are limits to what a minister of God can accomplish. Pastors can’t control whether people listen or have faith or obey.

There is a sense sometimes among ministers that failures of culture, failures of the body of Christ, and failures of communities are somehow all on them.

“If I just preached the gospel better…”

“If I just sang about God’s grace more beautifully…”

“If I just refuted arguments more compellingly…”

There is also, at times, dissatisfaction among congregants about the content and presentation during times of worship.

“If only they would preach less (or more) about politics…”

“If only they would sing this type of music…”

“If only they would change this element…”

God holds prophets and preachers accountable for telling the truth but not for the outcome. Multiple times in scripture prophets were told ahead of time to speak the truth even though people would not listen. God requires watchmen on the wall to faithfully call out warning but holds people responsible for their response. Only if watchmen fail to tell the truth do they have blood on their hands.

Ministry leaders bear great responsibility and many fail in varying degrees as did Israel’s priests and prophets, (we will discuss this tomorrow) but hard-hearted listeners are still blameworthy. Even listening to Ezekiel, one of the greatest prophets of his day or any day, these exiled Jewish leaders remained greedy for gain rather than being repentant.

Ministry leaders are a force for good in the world when they raise their voices to call for change. But no matter how beautiful their voices are, if the body of Christ does not have ears to hear and hearts to respond, judgment will be the result.

We cannot allow pastors and worship leaders to become merely singers of love songs with beautiful voices and instrumentalists with beautiful artistry. We must have more than words of love in our mouths. We must have beautiful feet that carry the gospel. We must take actions that put God’s word into practice.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth tremble before him. — Psalm 96.9

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Two Meanings of Too — Readers’ Choice

Links for today’s readings:

Oct 30 Read: Ezekiel 30 Listen: (4:07) Read: 1 Timothy 2 Listen: (1:38)

Links this weekend’s readings:

Oct 31 Read: Ezekiel 31 Listen: (3:31) Read: 1 Timothy 3 Listen: (2:10)
Nov 1 Read: Ezekiel 32 Listen: (5:30) Read: 1 Timothy 4 Listen: (2:05)

Readers’ Choice posts are selected by our readers:

This week of Readers’ Choice looks back at reflections about culture and calling.

Barbara, TN — Amen!

Peter, Singapore — I love the almost poetic way you flesh out the dichotomy of our exclusive and God’s inclusive use of the word, “too.” It’s a gentle rebuke that many of us need.

This post was originally published on August 7, 2026, based on readings from Jeremiah 1.6-9; 17-19.

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 1.6-9; 17-19

6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Reflection: Two Meanings of Too — Readers’ Choice

By John Tillman

“Too” has two meanings. It can mean exclusion or inclusion. It can mean excess or addition. One can say, “Don’t eat too many chips,” or “You can have chips too.”

You’ve probably had negative thoughts about yourself that started with “I’m too…” When you complete that phrase in your mind, what comes out?

There are interesting echoes and contrasts in the callings of Jeremiah and Moses. Jeremiah and Moses both felt they were “too” something. Jeremiah said he didn’t know how to speak because he was “too young.” Moses said he was “slow of speech and tongue.” (Exodus 4.10-12) They were too old, too young, too washed up, too wet behind the ears, too out of touch, too scandalous, too fearful, too angry, too crazy, too outspoken, too harsh, too weepy. They were too much and too little at the same time.

Whether because of fear or legitimate doubts, Jeremiah and Moses used “too” to exclude themselves, thinking God could not or should not use them. You might feel and do the same. God corrected Moses and Jeremiah and he will correct you too.

When we say things like, “I’ve got too much baggage.” God says, “No one’s baggage is too heavy for me.” When we say, “I’m too unimportant.” God says, “You are too important to me. I won’t exclude you.” When we say, “I’m too sinful.” God says, “I have mercy for you too.”

Moses was called to confront a wicked kingdom filled with injustice and false idols. He helped God’s faithful people escape into the wilderness to be formed into a new kind of people. For Jeremiah, the wicked idolatrous kingdom was his own and the only escape was exile. But God used that exile to reform and refine his people. Moses’ mission was celebrative. Jeremiah’s journey was mournful. Both were difficult and dangerous.

We don’t know what God may call us to in the next days, weeks, months, or years. But when God calls, we can expect to feel similarly to Jeremiah and Moses. We will feel too unprepared, too unqualified, too unworthy, and too weak. When we focus on our limitations, God points to his limitless abilities. When we use “too” to exclude, God uses it to include us.

When we think, “I’m too…” God says, “You, too, are mine.”

Prayer for the week:

We are taking a break from the Divine Hours Prayers this month. Each week, we will pray a prayer from Scripture or Christian history related to the week’s theme. This week’s prayer is related to our theme of culture and calling:

Christ with me. Christ before me. Christ behind me. Christ in me. Christ beneath me. Christ above me. Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise. Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me. Christ in the mouth of everyone who thinks of me. Christ in every eye that sees me. Christ in every ear that hears me. — St. Patrick (385-461)

Good Discipleship but Wrong Master — Readers’ Choice

Links for today’s readings:

Oct 29 Read: Ezekiel 29 Listen: (3:43) Read: 1 Timothy 1 Listen: (2:59)

Readers’ Choice posts are selected by our readers:

This week of Readers’ Choice looks back at reflections about culture and calling.

Russell, Japan — Amen.

Brian, DC — I agree! AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN! This is hard work but needs to be done so that when people take time to reflect, they will see Jesus in us, and not a pawn of a political movement or motivated by hate, anger, or money.

This post was originally published on March 17, 2026, based on readings from Psalm 55.12-14; 17-21.

Scripture Focus: Psalm 55.12-14; 17-21

12 If an enemy were insulting me,

I could endure it;

if a foe were rising against me,

I could hide.

13 But it is you, a man like myself,

my companion, my close friend,

14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship

at the house of God,

as we walked about

among the worshipers.

20 My companion attacks his friends;

he violates his covenant.

21 His talk is smooth as butter,

yet war is in his heart;

his words are more soothing than oil,

yet they are drawn swords.

Reflection: Good Discipleship but Wrong Master — Readers’ Choice

By John Tillman

I recently made a comment on a friend’s post that was misinterpreted. He thought I was disagreeing and saying something political instead of theological.

He felt attacked and he counter-attacked. This friend (a pastor I went to seminary with and ministered with) replied with a meme from the Ace Ventura films of Jim Carey emerging from the rectum of a rhinoceros. The implication was that I, and my opinion, (that he imagined I said) were comparable to animal feces.

There are two lessons here related to Psalm 55.

One is that friends can hurt you worse than enemies. (Ps 55.12) Online insults and attacks from “trolls,” strangers, or non-human spam bots are distressing, but endurable. Attacks from friends are uniquely disheartening.

The second is that partaking means shaping. The wicked in the psalm were shaped by partaking in violence, strife, threats, and lies. (Ps 55.9-11) War entered the heart of the psalmist’s friend. (Ps 55.21)

There are politicians, podcasters, and pastors with “war” in their hearts. Even official government social media accounts use cruel, insulting memes about serious issues of war and death. And some Christians praise or approve it.

We become like what we behold, especially when we praise it. What many Christians behold and praise is not Christlike. Too many Christians (including pastors) are “discipled” by those peddling politics and pseudo-Christianity with memes, insults, fear, and hatred. It’s good discipleship, but the wrong master.

I gently confronted my friend (though I wanted to respond in anger) and he apologized, removing the offensive comment. But this isn’t about me or him or right or left. Whatever theological or political tribe you listen to has vitriolic voices and we are susceptible to becoming like them. We are being attacked by algorithms that are financially motivated to form echo-chambers and sow war into our hearts.

Christians should excel in love, not unkindness. We should excel in respect, not vitriol. Instead of throwing insulting punchlines, we should extend lifelines of engagement and care. We do not have to let go of orthodoxy to be loving, kind, and respectful. We can hold both.

We must be shaped by scripture, not culture, follow Jesus, not political leaders, and embrace truth and truth-tellers, not lies and lie-sellers.

Be prepared for yourself and others to fail. Be prepared to repent and to forgive. And when you are hurt, say with the psalmist, “as for me, I trust in you.” (Ps 55.23)

Prayer for the week:

The Rat Race — Readers’ Choice

Links for today’s readings:

Oct 28 Read: Ezekiel 28 Listen: (4:32) Read: Ephesians 6 Listen: (3:17)

Readers’ Choice posts are selected by our readers:

This week of Readers’ Choice looks back at reflections about culture and calling.

Jason, TX — Love this quote “”Jesus came to give us life to the fullest. Don’t waste it yearning for earnings.” Something we need more of.

This post was originally published on March 4, 2026, based on readings from Proverbs 23:4-5.

Scripture Focus: Proverbs 23:4-5

4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
do not trust your own cleverness.
5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

Reflection: The Rat Race — Readers’ Choice

By Erin Newton

When pressed to find a suitable cultural reference for the idea of “wealth isn’t everything,” my mind immediately went to Christmas stories: The Christmas Carol (admittedly, the muppet version) and It’s a Wonderful Life. But looking for a good one-liner, I think of Harry Bailey who says: “A toast to my big brother George, the richest man in town!” George has just had an epiphany about what brings value to life, and his friends and family rallied to keep him from financial destitution.

During a season beset with giving and generosity, such movies keep the “spirit” going. We are reminded that giving is good. But once the new year rolls around, we are back at it—the rat race. The “American Dream” is built on the idea of working hard and building wealth. Of course, many of us are probably not in any sort of space where our savings are increasing. Right now, making ends meet is about as good as it gets.

Struggling to have enough to live is exhausting. It is not hard to identify the various ways our lives would be easier if we had bigger inflow of income. We might read this verse and scoff, “Not my problem!” Who is really prospering right now? Believe me, I get it.

But the drive to try to be wealthy might be something we do struggle with. Wanting to afford things for ourselves and our families is not inherently bad. But if we are single-mindedly trying to gain and gain and gain, we are likely to burn out.

My husband recently said, “What if a little is enough?” He told me about a business model that used a shopping center for local businesses. The spaces were rented out in increments depending on the needs of the entrepreneurs. The idea was to avoid the larger box stores or franchises and keep expenses low. “Just enough for what they need to use.”

Just enough.

Where can we let go of the weary pursuit of building wealth and settle for “just enough”? What can we gain by stepping back?

The proverb says that money is fleeting. Money is easy to spend. Investments can be easily devalued. Heirlooms can depreciate. Precious jewels can be lost. Our satisfaction is often a moving goalpost.

Jesus came to give us life to the fullest. Don’t waste it yearning for earnings. Know when you have enough and then stop.

Prayer for the week:

Touches of Eden — Readers’ Choice

Links for today’s readings:

Oct 27 Read: Ezekiel 27 Listen: (5:15) Read: Ephesians 5 Listen: (3:42)

Readers’ Choice posts are selected by our readers:

This week of Readers’ Choice looks back at reflections about culture and calling.

Melissa, TX
Barbara, TN — Thank you, Lord!

This post was originally published on March 3, 2026, based on readings from Song of Songs 2.2-4.

Scripture Focus: Song of Songs 2.2-4

2 Like a lily among thorns

is my darling among the young women.

She

3 Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest

is my beloved among the young men.

I delight to sit in his shade,

and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

4 Let him lead me to the banquet hall,

and let his banner over me be love.

Reflection: Touches of Eden — Readers’ Choice

By John Tillman

Scriptures often mean more than one thing.

Isaiah’s prophecy about a “virgin” (literally “young woman”) who would give birth to a child as a sign of blessing was both about a normal child, born during the siege of Jerusalem in Isaiah’s lifetime, and about Jesus who would be born centuries later. (Is 7.10-17; Matt 1.20-25)

Jesus’ teaching about the “end of the age” was both about the fall of Jerusalem that would occur in a few decades, and about the time of his second coming which we still await. (Matt 24.15; Mark 13.14; Luke 21.20)

Similarly, Song of Songs is both about physical and emotional love between a royal groom and bride and about God’s love for his people that is best pictured in Jesus.

The lovers in Song of Songs find each other remarkable.

There are other women. But not like her. There are other men. But not like him. Other women are thorns instead of lilies. Other men are fruitless trees like the one Jesus cursed (Mark 11.12-22), instead of fruitful trees that provide both shelter and sustenance.

This comparison is not primarily a romantic exaggeration like saying, “All women are ugly compared to you,” or “All men are monsters, except for you.” They see in one another a spark of Eden.

Outside of Eden, the ground naturally produces thorns, but she, among the thorns, is a beautiful, soft, and pleasing flower. Outside of Eden, food comes by toil and sweat, but he produces fruit in keeping with righteousness and shelter from heat and labor. They find in one another a touch of Eden’s blessings.

Reading this into our human relationships doesn’t mean insulting other people to “compliment” our loved ones. It means seeking and building relationships that bear the fruit of Eden and the blessings of God. This should be true in both our romantic and platonic relationships. We should be soft and beautiful in a world of harshness. We should create space that is safe and nourishing in a world of selfishness.

Reading this into our spiritual lives, we realize that we can only share the fruit of Eden by sitting under the shade of Jesus’ tree, the cross. He transforms the thorns of his crown into lilies. He transforms the toil, sweat, and blood of the cross, a tool of oppression, war, and death, into the true tree of life, blessing, beauty, love, rest, and peace.

His banner over us is love.

Prayer for the week:

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Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Ezekiel 33.30-32

Reflection: The Limits of Ministry

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Read more: Denying our Exile

Read more: Bloodshed and Bloodguilt

Links for today’s readings:

Links this weekend’s readings:

Readers’ Choice posts are selected by our readers:

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 1.6-9; 17-19

Reflection: Two Meanings of Too — Readers’ Choice

Prayer for the week:

Read more: Praying as Music

Read more: One Who Can Reach

Links for today’s readings:

Readers’ Choice posts are selected by our readers:

Scripture Focus: Psalm 55.12-14; 17-21

Reflection: Good Discipleship but Wrong Master — Readers’ Choice

Prayer for the week:

Read more: Praising Christ’s Righteousness

Read more: Unsurprising Oppression

Links for today’s readings:

Readers’ Choice posts are selected by our readers:

Scripture Focus: Proverbs 23:4-5

Reflection: The Rat Race — Readers’ Choice

Prayer for the week:

Read more: Watch

Read more: Whose Table Are Your Feet Under?

Links for today’s readings:

Readers’ Choice posts are selected by our readers:

Scripture Focus: Song of Songs 2.2-4

Reflection: Touches of Eden — Readers’ Choice

Prayer for the week:

Read more: Hip-Hop Psalmists?

Read The Bible With Us