Matthew 5:10-12

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” vss. 11-12

As the disciples heard the blessings which would be a part of their lives they were likely pleased. It feels good to know that we will be comforted, receive mercy, and be called children of God. That sounds like the best life possible! But then with the eighth blessing the tone changed and Jesus shifted to describe the ugly realities of discipleship. The pure in heart and the peacemakers are told that there will likely be persecution for them, and that they will be charged with all kinds of evil, simply because they’ve walked in the way of Jesus. 

And that’s the way it’s been for disciples ever since the beginning. It seems strange that those who are pure in heart and full of compassion would be treated so poorly by the world. Surely it’s not a crime to be a decent person. And that’s true. The problem is that disciples can’t keep their noses out of other people’s lives. Wherever there is oppression and injustice, wherever there is suffering, disciples of Jesus will be there–and the oppressors will make no distinction. 

Why do people of faith insist on standing with the oppressed? Well, that’s what Jesus did! And when the inevitable persecution comes, Jesus says that disciples should rejoice and be glad! Wow!

Thought for the Day: Why do most of us just mind our own business?

Matthew 5:1-6

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

Whenever we encounter greatness there is a tendency to compare that person to some great person of the past. We see it in the sports world as we continually evaluate the heroes of the present in our desire to find the GOAT, or the Greatest Of All Time. Sometimes there is no doubt. Some athletes, like Tiger Woods, stand alone, and even as he ages, he remains the standard for excellence. It was that way with the gospel writer, Matthew, as he recounted the ministry of Jesus. For him the GOAT was Moses, and as he begins his gospel he wants his reader to know that Jesus was cut from the same cloth. Like Moses he barely escaped death as an infant and found a refuge in Egypt. Like Moses Jesus came out of Egypt and became a leader of God’s Chosen People. And when Jesus came into Galilee and crowds gathered, like Moses he ascended a mountain and brought a special revelation from God. Moses had given the Law, and in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus presented the Nine Beatitudes. In Jesus grace triumphed and the law was trumped! He understood that true greatness already resided in the hearts of those he called as disciples. They were blessed as they were, and not for what they could be, and they would be the light of the world.   

Thought for the Day: How was Jesus the GOAT?

J1 Corinthians 1:26-31

“Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;” vss. 26-27

By the time Paul wrote this letter he’d had time to assess what was happening in the congregations that had sprung up all over the eastern Mediterranean. And he found the record astonishing! The people who had come to trust the crucified Jesus as their Lord were a motley crew. There were Jews and Greeks, men and women, slaves and free–there were a few wealthy folks, and perhaps some who had some power. But he saw in this body the beginnings of a movement, one that he dared to believe would change the world. And he was right! Think of the empires that the Church has seen rise and fall! Nothing in all the world can compare to what was wrought by, from the beginning, the flotsam and jetsam of society. And the movement continues today, not through the efforts of millionaire televangelists and Tiktok influencers, but because of the continued sacrificial service of the weak and foolish. It’s these people, called from a bewildering variety of backgrounds and races, who are the strength of Christ’s Body, and these are the folks who are the hope of this broken world.

Thought for the Day: Why do many congregations lack variety in their membership?

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

“For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,” vss. 22-23

When we proclaim what we believe and who it is that we follow, we would like very much to be perceived as showing wisdom in what we say and do. It’s a natural human desire, and we care what others think of us. But what many discover is that the world is not impressed–we just don’t stand for the things that the world values. Oh, people may smile and watch their language in our presence if they know we’re followers of Jesus, but it’s really a kind of humoring. And unless we can give them access to power, fame, or wealth, they won’t hang around for long. Paul says that the reason people react like that is that our core message is either a stumbling-block or foolishness.  He was right! Our leader died as a crucified criminal, an embarrassment to those who had pinned their hopes on him. And sometimes we can start thinking that way too! Some would rather focus on Jesus’ life than his death. The whole notion of someone dying for the sins of the world seems so primitive and bloody–we wonder if that message could even be true. We love more sophisticated approaches to theology and life, ones that aren’t crude and simple. But Paul went on proclaiming foolishness, and people have found in that message of sacrificial love a pathway to the heart of God.

Thought for the Day: When have I been embarrassed by my faith?

Psalm 35:11-25

“They repay me evil for good; my soul is forlorn. But as for me, when they were sick, I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting. prayed with head bowed on my bosom, as though I grieved for a friend or a brother;” vss. 12-14a

While the psalmist had never heard of Jesus these words could well have been a part of the Sermon on the Mount. He knows that it is the will of the Lord that he should pray for his enemies, and not just superficially. So he not only fasts but prays fervently with his head bowed down. He prayed as one who “laments for his mother.” And that’s what the faithful do. They’re praying for oppressors and killers in Minneapolis and St. Paul. They’re lamenting the horrible division that is splitting our country. They’re praying that those who called them “domestic terrorists” would be blessed. That’s not an easy thing to do, but that’s how it is for followers of Jesus. And how does that work for us? Take a look at what happened for the psalmist. “But at my stumbling they gathered in glee, they gathered together against me; ruffians whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing; they impiously mocked more and more.” We don’t pray for our enemies to get them to like us! We pray because we desire God’s blessings in their lives–and that is a really hard thing to do! But because Jesus did it, we will too. And one day we pray, there will also be blessings for us!

Thought for the Day: Why do bullies need our prayers?

Psalm 35:1-8

“Let them be put to shame and dishonour who seek after my life. Let them be turned back and confounded who devise evil against me.”  vs. 4

The psalmist has been engaged in a battle with people who, in seeking his life, have devised evil against him, and he wants the Lord to get involved in his struggle. He begs the Lord to use every available weapon against his enemies, so there will be no doubt about whose side God is on. Fortunately we don’t often find ourselves in such situations, but some people of faith are saying that this is what is happening now. Many followers of Jesus, well aware of his desire that we stand with the oppressed and protect those who seek refuge, have not been able to remain silent as they oppose the practices of our national law enforcement agencies. They’ve gathered in massive peaceful crowds to protest and some have put themselves in dangerous situations. They’ve been labelled domestic terrorists by the leaders of our government. A couple have been shot and killed! Their killers are being called heroes and patriots. It would be no surprise if many believers have used prayers like those of the psalmist as they now cry out to God. We’re well aware Jesus enjoined us to pray for our enemies and rejoice in our persecution, and so we do. But it’s also a time to pray for strength and solidarity as we seek justice for the oppressed.

Thought for the Day: How am I praying for Minneapolis?

Micah 6:1-8

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” vs. 8

Micah imagines a controversy between Israel and the Lord which has come to trial. In spite of all the Lord had done for Israel, the people had been faithless and wearisome in return. After hearing the charges, Israel wonders what should have been done and what would have been pleasing to the Lord. It’s an interesting question and one that is sometimes asked of our political leaders. Is God pleased with what you have been doing? Is the Lord pleased with your record? In Micah’s account of the trial the Lord is baffled that Israel doesn’t seem to know. Micah believed that there was no doubt about what was pleasing to the Lord. His answer sums up the whole of the prophetic message to Israel. There is no mystery about what is good, “and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” So if this defines what is pleasing to the Lord, how do our leaders measure up? Now it could be that some believe that they are doing justice, but we see few indications of kindness and humility. What’s more likely is that few really even care if they’re pleasing God. They seem more interested in riches and power, and in their estimation those are the only measurements that count.

Thought for the Day: Who are politicians most interested in pleasing?

Matthew 4:18-23

“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.” vs. 23

Since Jesus’ ministry did not focus on baptism, he concentrated on a teaching, preaching, and healing ministry that brought him to many villages in Galilee and beyond. It was obviously the kind of mission that was more than he could handle by himself, and from the beginning he gathered a group of disciples who would join in his effort, and eventually, in carrying his message on their own. He seems to have deliberately chosen what we might call “blue-collar” men and women for what he called a fishing expedition. They were working people, not priests or scribes, and they seem to have been chosen for their ordinariness. They knew the struggles of the poor in this broken world, and could be expected to know the needs of hurting people. They were doubtlessly attracted by the good news of the coming peaceable kingdom and relished passing on the message of forgiveness to those who had been excluded by current religious practices. While they didn’t always understand the implications of his teachings, they remembered his stories and parables, and looked forward to their private times when he would explain the mysteries of faith. Their life as disciples was not easy and over time they learned the cost of discipleship, but they never forgot what a privilege it was to have been called.

Thought for the Day: When did I become conscious of my call?

Matthew 4:12-17

“Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee…From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’”

John the Baptizer had a significant following in the area of Judea, a part of King Herod’s territory, and because John had been critical, Herod had been keeping an eye on him for a long time. Jesus had been hanging out with John’s disciples, and had likely been listening to John’s preaching. But when John was arrested Jesus wasted little time in heading back to Galilee, and eventually settling in Capernaum. Almost immediately, Matthew says Jesus began to preach, and his message initially was identical to John’s, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” He too believed that repentance, or change, was the key to restoration, but there’s no indication that he continued John’s practice of baptism. He knew that his call was different from John’s, and it’s likely that his time in the wilderness praying had given him some clarity about what he would be doing. It must have been a lonely enterprise in those early days. People did not yet know him and some must have believed that he was putting himself forward as a successor to John. It could also be that he wanted to distance himself a bit from John politically. At this point in his ministry he really didn’t need to get on the bad side of King Herod. That would come later!

Thought for the Day: If Jesus asked you to repent, what would you do?

1 Corinthians 1:14-1

“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.” vs. 17

We’re not used to hearing words like this from preachers in our times. In our congregations it’s all about eloquence and wisdom, and people are likely to leave if that’s not what they’re getting in sermons. But Paul had an entirely different perspective. He knew that any community of faith that was pastor-centered would soon be powerless. The only thing that mattered to him was the gospel of Jesus Christ, and if for some reason pastors were using the gospel to glorify themselves, division would not be far behind. There are many pastors called to proclaim the gospel who aren’t very gifted preachers, but they do know Jesus intimately, and it can be seen in all they say and do. They visit the sick, care for the needy, and always listen with compassion. They love the background at church functions and can often be found in the kitchen or waiting on tables. They’re servant leaders to the core, and are valued not for their clever and funny sermons, but for their humble and selfless sharing. Such pastors know that the cross of Christ is their power and if they have served faithfully, when they leave, they’ll be quickly forgotten. And that’s okay for them–they weren’t called to be remembered, but to proclaim Christ in word and deed.

Thought for the Day: When is eloquence a detriment to pastoral ministry?