Psalm 119:37-40

“Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways.” vs. 37 

The psalmist could not be more clear! He asks the Lord to preserve his eyes from looking at vanities, which we could probably translate as “keep me from wasting my precious time looking at my phone!” It is estimated that the average person spends about five hours a day squinting at those little screens we carry with us through every waking hour and that sit by our beds at night. This is a seismic shift in the way humans have come to use their time, and we wonder at the consequences.

Of course there are some who believe that this change is good, and that our phones allow us to stay connected to our families and the world as never before. But others can’t help but note the costs. A phone is no substitute for personal conversation with all its nuances, and it certainly removes us from any contact from the natural world. Flowers are not just meant to be seen, they yearn to share their scents and textures as well, and they thrive when tended. And no matter how precious the ubiquitous cat videos are, they are no substitute for the warmth of a purring kitten.

The psalmist asks for life according to the ways of the Lord, a full and rich life that will abound with acts of love, kindness, and affection. It could be that walking in those ways will mean setting aside our phones!

Thought for the day: How do I waste my time?

Psalm 119:33-37

“Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain.” vss. 35-36

Like most of us the psalmist had a deep desire to walk in the way of righteousness. He knew that this was the way to true delight, and we can relate. It does feel good to lead good and decent lives and we bask in those beautiful, and sadly rare, moments in which we feel at one with the Universe, and living as God desires. It’s not easy to get to those times with any meaningful significance because they require a massive realignment of the center of our being. Our hearts need to be turned in the direction of obedience and away from personal gain and material accumulation.

That happens, not with a raw exertion of will, and a decision to focus on change, but on precisely the opposite. Jesus called it dying to self and Paul said it was an emptying of self, but it’s pretty much the same thing. We give up the world’s agenda for happiness and contentment and follow the prompting of the Spirit, that spark of the Divine that lives within each of us. It means being quiet before the Lord until we hear the voice of Love speaking from deep inside. And before we know what is happening spontaneous loving pours from every pore of our bodies, and the world changes around us. And it’s all God!

Thought for the Day: What does spontaneous loving feel like?

Ezekiel 33:7-11

“So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.” vs. 7

Ezekiel had been taken to Babylon with the first group of captives in the early 6th century BCE. There he had been called to be a prophet to all those in exile. It was not a good job! Being a prophet seldom is! He understood himself as being compelled to issue warnings to the people whenever they crossed the line into what he understood as wickedness. It was tempting for him to ignore the word of the Lord and let the people face the consequences of their sin. But the Lord wouldn’t let him off the hook. If he didn’t say anything it would be him who got the punishment!

We regularly face Jeremiah’s dilemma in our families and communities. We know enough about behaviors and their consequences to know that some folks are skating on thin ice. We know, based on our experience in the world, that, if they continue in the way they have chosen, they’re going to have difficulties. They may even die! 

And we’d like very much to say, “Oh well, too bad. It’s not my problem.” But we can’t get out of it that easily. Sometimes keeping our mouths shut is not the best option, and if we love these folks, we have an obligation to warn them of the dangers ahead. That isn’t pleasant and it may lose us a friend, but prophets can’t be still.

Thought for the Day: When does another person become my business?

Matthew 16:24-28

“For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” vs. 25

While these challenging words of Jesus have sparked countless debates among his followers, they also touch on the essential teachings of all the major religions. Humans know intuitively that the divine spark is the essence of life and that it resides in the heart of every person. Through the centuries authentic spiritual leaders from many faith backgrounds have taught that it’s possible to live as Jesus taught. 

The road to such spiritual enlightenment is difficult and simple at the same time. Essentially it means rejecting what the world teaches us about self and allowing the integration of the Divine Presence with our soul, that spark of divinity that lies deep inside. This happens, not when we try harder, but when we surrender and give up trying to be other than what we are. Often this will mean sitting in quiet meditation as we free our minds from the cares of the world and allow access to the Spirit of God. And in the sounds of the silence we will hear words of unconditional love and begin to understand that we are loved deeply as we are. We are not who the world says we are! We bear the DNA of God’s genome–and knowing that is worth more than any amount of silver or gold. In losing our life we will have found it!

Thought for the Day: When do I come close to my divine center?

Matthew 16:21-23

“But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’” vs. 23 

Peter, obviously basking in the recognition given him by Jesus, mistakenly assumes that his new role gave him permission to question the dismal picture of the future painted by Jesus. Like most Jews he strongly believed that the messiah would restore the kingdom of Israel. So when Jesus said he was going to suffer, be crucified, and die, he refused to believe it.

But Jesus was insistent. He’d heard the whispering of Satan before, and Peter’s words were but an echo of the wilderness temptations. He doesn’t fire Peter or replace him with one of the sons of Zebedee. Peter would still be the rock on which he would build his church, but he still didn’t get the vision. He still didn’t know how critical suffering was to the big picture.

It’s hard to put aside the rose-colored glasses that allow us to ignore the pain and suffering of this world. We want so badly for everything to be nice and according to plan. We want good people to triumph and prosper while evil folks get what’s coming to them. We just can’t see that it’s in the crucible of life, where pain and suffering abound, that we find our strength and our glory. It’s there that we come face to face with resurrection and are raised up to be our true selves.

Thought for the Day: What am I doing to avoid suffering?

Romans 12:14-21

“No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” vss. 21-22

One of the ways in which countries can gain control of others is through a process that has been called “immiseration,” the act of gaining victory through impoverishing one’s opponents. This can be done in a variety of ways: embargoes, blockades, tariffs, and cutting off water, food, and medical supplies. Currently it’s being used in a number of places around the globe with varying success. 

It’s doubtful that the apostle Paul or Jesus would have had high regard for immiseration at any level. They seemed to have the quaint notion that we should love our enemies, pray for them, feed them if they were hungry, and give them water when they were thirsty. But in these times, we seem to have decided that deprivation on every level is the best and quickest way to bring about change. Many parents have even found it useful in dealing with unruly children!

Granted, statecraft and parenting are complicated and sometimes there is a need for hard decisions, ones that take us beyond the scope of the Golden Rule. But there is no need to relish the pain that we are inflicting on others. And we too often forget that goodness really is the most powerful weapon we have in combatting evil.

Thought for the Day: Why are we unwilling to try Paul’s formula for overcoming evil?

Romans 12:9-13

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.” vss. 12-13

After giving the Roman faithful a healthy dose of doctrine and complex legal arguments Paul moves on to what seems to be the core of his message.  He wants them to know what is really important for their community of faith, and it isn’t having proper theology! What counts is the cohesiveness of their little congregation and the way they treat other members of Christ’s Body.

Obviously, hope will be the hallmark of their life together. It’s the central message of the resurrection of Jesus. Not even death can separate them from the love of God! And contrary to what they might have expected, they will find strength and comfort in their shared suffering. And this is probably most important! Their community will be knit together by their shared commitment to prayer! Without it they will likely drift apart, but in praying for one another they will discover strength and unity.

It’s this part of Paul’s message that continues to resonate with the faithful. This is the way it is in our congregations too, and like Paul’s community, we will also be generous in our giving and hospitable to strangers. Even in a country that seems to be closing in on itself, our faith communities will lead the way in welcoming those seeking refuge and asylum. That’s what followers of Jesus have always done and that’s what we will continue to do.

Thought for the Day: What are the strengths of my faith community?

Psalm 26:1-8

“Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and mind.” vss. 1-2

This psalmist has the utmost confidence in his own righteousness. If there were any entrance requirements for temple worship, he has no doubts about passing the test. He is a man of integrity and has nothing to hide from the Lord. There is no question that he is one of the righteous.

This isn’t what we’re used to reading in the psalms. Typically the psalmists come before the Lord with confession and repentance on their minds, and call attention to their lowliness and humility. But not this fellow! It’s like he’s writing his own letter of recommendation for a temple job opening.

There are times in life when we might need to take a deep breath and put together a list of attributes for another person’s consideration. Maybe we’re involved in courtship and want our beloved to think highly of us! Or maybe there’s a job that we would dearly love to have and we’ve been asked to put together a list of our finest qualities! There are some folks, like the psalmist, who could easily do that. But for most of us it’s not that easy. We’re so aware of our own brokenness that it’s much easier to come up with our faults.

What a blessing it is to know that God sees our innate goodness, and we don’t have to pass a test in order to be loved.

Thought for the Day: What are my best qualities?

Jeremiah 15:19-21

“Therefore, thus says the Lord: If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them.” vs. 19

Jeremiah had had enough. He had answered the call of the Lord and spoken the words that had been put in his mouth, and the people to whom he spoke responded with abuse and ridicule. And now he lamented his initial response. As he put it, the Lord had become for him like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail. 

But the Lord wasn’t through with him. He told Jeremiah that if he turned back he could continue as prophet. But there was one caveat: he needed to utter what was precious, and not what is worthless. Ultimately the Lord promises, the people will listen to him.

Jeremiah’s words provide valuable insights to any who have felt the call to speak on the Lord’s behalf. So often prophets become discouraged at the first sign of opposition or hostility. At that point some will adjust their speech to gain the approval of the people. They want so badly to be liked that they alter their testimony. Soon what they are saying is little more than drivel, words without power that can never change hearts.

True prophets will forget about people pleasing and remember that their call is to speak boldly.

Thought for the Day: Am I a prophet or a people pleaser?

Jeremiah 15:15-18

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.”  vs. 16

Jeremiah was called to be a prophet about 627 B. C., during the reign of King Josiah. At first he had resisted the call and claimed to be too young, but ultimately as this verse indicates, the Lord’s words became to him a joy and the delight of his heart. This does not mean he loved his work! He discovered early on that speaking truth to power can be a wearisome calling. Other prophets in the king’s court disagreed with his assessment of the country’s future, and they had the king’s ear. Jeremiah became a pariah to his own people and was regularly mocked and insulted for what he dared to say.

That’s still what happens when people are filled with indignation at what is happening in their community or nation. Their passion rips them out of their comfort zone and they begin to speak up instead of being silent. That’s a huge decision because being a prophet is no way to win a popularity contest. Indeed, people have found that in this age of social media and low regard for truth, getting noticed in the public square can open the floodgates to unbelievable false accusations from every direction. The harassment can be intense!

Why do it? Well, as Jeremiah knew, prophets have a calling, and once called, it’s hard to be silent!

Thought for the Day: Where have I seen prophets in action?