1 Corinthians 9:19-23

“To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.” vs. 22

There’s something appealing about Paul’s testimony here, and many like hearing that there’s value in being all things to all people. Since we have a natural propensity to fit it with the crowd we’re with, Paul’s words give us permission. We can be anything that anyone else is, and there’s no skin off our backs. We can be vegetarians, meat-eaters, profane, pious, lecherous, conservative, liberal; it’s a great way to avoid arguments and confrontation. But is that what Paul really meant? Of course not! Paul was fitting in so that he would have the opportunity to proclaim the gospel. We fit in just to fit in! Everytime Paul became like those he was with he made sure that, from that inside position, folks heard a message of grace and forgiveness from his lips. What would that be like for us? Undoubtedly we’d learn to be strategic in our presentation, and pick the best time and place, but nearly every encounter will eventually provide the opportunity for testimony. It can happen anywhere, on the golf course or in a supermarket check-out line, in the park or at a bar, it can even happen on Sunday morning at church! But as we connect with strangers and friends in an atmosphere of humility and kindness, with a spirit of boldness we can share life-shaping words.

Thought for the Day: How do I try to fit in?

1 Corinthians 9:16-18

“What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.” vs. 18

Paul had a passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he proclaimed it boldly wherever he went and to whomever he met. He didn’t get paid for what he did but supported himself with his work as a leather-worker, though he likely also received some help from congregations. His goal wasn’t to become wealthy! As he wrote to the Corinthians his reward came in making the good news free of charge. For the most part as the centuries have passed, preachers have followed Paul’s example, with some even leaving good-paying jobs to pursue their passion for pastoral ministry. But not all have followed that path. Some have discovered that religion can bring enormous material benefits and have amassed fortunes from their evangelistic enterprises. They proclaim variations of the prosperity gospel, the notion that God wants us rich, and are proud of the private jets, luxury cars, and gated mansions they have managed to acquire. And that is their reward! Their wealth gives them access to those in power, and some argue that in order to reach the wealthy, one has to become wealthy. Others remain skeptical. Simply hanging out with rich folks doesn’t mean we are reaching them with the gospel. Jesus ate with Zaccheus, but when the meal was over, Zaccheus gave away half his wealth. And that’s not what we’re seeing today!

Thought for the Day: How do people make money from religion?

Psalm 147:1-4, 20c

“He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.”   vs. 3

Probably everyone has dealt with deep pain in their lives. We have love relationships that begin well and end with despair and anger. Death seems always to be lurking in the wings and periodically reaches out to snatch a loved one away. Dreams are dashed with the loss of a job or the failure of choice investments. Circumstances vary but the feelings are the same, and the anguish is deep and profound. We feel as though our lives have been irrevocably changed and we’ll never know joy again. And then, as we live with the pain and days pass, a miracle happens. Memories fade, old wounds are healed, and we discover laughter anew. This happens! We’ve experienced it! And it isn’t just that things have gotten better with time. Not at all! This healing, all healing in fact, is from God! This is one of the signs of the Divine Presence. We may not be able to know God, but we do experience God’s healing. The Lord heals the brokenhearted, even unbelievers, and binds up their wounds. Most of the time we don’t even connect our healing with God and almost take it for granted. We’ll say thanks to our physicians and nurses, and maybe even the pharmacist, but the source of all healing is God. The psalmist knew that and regularly joined with others in worship to offer thanks and praise. We can do the same. And it can happen every day!

Thought for the Day: For which healing have I been most grateful?

Isaiah 40:27-31

“Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” vss. 30-31

Isaiah was exhorting his people to make a long term investment in the Lord, and his carefully chosen words have given hope to every struggling generation. As their early aspirations fall by the wayside, people grow weary of the ongoing struggle that begins to identify their daily lives. Some have had lofty goals for material success and often speak of early retirement as the fulfillment of their dreams. But there are so many stumbling blocks along the way, many of our own making, and we can despair of achieving those societal marks of success. The prophet advises waiting for the Lord, but often we don’t have a clue of what he means. We wonder how waiting can possibly help us reach our goals. And that’s precisely the problem! This promise has nothing to do with achievement or material success, but it has everything to do with how we run the race! Waiting for the Lord is to recognize that not everything is up to us, and that in the Lord, we can live victoriously. Instead of inching our way along like worms, we can soar with the eagles, and find joy and refreshment in each day, even when material goals elude us.

Thought for the Day: What’s it like to soar like an eagle?

Isaiah 40:21-26

“To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these?” vss, 25-26a

Isaiah couldn’t understand why the people of Israel were so quick to abandon their trust in God. They got all roiled up with their worries about kings and rulers, and acted as though everything depended on them. We see the same thing in our own world. Elections are happening this year in dozens of countries. Everywhere people are taking to the streets and the airways, praising favorites and heaping contempt on their rivals. It’s a veritable political circus! Obviously our choices will be important, but if Isaiah is right, none of our politicians are going to be around for long. They’re like the weeds of the field. They sprout, grow, dry up, and blow away! Isaiah urged folks to lift up their eyes to the Lord, our creator God who brought all things into existence. His image of God is perhaps different from ours, but his exhortation is right on. All we see and hold dear is transient and fleeting. Even the longest lived empires are but a blink of the eye when compared to the age of the universe. That does not mean we should disdain the years that we have. Every day is precious and a gift, but life will go on. Because we want the best for our grandchildren we will vote and be concerned about elections, But trusting in politicians is not to be compared with trusting in God!

Thought for the Day: What worries people in my city?

Mark 1:25-28

“They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.” vss. 27-28

The gospels all report that the casting out of demons was a part of Jesus’ healing ministry. In fact, encounters like the one Mark describes here caught people’s attention and boosted his reputation. We don’t talk much about demon possession now–it’s probably not even a recognized medical diagnosis. But for the people of Galilee it seems to have been a common occurrence, and Jesus had compassion for such folks. And there was something about him, his authoritative voice perhaps, that had an immediately cleansing effect on them. Of course this wasn’t the most important part of his ministry–his teaching is what set him apart, and that’s what we’re most interested in. But for the people of Capernaum, where Jesus began his ministry, the healing and casting out of demons is what gathered the crowds. Sometimes we forget that in our own congregations. We focus on the teaching and learning, but Jesus would have us looking out for the homeless and the street people as well. People with unclean spirits are walking our streets too. It bothers us, but we mostly avoid dealing with them. They make us uncomfortable with their loud voices and profanity–Jesus loved such as these. Surely there must be some way for us to do the same!

Thought for the Day: How do I react to the homeless among us?

Mark 1:21-24

“They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” vss. 21-22

Capernaum was the hometown of the first disciples and Mark tells us that on the sabbath they all went to the synagogue. Because he was evidently known by the leaders there, he was asked to teach, and the people were astounded. Unlike the scribes he didn’t focus on various interpretations of the law, but presented what to their ears was entirely new material. And he spoke in an authoritative way, implying that what he said mattered, and should be taken to heart. Even though Mark doesn’t mention the content of Jesus’ teachings we have access to them in Matthew and Luke, and many of us continue to be astounded by what he told the people. It isn’t that he offers a new set of laws, but he offers guidelines for living that are unparalleled. Those who take his teachings to heart find meaning for their lives by loving unconditionally and regularly engaging in acts of sacrificial service. In so doing they discover the truth of what Jesus promised in Matthew. “Everyone, then, who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” What a blessing it is to still have access to the wisdom of Jesus! In his words we learn the way to just and joyful living!

Thought for the Day: What teachings of Jesus have I taken to heart?

1 Corinthians 8:7-13

“‘Food will not bring us close to God.’ We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” vss. 8-9

Anything can become a divisive issue in a congregation! Among other things the Corinthians were struggling with whether or not it was appropriate to eat food that had been offered to idols. Some said that it was fine, but others wondered whether those who had once worshiped idols could by eating continue in idolatry. Paul agreed that food isn’t the issue, but also believed that it could be a stumbling block. Congregations making rules about alcohol consumption on their campuses sometimes are led to ban the practice, not because they think drinking is bad, but because of their concern for those who are alcoholics. Paul would agree. He says that he would rather give up eating meat than cause someone to fall. And even if we don’t agree with Paul’s opinions in other matters, in this case he provides solid guidance. It is true that because we live by grace we can engage in any number of activities, some of which may have been banned by our pietistic parents, but that doesn’t mean we should. Life in Christ is communal, and our behaviors have an influence, for better or for worse, on our brothers and sisters. It’s pointless to insist on doing something that may bring injury to others.

Thought for the Day: Things I’ve given up for the sake of others.

1 Corinthians 8:1-6

“Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that ‘all of us possess knowledge.’ Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” vs. 1P

Since he had lived in Corinth for 18 months Paul knew the congregation pretty well, and he sensed who the trouble-makers were–and it wasn’t the new members! Rather the difficulty was coming from those who had been there for some time and who had developed a kind of arrogance about what was necessary to embrace the gospel of grace. In this particular instance they told gentile converts that there were no restrictions about eating food that had been sacrificed to idols. Not all the offerings were consumed by the flames and the leftovers were sold by the priests. And it seems Christians were their best customers. And some of the new folks were horrified–in our world it would be like a new convert seeing the pastor of the congregation coming out of a liquor store! The old-timers in Corinth thought this was perfectly fine–and based on what they knew, it was! But it was causing dissension in the congregation and Paul hated that more than anything. So he lets them know that love is more important than knowledge–in fact ultimately love would be the foundation of their community, and not knowledge. And so it continues. Congregations still have members who know a lot, sometimes more than the pastor! And that can be a problem, especially when love is lacking.

Thought for the Day: How do I use my knowledge?

Psalm 111:5-10

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.” vs. 10

Wisdom was a major concern of those who wrote our scriptures. There’s a whole category of writing that is known as “Wisdom Literature,” and that includes books like Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Often we see it contrasted with foolishness, as in the teachings of Jesus where he speaks of wise maidens who brought extra oil for their lamps, and the foolish who didn’t. He concluded the Sermon on the Mount by describing the wise as those who built their houses upon rock, and the foolish as those who had foundations of sand. Quite clearly wisdom is a virtue or quality that is aspired to by many, yet acquired by few. The psalmist says that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” and the testimony of the ages gives credence to his observation. There are a lot of smart people in the world, straight A students and folks with multiple advanced degrees, and some of them say and do remarkably foolish things because they have left God out of their calculus for living. A truly wise person knows that God is, and with that foundational knowledge, will speak and act with humility and a deep sense of their own fallibility. We all know such people and count it a blessing to have them as friends. They’re like oak trees among us and it’s a pleasure to bask in the shade and stability of their presence!

Thought for the Day: Wise people I have known.