Matthew 13:18-23

“But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” vs. 23

Even though Jesus used parables to describe the kingdom of God, most people did not understand what he was talking about, and the parable of the sower, as he explained it to his disciples, was a way to understand their mixed reactions. Some never even heard the proclaimed word, it went in one ear and out the other. A few heard and tried to apply it, but soon lost interest. Some others heard with enthusiasm and seemed to “get it,” but ultimately wandered off to pursue their latest lust. Jesus’ first century description of reactions to the word is a precise match for what happens in our culture when people hear the gospel. Not everyone is going to “get it” and even when it appears they have, they really don’t. And no matter what we do to “gussy up” the word with song and dance, ultimately it won’t make any difference. But some people do hear and understand, and Jesus says that these folks make it all worthwhile. These are the 20 percenters who put our congregations on their backs and carry them through thick and thin, and their efforts are changing the world. So, rather than lament those who aren’t good soil, perhaps we should be celebrating those who are!

Thought for the Day: What kind of soil am I?

Matthew 13:1-9

“Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow.’” vss. 2-3

According to scripture Jesus regularly made use of parables as he spoke to the crowds who gathered to hear him teach. The form wasn’t necessarily unique to him but he polished it for regular use. Parables differ from allegories in that they generally have one main point, some particular truth that Jesus was trying to communicate. Often a parable would use imagery that was familiar to Jesus’ largely rural audience. Often brief they could be subtle and to the point, but not always easily understood. Sometimes even Jesus’ disciples didn’t get the meaning and would be forced to ask him later what he’d been trying to say. He often used parables to describe the kingdom of heaven, a particularly hard concept for folks to get their minds around. Even today we have trouble, and speak almost exclusively of heaven as some future destination. But that’s never what Jesus was describing. He wanted his hearers to know that God’s rule could be seen every day in the most ordinary ways and that if people had eyes to see they could catch a glimpse. That’s what makes the parables so fascinating–and Jesus was a master at clothing divine wisdom in his stories of ordinary people and their everyday activities.

Thought for the Day: What’s my favorite parable?

Romans 8:6-11

“But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” vs. 10

Through the centuries humans all over the world have celebrated God’s indwelling presence in their various religions and have developed whole systems of thought devoted to the accessing of that Divine Spirit. Paul taught that this indwelling presence was Christ and his words are a source of enormous good news to all who take them to heart. He tells us that sin does not define us, that even though we are flawed in countless ways, we can still enjoy peace and contentment in our earthly lives. We can still know the joy that comes through loving and serving, and we can still make a difference for good in our world. And more than that, not only is Christ in us, we are in Christ, and it’s here that we receive access to the righteousness that comes straight from the heart of God. Oh what a blessing it is to have a daily routine of confession and forgiveness and access to the cleansing rituals of our faith community! Day after day we die to sin and are reborn to new life. And after a lifetime of daily resurrections, when at last we take our final breath, Paul tells us that the one who raised Christ from the dead will give new life to our mortal bodies and we will be received into the arms of God.

Thought for the Day: If people don’t believe this, what are their options?

Romans 8:1-6

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” vss. 1-2

Even though it drove Paul crazy to keep on doing the things that he didn’t want to do, and he couldn’t stop doing them no matter how hard he tried, he did not despair. He knew that God would not condemn him for the continuing sins that popped up on a daily basis. And why not? Because he was in Christ Jesus. He had been enveloped by the Spirit of the Resurrected Jesus, and in Christ he had been set free from condemnation. How did Paul know this about himself? To put it simply, it was a matter of faith–he trusted that he was in Christ. Of course, as we know, that was no small thing. Sometimes we have a hard time trusting in the love of others, even when they say that they love us. It’s just hard to have that kind of faith. But when we have it, the feeling of security is overwhelming. How wonderful it is when we can learn to trust God’s love in the same way! As people of both spirit and flesh, we can’t live without sinning. That’s just the way it is! But when we trust that we are in Christ, grace rules, and our spirits are set free to daily rejoice.

Thought for the Day: How do I know that I am in Christ Jesus?

Psalm 65:9-13

“You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it.” vs. 12

As the psalmist meditated on the wonders of the natural world he was overwhelmed by the way everything worked together in seamless fashion. There was sunlight and rain, rivers that seasonally watered the crops, and it was all under the direction of God. Because of what God had done, people had grain to eat and water to drink, and they were wise enough to respond with thanks and praise. As the years have passed we’ve continued to recognize the intricacies and the wonders of agriculture and human life has flourished. In the course of time, by building dams, reservoirs, and canals, and diverting the natural flow of streams, we’ve even been able to turn thousands of acres of desert into productive farmland. And, as has often been the case, our human tinkering with the intricate web of creation hasn’t always worked out for the best. Some would say that we’ve strained our resources to the breaking point and massively mismanaged the water supply as population centers have shifted. Many are realizing, perhaps for the first time, just how important water is for daily living, and are beginning to treat it as a most precious gift of God. Even unbelievers are learning new ways to conserve limited water resources! 

Thought for the Day: What’s my part in water conservation?

Isaiah 55:12-13

“Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” vs. 13

The myrtle is a fragrant flowering shrub, common to the mountains of Lebanon and Judea, that had enormous significance for the prophet. He told the returning exiles that it would be an everlasting sign of God’s favor and love, and its boughs became a fixture in wedding rituals and the Festival of the Booths. It’s another reminder of the way our faith ancestors saw signs of God’s presence in the beauty and resilience of nature. Perhaps this is why we love to plant gardens in the proximity of our homes–having living green plants around us seems to be a mark of our humanity. They become our friends and as we tend them we speak gentle and loving words–for some they are better than a cat or a dog–and we grieve when our neglect causes them to wither. We may not know it, but this connection to growing and living plants has spiritual value too. Our plants are a living connection to the Lord of the Universe, and their blossoms are a visible reminder of God’s tender and beautiful love. Our whispered words as we tend them, adding water and clipping dead heads, making sure they have enough sunlight, are a prayer that draws us to our Maker.

Thought for the Day: What are my favorite shrubs and plants?

Isaiah 55:10-11

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;” vss. 10-11a

The prophet had made some bold promises to the exiles in Babylon. Speaking for the Lord he tells them that they will return to their native land and once again take up residence in Jerusalem. Using an example they would be familiar with, the prophet says that the Lord’s word will be like the seasonal rains–just as the water from heaven gives life to the soil, producing bread for the hungry, the word of the Lord will produce what it has promised. Israel will be restored! The people of God have continued to find hope for the future in the seasonal cycles of nature. In every part of the globe we’ve gotten used to the patterns and our almanacs make the predictions. There’s snow and rain, cold and heat, growing seasons and times for harvest, and then comes winter, and the cycle begins again. In many ways the seasons of our lives mirror those of nature and there’s a movement in us from spring to winter. And if we’ve been watching carefully we’ve seen that winters never mean that life is ended–there’s always spring and resurrection and we are renewed, and even death is not the end.

Thought for the Day: How have the seasons of life gone for me?

Matthew 11:25-30

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” vss. 28-29

Let’s face it! There are times when life is not easy! We all know the symptoms and the feelings! Our bodies fail, cracks appear in foundational relationships, dread diseases stalk us, employment turns tenuous, and future prosperity is threatened by war and climate change–it’s no wonder then that worries and anxieties abound. And what’s worse, sometimes those feelings of despair even show up in our congregations. For some there’s a sense of being on a sinking ship–the Rock of Ages has lost its buoyancy and is slowly sinking beneath the pressures of cultural change and a general feeling of apathy. It’s in these moments that Jesus speaks clearly to our generation, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” He doesn’t yell at us, or give us another rule–he doesn’t even say repent. He just says, “Come…and I will give you rest…for your souls.” It’s not magic; there’s no formula to repeat. It’s a simple resting on the promises of Jesus. There’s no need to worry about proper doctrine or practices, but like a child crawling onto a lap and into comforting arms, we can lay our concerns aside and rest. And it works! Our souls, our inward selves are refreshed.

Thought for the Day: Where’s my resting place?

Matthew 11:16-19

“But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ “ vss. 16-17

Jesus makes several references to children in his teaching ministry, having obviously observed them at their best and at their worst. He rightly holds them up as a model of faithfulness and welcomes their presence in the crowds that came to hear him. But children can be petty too, and sometimes their mocking on the playground or in the classroom can seem like bullying. They tend to form cliques and are quick to exclude those who are different. In this instance Jesus has noted the spirit of dissatisfaction that can occasionally infect them, and says that this spirit was typical of the whole generation. He would probably say the same thing about us! It seems remarkable that people who enjoy the highest standard of living that the world has ever known, who are free to travel wherever they wish, and who can indulge themselves in every inconceivable way would be so completely dissatisfied with life. Every proposal or suggestion offered by our leaders, no matter what it might be, is immediately savaged in the press and social media. We are quick to find fault, slow to cooperate, and love to spread salacious and spurious bits of news. Admittedly there are obvious societal problems, but tearing down without building up is never a solution.

Thought for the Day: How do I express my dissatisfaction?

Romans 7:21-25

“Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin.” vss. 24-25

Like one of the psalmists of old Paul lifts up his voice in a painful lament. Sounding like a golfer who has just ripped his first tee shot out of bounds he cries, “Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” He has found no solution to his dilemma–he simply won’t be able to live as he desires. But in the midst of his pain he gives thanks to God! What has happened to Paul? Well, it seems pretty obvious. He has realized that he is both saint and sinner wrapped up in one person, and that this is how it’s going to remain for the rest of his days. That insight remains the best way for us to understand the struggle that each of us endure as we seek to walk faithfully in the Way of Jesus. Every day we will deal with the “what ifs” and the “should have beens.” Of course we will stumble, and Christ will lift us up! Of course we will wander, and Christ will show us the way! Oh how blessed we are to have a God who does not count our out of bounds against us, and who continually showers us with steadfast love and mercy!

Thought for the Day: What lifts me when I’m feeling my worst?