Isaiah 55:1-5

“Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” vs. 1

No kitchen is complete without one or more plaques or posters that claim to capture the essence of life in just a few words or phrases. One saying that’s particularly memorable is this, “The best things in life…aren’t things.” It’s cleverly put, easily remembered, and captures the essence of the gospel. And Isaiah would agree! The prophet calls out to thirsty people, those with deep spiritual needs, and tells them that the best things in life are not only free, they’re not even things. What people are hungering and thirsting for in this culture of gimmicks and gizmos are deep relationships anchored in love. They’re searching for community, a group of caring friends, who will stand with them in their suffering and work with them to restore the goodness of this broken world. Isaiah asked his people, “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” He would have been baffled by our neighborhoods filled with Amazon trucks delivering to our doorsteps our latest impulse buys. It’s so easy now, just the click of the mouse, can satisfy our fleeting desires–and it’s all a fraud! We can’t get what we need online! The mysterious peace of God that everyone yearns for comes without price through words of grace and love!

Thought for the Day: Things I thought I needed, but really didn’t!

Matthew 13:44-52

“And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’” vs. 52

Jesus closes out this series of parables with an enigmatic saying that can be understood to describe what he had been doing in his teaching. He certainly did not disdain the law and the prophets that were a part of the Hebrew scriptures. He clearly valued some of the old practices but he regularly provided a new perspective on what it meant to live in the kingdom. The people in the synagogues marveled at the authority he brought to the new teachings he was presenting. When he left his disciples, he told them he would send the Spirit of Truth who would continually refresh his teachings. It’s amazing how difficult it has been for his followers through the centuries to adjust to that promise. Always there has been a clear preference for the old and any new teachings have been received with skepticism and unbelief. It’s so hard for us to believe that the old, old story can be taught in anything but the old, old ways. The old poem by James Lowell, Once To Every Man and Nation, put it well: “New occasions teach new duties, time makes ancient good uncouth; they must upward still and onward who would keep abreast of truth.” Blessed are those teachers who present Spirit-inspired new teachings that do not negate, but enhance, our faith community’s ancient scriptures.

Thought for the Day: New teachings that I have embraced.

Matthew 13:31-33

“He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’” vs. 33

Jesus was not only familiar with the ways of farmers, he evidently knew his way around the kitchen too.  At least he knows the properties of yeast and uses this simple single-celled micro-organism to teach an important lesson about the kingdom of heaven. So often as the people of God we get discouraged about the impact our little communities of faith are having in the world. We lament to one another and whoever will listen, “We’re just not big enough…we don’t have enough members…we’re making no difference to anyone.” And the truth is that just one believer has a powerful influence on a group of non-believers and just one congregation can change a whole community. Our presence in the world, even though we’re vastly outnumbered, is having a profound impact for good. Just imagine what the world would be like if there were no yeast organisms–not only would there be no sourdough bread, there wouldn’t even be any beer! Yeast is one of the essential ingredients of the good life. And without believers there would be no Christ in the world! So even though we may think of ourselves as pretty unimpressive and wish we could have more of an impact, just think what a dismal place this world would be without us!

Thought for the Day: How do I influence others?

Romans 8:31-39

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” vss. 38-39

Paul began this ending paragraph of chapter 8 in his letter to the Romans by writing “If God is for us, who can be against us?”  Martin Luther echoed those sentiments in the second verse of his classic hymn, A Mighty Fortress, when he wrote,”Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing; were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing.” Oh what comfort it brings when we finally realize that life’s deck has been stacked in our favor! It really doesn’t matter what the world brings against us or what stupid, inexcusable things we’ve done, in the end, it’s not all up to us! There is nothing in all creation, not even death, that can separate us from the love of God. These are words to be said at the bedside of every dying person and to be whispered to every disconsolate child. There is no power greater than love in the entire universe. This is the message that stands at the core of the gospel, a conviction that gives purpose to the existence of the Church. If we forget everything else and proclaim only this, the angels will sing our praises, and our mission will be deemed a success. 

Thought for the Day: When have these words hit home for me?

Romans 8:26-30

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” vs. 28

Those who pray and meditate regularly know that there are times when the problems of this broken world pile up for us, and prayer becomes difficult. We don’t particularly know what to pray for, and the words we do choose seem repetitive and trite. Paul knew those feelings from his own life, and knowing that the words of his letter to this point have likely been more confusing than helpful, offers a wonderful perspective. He says that even in our silent confusion the Spirit intercedes on our behalf. In spite of the static interference of our minds, the call of our heart gets through to the Divine Presence, and a connection is made with God. Think of it! Even in our inarticulate mumbling, we are being heard! And then Paul shares this beautiful promise, “All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Can we even conceive of more comforting words? Somehow all the ugliness of our current situation will be transformed into good when we are in a love relationship with God. Sometimes we wonder about those words, “all things”! Can the life-sucking ingredients of our current despair really be stirred together to produce good? If we can believe the testimony of the faithful, the answer is a resounding “yes.” Paul’s promise to the Romans and to us is most certainly true!

Thought for the Day: How has this promise worked in my life?

Psalm 119:126-131

“Your decrees are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. With open mouth I pant, because I long for your commandments.” vss. 129-131

Most people only have a vague notion of what the Law meant to the Jewish people. We’ve heard it disparaged in countless sermons and have come to think of it as a stumbling block, an obstacle to the gospel of grace. But to a faithful Jew the Law was beautiful and to be cherished above all things. It was what gave Jews identity and set them apart from all the nations of the world. We see those feelings expressed clearly in Psalm 119, a carefully crafted and artfully written poem designed to cement reverence for the Law in the hearts of its readers. It is a good thing to have these kinds of feelings for the behavioral standards that have shaped us from childhood. Those precepts, poured into our hearts by loving parents and teachers, are what keep us on the straight and narrow. Without them we would hopelessly wander through the morass of foolish and even evil choices the world so regularly sets in our paths. Certainly these guidelines will have a kind of elasticity as we shape them to deal with our changing times, but they should never be cast away. Jesus himself lived as a faithful Jew and loved the guiding principles of the law–having rules to live by is an incredible blessing!

Thought for the Day: What precepts have guided my life?

1 Kings 3:9-12

“Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.” vs. 12

After Solomon had ordered the death of his older brother and thus consolidated his power, the ancient court history recounts, in a scene reminiscent of the Arabian Nights, that the Lord, like a genie, appears to him in a dream and offers to give him whatever he wants. Solomon asks for an understanding mind, the ability to discern good and evil, and the Lord accordingly makes him the wisest man the world has ever seen. As the story continues Solomon did indeed become famous for wisdom, and in the process also became the richest man in the world, in essence the Elon Musk of his time. While much of what is written about him is an exaggeration, that reputation for wisdom remains attached to his name. It’s a gift that we continue to value. We like hanging around wise people! But it’s important to remember that Paul doesn’t even mention wisdom in his list of spiritual fruits. He instead encourages believers to embrace foolishness, which he calls the wisdom of God. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with being able to run a category in Jeopardy, but wisdom can only take us so far. It feeds the mind, often leading to pride, but it does nothing for the soul. Paul says that it’s in the crucified Christ, pure foolishness, that we finally find peace!

Thought for the Day: Who are the wisest people I know?

1 Kings 3:5-8

“And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.” vs. 7

Reading in scripture about the accession of Solomon to the throne of David is like reading an excerpt from a mafioso godfather’s diary. It was a bloody affair, to say the least. Solomon was not David’s eldest son, but Bathsheba, his mother, was the consummate palace politician. By the time Solomon was enthroned all his brothers and rivals had been put to death by the sword. And once he had assumed control, a story emerged giving the Lord credit for all that had taken place. Here Solomon, who had just arranged his brother, Adonijah’s, death, implies that he is but a child, with no sense of how a king should govern. It’s an interesting story and it reminds us that the road to power can often involve intrigue and political maneuvering, and those who ultimately rise to the top aren’t necessarily the best or most deserving. That’s just the way it is with the dominating powers of our world–their leaders often are motivated by self-interest and a desire for control, and their pious sounding words can seldom be trusted. Solomon proved to be a horrible king for Israel, using his position to accumulate immense wealth via taxation and conquest. How much better it is for us to seek first the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness!  It’s here that we find the true riches!

Thought for the Day: What’s the popular conception of Solomon?

Matthew 13:36-43

“The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  vss. 41-42

The parables of Jesus were short, pithy, descriptions of life in the kingdom. Generally they had one main point but were occasionally difficult to understand. In Matthew’s gospel, a few have allegorical descriptions attached which expanded the original meaning. In the parable of the weeds in the field the main point was the withholding of judgment, but the explanation turns it into a fiery prediction of judgment for evildoers, a message which seems contrary to the gospel of grace. The inclusion of these verses introduced readers to the popular notion of hell, a belief that on Judgment Day all sinners will be thrown into a great fiery furnace, a teaching that has enjoyed widespread support through the years. We seem to love believing that one day evildoers will burn in hell for what they have done. Some even try to use the fear of hell to scare their loved ones into righteous living. Many careful readers of scripture have come to accept the main point of this parable while refusing to keep on believing in a literal hell. They believe that the image is obviously allegorical and there is no reason to believe that God intends a fiery end for any of us!

Thought for the Day: What do I believe about hell?

Matthew 13:24-30

“And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’” vs. 27

Most of us live pretty sheltered lives. We have our secure neighborhoods, filled with people who are pretty much like ourselves. We have faith communities for worship and fellowship, again the people are almost identical to ourselves. But occasionally we have the opportunity to “mix with the unwashed masses” and find ourselves engaging with people who don’t act like us and who most certainly don’t operate by our cultural standards. As we listen to their profanities and observe their careless behaviors, we wonder “where in the world did all these folks come from?” And all of a sudden, we who proclaim inclusive values find ourselves wanting to separate from them, or even get rid of them entirely. Like the slaves in Jesus’ parable we want to pull up the weeds! Jesus’ point is instructive. We aren’t called to judge or get rid of anyone! We aren’t even called to live in walled neighborhoods or worship in homogenous communities. In fact, it’s likely he would encourage us to get acquainted with those we judge so harshly. These are our brothers and sisters and all of us have been created in God’s image. Not that it’s comfortable to hang out with such persons, but could we ever find a finer opportunity to practice unconditional loving? And we might even make new friends!

Thought for the Day: How do I feel when I’m out of my comfort zone?