Jeremiah 23:4-6

“In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’” vs. 6

In the midst of uncertainty and upheaval Jeremiah dared to dream of peace and stability, a time when Judah and Israel would live in safety under the rule of a good shepherd king. The name of this new leader gives a clue to his identity. The one called “The Lord is our righteousness” will be the incarnation of mercy and justice, the very presence of God in their midst. We crave such leaders in our time too. We’re tired of the arrogant and the self-serving, those who seek power only to inflate their already super-sized egos. Oh how we long for those with love in their eyes and truth on their tongues who will listen carefully to our deepest needs and desires. And what a blessing it is when we find them in our congregations and communities, and even in our nation! These are the good shepherds, called by God to faithfully walk in the way of Jesus and provide direction and guidance to the wandering and the lost. We live in troubled times and it’s the presence of such men and women that gives us hope and courage. In their shadows we find the courage and desire to endure struggles and continue on the path of righteousness.

Thought for the Day: How can a leader be gentle and powerful at the same time?

Jeremiah 23:1-3

“Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them.” vs. 2

When Jeremiah uses the word “shepherd” he has in mind the kings of Judah, those who had responsibility for the welfare of the people. So when the “flock” was taken into exile he had no difficulty blaming the abysmal leadership provided by the royals. That same insight has applied ever since. Leaders of every kind have enormous responsibility for those who are their followers–and if leadership is flawed the people will suffer. We occasionally see this played out in our congregations when pastors (the word comes from the Latin for shepherd) are inattentive leaders, and the flock scatters. The effects can persist for years. We even see the same thing happen in the political world when leaders offer false or misleading information to those who are their followers. People will believe most anything in the heat of a campaign and when their shepherding leaders abandon truth-telling, the consequences are enormous. And it’s not just that occasional elections are lost, poor leadership will ultimately damage the entire nation. Anyone who aspires to be a leader, whether as a pastor or politician, should know that their shepherding responsibilities are from God, and must be accompanied by a humble and loving spirit–the very survival of their flock may depend on them.

Thought for the Day: What can happen with inattentive pastoral leaders?

Luke 21:10-19

“You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death…But not a hair of your head will perish.”  vss. 16, 18

During the years of the Jewish Revolt the followers of Jesus were persecuted and afflicted, not only by the Roman armies, but by the Jewish rebels. Many were squeezed out of their homeland–others, while trying to remain faithful to the traditions, were betrayed by their families and friends. It’s likely that some lost their lives. Those who remained clung to the promise of Jesus that “not a hair of (their) head would perish.” It’s that deep and profound faith that has sustained the Church and spurred her growth ever since. We have an inheritance that transcends earthly limitations, one that not even death can take away. It’s important to remember that in these days when challenges seem to be pressing in from every side. In the midst of election controversies, climate summits, and ongoing wars and famines, it’s easy to forget that we are people of faith, and that life is not defined by the turmoils and tragedies of human sin. We believe in resurrection and the continuing presence of Christ. As has often been said, “we will be sustained in our weariness and our joy will be restored.” As Jesus put it, all that is necessary for our salvation is patient endurance!

Thought for the Day: When has my salvation been patient endurance?

Luke 21:5-9

“And he said, ‘Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and, “The time is near!” Do not go after them.’” vs. 8

The gospel of Luke was likely written in the midst of what might be called apocalyptic times. Horrendous things were happening! Roman armies had been summoned to put down a Jewish rebellion and had devastated the country from one end to the other. Jerusalem was in ruins and the temple had been destroyed. In that context Luke recounts Jesus’ words about the end times and his warnings about those who would take advantage of the confusion for their own advantage. We know what that’s like! There are so many divisive voices clamoring for our attention in these troubling times. Some are suggesting that the separation of church and state should be put aside in favor of a Christian Nationalism that would codify a rigid traditional morality across the land. Others are caught up in embracing the multitude of conspiracy theories that are sowing confusion among believers and unbelievers alike. A few have become convinced that democracy itself is being threatened, that the principles that have guided us for so long are now ineffective, that what we need is strong leaders with unlimited powers. Jesus advised his disciples to remain faithful to him and his mission–and it worked! The Church survived the devastation and Roman rule came to an end. There is amazing power in the good news of the gospel–and that power is ours today!

Thought for the Day: What’s my biggest fear for the future?

2 Thessalonians 3:9-13

“Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.” vs. 13

Evidently a kind of malaise had taken over the congregation in Thessaloniki. There had been some ongoing persecution but the primary problem was confusion about the coming return of Christ. Some were saying it had already happened and a few had stopped working in anticipation that the day was close. Paul too believes that the return will be soon, but he admonishes the idle to get back to work. Much still needed to take place before the end would come. We may not be facing the same issues in our congregations–the belief in an imminent return of Christ has faded–but there’s still a problem of spiritual malaise. We can get weary of doing the same things over and over and begin to feel discouraged about life in general. Days come and go, weeks and years pass, and nothing seems to change. Some give up or drop out and their presence is missed in the company of believers. Paul encouraged his friends to simply keep on doing what is right and trust that their work is making a difference. Now, in this post-election confusion, there’s plenty for us to do–people are yearning for words of kindness and love. People are tired of the rancor and debate and are looking for signs of hope–and it’s here that people with Jesus-centered faith can lead the way in restoring morale. It’s certainly not a time for giving up on doing what is right!

Thought for the Day: When am I likely to feel like giving up?

2 Thessalonians 3:6-9

“Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us.” vs. 6

Even though followers of Jesus are called by grace and live by grace, they are generally seriously upset by those who sit idly by and allow others to do all the work. It’s one of the by-products of living in community.  Those who live in Christ resist individualism and value the generous sharing of gifts to address the problem of poverty in our communities and in the world. We seriously want to help each other. But at the same time, from the beginning Christians have had an issue with idleness. In Thessalonica, where believers were looking for the imminent return of Christ, evidently some had chosen to quit working as they waited. Paul is not pleased and points to his own example–even as a preacher of the gospel, he had also earned his own living. That theme resonates for us too. We believe that there is value in work and that “idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” Unfortunately that conviction can lead to rejection of government welfare programs that are designed to provide a safety net for the poor. While it is true that there is great value in work, sometimes, particularly when children are involved, people need a big helping hand in periods of unemployment. Hard work and compassionate generosity will both be highly prized by people of faith.

Thought for the Day: What are the negative effects of idleness?

Psalm 98:8-9

“Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.” vss. 8-9

Many have been waiting for this day for weeks. They’re tired of looking at all the campaign signs and being besieged by unwelcome television ads and unsolicited text messages on their phones. It’s a relief that the unceasing attacks and accusations will at least be toned down–or at least that is our hope. One thing is certain. Next year new faces will be running our states and the congress–and the responsibility for them is enormous. Decisions they’ll be making will have consequences for the entire world. Many have said that they are God-fearing people and we’ll soon find what that means. Followers of Jesus know that being in Christ means paying attention to the poor and the needy and taking care of this precious earth, and they are eagerly waiting to see if the newcomers will have a heart for the broken and the oppressed. Too often the policies and practices of governments are crafted to favor the rich and the powerful, and we can only pray that our new leaders will have a heart for the hungry and the hurting. The psalmist prayed for justice and fairness for all peoples. He believed that this was God’s will–and he wasn’t wrong!

Thought for the Day: What am I feeling about election results?

Psalm 98:1-6

“The Lord has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.” vs. 2

Tonight millions of households will be anxiously awaiting the results of this midterm election and in the midst of the elation and disappointment there will be some who say that the Lord has given victory to the winners. They will sing praises and give glory to God for this very visible triumph over the forces of evil. We can understand how folks feel this way but the truth is that humans have directed the election outcomes. Those who win are simply saints and sinners like the rest of us–some of them may be wonderful, but others may be rascals. And God can work through any of them! Our call as followers of Jesus is to offer support to those who now hold office and trust that they will use their positions to improve the lives of the poor, address the causes of poverty,  and develop non-partisan legislation that will address the needs of all citizens. At the very least we can pray that the fear-mongering sloganeering of these last months will be laid to rest. Enormous damage has been done to relationships and congregations as political divisions have been exploited and exaggerated. Now is a time for healing and peace-making, and it is people of faith who should be leading the way. We serve one God and have one Savior, and we have different political convictions–and Jesus says we are to love one another as we have been loved!

Thought for the Day: Who needs a word of love from me today?

Malachi 4:1-2a

“But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.” vs. 2a

Malachi, like other prophets in Judah, spoke of the coming Day of the Lord, a time in which God would rain down fire and destruction on evil-doers, while also preserving the righteous from any harm. We see that same prophetic discourse in these latter days as we look forward to a future that many believe is fraught with imminent disaster. Some anticipate catastrophic environmental changes brought on by global warming. They warn that we don’t have long to change our ways before disaster strikes. Some others would say that the Day of the Lord is linked to our state elections, and that there will be long-lasting dire consequences if the wrong candidates are elected. While it is true that the environment demands our attention in significant ways, it’s doubtful whether the election results will have eternal significance. Of course we would like our preferred candidates to win–elections do have consequences–but if they don’t, life will still go on. The sun will rise on us all and we will then have time and energy to focus on the mission so clearly laid out by Jesus. We’ll be loving our enemies, doing good to those who hate us, proclaiming the good news of grace, and figuring out how to feed the hungry. Our call to be the presence of Christ in the world never ends–and frankly, sometimes it’s a relief not to have to worry about elections.

Thought for the Day: How much do I care about the election?

Luke 6:27-31

“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” vss. 27-28

In the gospel of Matthew, following the beatitudes, Jesus tells his disciples that they are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Luke’s version of the beatitudes is similar, but here Jesus’ instructions to the disciples describe more fully what it means to be the light. The words are familiar, but their counter-cultural tone presents us with an enormous challenge. We live in a time when divisions have hardened, and it’s become difficult to even be civil to those with opposing views. Insults, slander, and lies have become second nature in social and political discourse, and some have been deeply offended by those with whom they disagree. But just imagine how society would be transformed if Jesus’ words were taken to heart. Instead of tearing down their opponents, politicians would speak of their love for them and regularly offer blessings and prayers on their behalf. Obviously, that’s not likely to happen among those running for office, but it should be a regular practice in our communities of faith and in our neighborhoods. Relationships are so precious in our lives and they deserve to be sustained with our regular prayers for understanding and unity. Jesus sums his teaching up well–all we really need to do is “do to others as we would have them do to us.” It’s that simple!

Thought for the Day: Why is the “golden rule” so hard to follow?