Romans 3:19-25

“For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…” vss. 22b-24

For years Martin Luther struggled with his own sinfulness, believing that there had to be some way by which he could, by his own effort, be free from the horrible burden of guilt. But nothing worked, and his anguish continued until the Spirit spoke to him through the words of Paul. It was then he realized that while all people were sinners, they were made righteous, not by their works, but by the grace of God through Christ Jesus as an undeserved gift. That insight was the spark that ignited the Reformation and it wasn’t long before the people of God began to celebrate grace both in their worship and in their daily lives. Grace remains the foundational teaching of Christianity and is closely linked with the teaching and the mission of Jesus. Sometimes misunderstood and occasionally abused, God’s gift of grace lifts us in times of sadness and gives hope when we get caught up in sin. Some would like it if there were something that we could do to receive salvation and don’t particularly like it that there are no distinctions among us. But Paul is right. All are sinners and there are no exceptions. And because we are all created in God’s image, all have access to forgiveness as a gift, the most wonderful gift of all.

Thought for the Day: What can I do in response to God’s gift of grace?

Psalm 46:7-11

“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” vs. 10

It doesn’t take much to get really agitated on the eve of elections. We’re told by politicians of every stripe that disaster will surely come if their opponents win. We get emails and text messages every day saying that our contributions are sorely needed to stave off the last minute attack ads that are proliferating in the media. And it’s upsetting to us! Even though we’ve gone through this many times before in our election cycles, there’s a tendency to believe that this time our democracy is at stake. Now it is true that elections are consequential, and we should be involved, but there’s a point at which our anxieties become damaging to our relationships. Even our souls are affected! While the psalmist couldn’t have conceived of such a thing as a national election, he does have some sound advice for us as he speaks for the Lord, “Be still, and know that I am God!” The world is not going to come to an end next week. Yes, there will be winners and losers; some of us will be happy and others sad. But God is working through all and in all. Recognizing that, perhaps our best recourse might be to keep our mouths shut and focus on our precious relationships. God is God and we are not! And perhaps that’s the best news of all!

Thought for the Day: Why are elections consequential?

Psalm 46:1-6

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;” vss. 1-2

There are some in these latter days who do believe that climate is changing, but that humans have little if anything to do with it. They point to earth’s history and insist that the changes we see now are just a part of the natural pattern. Others are convinced that the recent warming of the planet is a direct result of increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, and that those increases have come from greenhouse gas emissions. The psalmist was aware of changes in the earth–and had perhaps experienced earthquakes or volcanic eruptions–and believed that God was humanity’s refuge and strength through droughts and floods and every natural disaster. No matter where we stand in the current debate, climate changes are the challenge of our age. Even if we do manage to slow down the rate of global warming through collective efforts to reduce pollution, there are likely to be a billion or more climate refugees! And the poor will be affected the most! With that apocalyptic future in the cards for our planet, it’s hard not to be discouraged. The psalmist encourages us not to fear, that somehow God will be our refuge and our strength. Certainly there is a ton of resilience built into the creation–and the earth does have a life of its own. It will survive–our hope is that we will too!

Thought for the Day: How will climate change affect my grandchildren?

Jeremiah 31:31-34

“No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.” vs. 34

In the midst of calamity Jeremiah produced a vision that has captivated the hearts of all believers, and is especially suited for people living in these troubling times. One day he tells us, there will be no more teaching about God–there’ll be no need for creeds and doctrines, for we will all know the Lord. Just think of what that means! In scripture to know someone was to enter into an intimate union with them–it’s the word used for sexual intimacy! Jeremiah was looking toward the day when we will be one with God, that moment that Paul calls being in Christ, what some have called the omega point of history. Of course, as long as we are alive, we can only imagine what that will be like–there really are no words available to describe that great unity, only that we will be completely free and forgiven, and we’ll be able to lay our burdens down. This is the great hope for humanity, especially during these days that some call “the eve of destruction.” Naturally we’re enjoying life on this planet and will be working for peace and security–we want a good life for our children and grandchildren. But this isn’t all there is–the best life (unity with God) is yet to come.

Thought for the Day: What is the best word to describe unity with God?

Luke 18:13-14

“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” vs. 13

While Jesus frequently lashed out at the Pharisees in his parables he didn’t believe they were bad people. On the contrary, his love for them was deep; but he feared that their arrogance would ultimately leave them isolated from God. The more they trusted in their own righteousness the less likely they were to experience the life-changing grace that is the true salvation of all people. Unfortunately that arrogance continues to be a hallmark of religious people, and actually seems to be growing in the Christian community. So many believers have such confidence in their ethical, moral, and cultural choices that they can scarcely tolerate those who fall outside their strict behavioral boundaries. They’re quick to judge, often on the flimsiest evidence, and slow to forgive, which is why so many people have come to prefer the company of sinners to that of the self-perceived righteous. They find more mercy from their brothers and sisters on barstools than from those in pews. That’s why people love Jesus. There’s no pretending with him, and he adores the lost and the broken. It is so good to come to worship just as we are, confess our sins, and ask for God’s mercy. And if we think we have no sin we can actually just skip church and do whatever we please==and the sinners probably won’t miss us at all!

Thought for the Day: How often do I need God’s mercy?

I just pushed the wrong button and you’ve got November 4! Don’t read it today!

Luke 18:9-12

“The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’” vss. 11-12

While there are literally hundreds of ways in which we can differentiate ourselves from others, there are a couple of categories that transcend even race and skin color. Jesus describes them as the righteous and sinners, and there’s no question about which group he had empathy for. Given his preference for sinners we might expect that these would be the people who would be most numerous among his followers. Of course that’s not the case. The righteous among us have incredible influence and power and pretty much dominate most congregations. In fact pastors and other leaders have encouraged their takeover with their emphasis on generous giving, spiritual practices, and righteous living. Unfortunately this pharisaic dominance has been accompanied by a decline in the number of sinners who have been able to find a church home among us. As in Jesus’ day such persons are outsiders and feel totally unworthy to participate simply because their lives are such a mess. And when the righteous fall from their pedestals, one of the first things they think they have to do is leave the church. What a blessing it is when the sinners who have remained in our congregation embrace such persons and shower them with the mercies of our loving Lord.

Thought for the Day: What happens when sinners dominate a congregation?

2 Timothy 4:16-18

“At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed…” vss. 16-17a

Paul had appealed to the emperor when he was arrested and, according to Luke, he was taken to Rome to face trial. We don’t know what happened then, but he was able to present some form of defense, during which no one spoke on his behalf. He seems to have had little hope of acquittal but was hoping only for a little more time in Rome to continue his ministry. It was a lonely time for Paul–many had deserted him–but he was grateful for his sense of the continuing presence of the Lord. Sometimes our own end of life scenarios can get pretty lonely too. At times it may feel as though we’ve been deserted. Friends and family members all have their own lives and they can’t always be as attentive as we might like them to be. It’s hard when we’ve enjoyed all the freedoms of mobility to be confined to a single room, unable to do anything without assistance. The loneliness is overwhelming–sometimes all we have is our memories. We will feel as though we are in prison! It’s hard to prepare for such days, and some pray they will never come. If they do come, we can be confident of one thing, the Lord will stand by us!

Thought for the Day: Who will be there for me at the end?

2 Timothy 4:6-8

“As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” vss.6-7

The timing and the circumstances of our birthing are presumably out of our control. One day, in the fullness of time, we plop out into the world with a resounding cry, and from that point on it’s one adventure after another. And then one day our ending comes, sometimes unexpectedly both to ourselves and others, but often long anticipated. While some might prefer sudden endings, there is great advantage in being able to prepare. For most people there are obvious changes that precede their dying, a kind of decline that gradually erodes their freedoms and increases their dependency on others. Few people like this period of their lives, but there’s little we can do to avoid it. Ultimately we are blessed if we can echo the words of Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” It really is good to be able to look back and sense that all is in order: wills are completed, bequests made known, and relationships tidied up as best we can. But perhaps the greatest blessing comes with knowing that our connection with God is secure. The One who we have known only dimly in this life will be known fully, and perfect peace will be ours.

Thought for the Day: When will I be finished with the race?

Psalm 84:1-7

“Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.” vs. 3

This psalm was likely sung by believers as they made their way to Jerusalem for one of the three annual pilgrimage festivals of Judaism. It was an exciting time and everyone looked forward to making their offerings and worshiping in the temple. This was the place of the Holy of Holies, the actual dwelling place of God on earth, and it was a big deal to come into God’s sacred presence. The psalmist mentions that even birds flew through the open courts and made nests for themselves in various nooks and crannies. Most believers now recognize that God cannot be confined to a particular temple or church, and furthermore, aren’t likely to allow birds to live in their sanctuaries, though an exception might be made for bats in their belfries. St. Francis, however, appreciated God’s bird connections, and even went into the forest to preach to our feathered brothers and sisters. It’s a whimsical thought, this notion that the gospel is for the birds, and it reminds us that worshiping in nature can be a sacred act. To simply sit in a garden or a forest, watching the birds and praying with them, will likely be more valuable for our God-connections than watching praise music performers from comfortable sanctuary pews.

Thought for the Day: Why do we love to watch birds?