Psalm 112:1-4

“They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.” vs. 4

Even though the world seems to be overrun with greedy and deceptive liars and rascals, the psalmist insisted that there was another side to the picture. He observed that there was a vast cadre of folks who lived according to the precepts of the law and who brought light to dark places. On our better days, when our eyes are open to the goodness of God’s presence in ourselves and others, we can agree. There is a whole network of gracious, merciful, and righteous people living in every part of the world. Often their deeds go unnoticed, obscured by the misdeeds that get emphasized by the media, but their presence is what gives stability and security to our communities. They might live next door or across the street, and we can meet them most anywhere. We know them by their kind eyes and warm smiles and often their words reveal their caring spirits. If it weren’t for them this world would be a dark and foreboding place. With them our lives can be a delight. They can have a variety of religious beliefs, but often we see them in our congregations–they are the living presence of the Christ, and church is where they come for energy and cleansing. Because of such people the psalmist praised the Lord, and so do we! These kind souls are the light of the world!

Thought for the Day: In whom did I see light yesterday?

Proverbs 25:6-7

“Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great; for it is better to be told, ‘Come up here,’ than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.” vss. 6-7

Through the centuries protocols have evolved to give guidance for behavior when in the presence of the great. As a result anyone even remotely connected to a royal court would have agreed with the wisdom offered in these verses from Proverbs. And these pecking orders don’t only exist in monarchies. Most people are very aware of where they stand in relation to those around them. They pay attention to matters of status and have a natural inclination to seek the highest levels. Unfortunately those means for measuring worth have even crept into the church. Even though there is equality in Christ, within the Body some callings are considered to be more honorable. We even talk of some leaders as having been elevated to the positions they hold. Sometimes bishops and evangelists behave as though they possess royal blood and deserve special treatment. Even their clothing sets them apart!  What a blessing it is in our congregations when such notions are set aside and humility is the most valued virtue of leaders. We are not called to “lord it over” others but to regard one another as fellow servants of Jesus. The Church just doesn’t have any room for pecking orders!

Thought for the Day: Where do I stand in the cultural pecking order?

Luke 23:14-17

“But the Lord answered him and said, ‘You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water?’” vs. 15

The Jews had spent centuries discussing the sabbath and had rigidly defined the activities that could be done. Leading your donkey to water was permitted; healing was not. Jesus knew the rules, but it didn’t stop him from healing the woman who had been crippled for 18 years. And when the leader of the synagogue chastised him, Jesus was quick with a heated reply. In the peaceable kingdom that he was establishing, compassion always trumped rules. Church leaders sometimes have a hard time with this sort of thing–part of their job through the years has been rule-making, and some have gotten rather good at it. We’ve gotten a taste of this in our congregations during these COVID years. When the pandemic first hit everyone from the top down rightly realized that we needed to figure out ways to prevent the spread. Debates were held about what constituted essential services, and what businesses needed to close. Rules were established for mask wearing and social distancing. It didn’t take long for hypocrisies to emerge–some people loved the rules and rigidly followed them. Others hated them. These years have been a massive test for churches–and in some congregations compassion ended up being trumped by the rules. It’s been a frightful challenge!

Thought for the Day: How did my congregation show compassion during COVID?

Luke 13:10-14

“When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are set free from your ailment.’ When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.” vss. 12-13

As seems to have been a common occurrence during his ministry Jesus had been invited to teach during his visit to the synagogue on the sabbath. He had become known for his lessons and taught with authority, often amazing the congregations with his wisdom, which seemed to come directly from the mouth of God. But Jesus was also a healer, and on this day he noticed a woman who was bent over and was likely told by her friends that she’d been crippled in this way for eighteen years. He called her over, laid hands on her, and she was cured. That seems to have been his nature–when he saw hurting people he had compassion on them. These little stories from the gospel touch our hearts and provide a glimpse into the heart of Jesus. Plainly put, Jesus cared about needy people, and whenever he had a chance, he did something about it. Because of that strong example, followers of Jesus have always been known for their compassion. It’s what we do in the world! When we see people who are broken or bent, we do our best to straighten them out, not with threats or heavy-handed rules, but with unconditional love. No wonder so many hospitals have roots that are connected to basic Christian caring. We’re following in the footsteps of Jesus!

Thought for the Day: How can hospitals stay connected to their roots?

Hebrews 12:25-29

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe;” vs. 28

As the writer to the Hebrews continues his argument for the centrality of Christ he makes frequent references to interpretations of the scriptures that are bewildering to most of us. His images and worldview don’t resonate with what we have come to believe and know. Many times his metaphors are more puzzling than helpful. But within the obscurity there is a common thread. This writer is excited about the future. One day, he believes, all that is transient will come to an end, and what remains will be a new creation. That’s a hope that we can all hang on to, both for ourselves and for the world. While previous generations had been motivated by threats of destruction, this writer looks forward to the kingdom of peace, an eternity filled by God’s presence and unconditional love. Admittedly that’s a promise that’s hard to believe to as we deal with the deaths of loved ones, our own aging bodies, and the looming curse of climate change. We’ve got a lot on our plates, and sometimes nebulous promises of heavenly delights don’t spark our joy. It’s at that point that we go back to the definition that began these chapters of Hebrews: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” When it comes to the future, sometimes the best we can do is hang our hats on faith! 

Thought for the Day: What would be better than faith?

Hebrews 12:18-24

“You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them.” vss. 18-19

The writer of Hebrews had a deep and profound appreciation for the scriptures and the ancient stories had been the foundation of his faith. But as he wrote to early Jewish Christians he was convinced that those ancient truths had been replaced by a new and more gracious image of God in the person of Jesus Christ. At Sinai the people had been terrified by their encounter with God–they begged that not another word be spoken to them. But now it was different. A new word had been spoken by God and that word was Jesus, and in the word made flesh they had discovered a God who would no longer be a threat to them; now in Christ there were promises of a new life that was already available. What a relief it must have been to those Hebrews who had come to faith in Jesus. What we take for granted, they were learning for the first time. When our image of God shifts from that of a vengeful judge to that of a loving and compassionate savior, our lives open up and we can begin to live freely and without constraint. Each day becomes a gift and a delight, and that’s how the new life in Christ is meant to be. Praise God!

Thought for the Day: What is it like to be afraid of God?

Psalm 103:1-8

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” vs. 1

The word “bless” is familiar to us. Some use it as a closing in their letters to friends and family, while others might use it as a quick response to a sneeze, as in “bless you.” In those instances it’s a prayer for the person addressed, a desire that good things might come to them. But the psalmist uses it in another sense, saying “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” Our first impulse is to wonder why God would need our blessing at all–and further how could we possibly give God a blessing? The answer is obvious. We bless God when we offer deep praise and thanksgiving for all that God does for us. Think of how much it means when a child or a grandchild offers unsolicited thanks to us for a gift they have received. Maybe we’ve gotten those little notes: “Thank you so much for the gift…thank you, Grandpa, thank you Grandma, I love you so much.” Receiving thanks touches our hearts; receiving thanks is a blessing. Seen in that respect, blessing God is a powerful demonstration of our faith and thanksgiving. All we have and are is a gift from God–every recovery from illness, every loving relationship comes straight from God. God’s goodness literally overflows in our lives. No wonder the psalmist enjoins the people to bless the name of the Lord–it seems pretty much an obligation!

Thought for the Day: For what am I blessing God today?

Isaiah 58:13-14

“if you call the sabbath a delight…if you honor it, not going your own ways…or pursuing your own affairs;then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth;” vss. 13b-14a

The prophets of Israel consistently pointed to sabbath-keeping as the center of the Jewish faith. In their eyes it was the most important of all the commandments given at Sinai. And early Christians agreed. While they may have rejected some of the rigid laws that had grown up around sabbath observance, they understood its importance, and even though they changed their day of corporate worship to Sunday they continued to consider it as a day holy to the Lord. Unfortunately the pressures and opportunities of contemporary living have had a huge impact on sabbath keeping. The culture demands that businesses and services be available every day of the week. Youth sports teams regularly hold games and practices on Sunday morning. The whole notion of a day of rest seems quaint in secular society and even people who work 35 hour weeks are reluctant to dedicate even a portion of a day to worship and prayer–they just don’t have the time! But there’s a reason why the ancients set aside a day each week for rest–it’s what they needed to revitalize their souls. And the same is true for us! Not only is regular worship a wonderful testimony to our faith, it’s vital for our spiritual well-being. Without worship, faith disappears!

Thought for the Day: What’s the relationship between worship and witness?

Isaiah 58: 9b-12

“If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.” vss. 9b-10

It is so easy to “drink the lemonade” of the times and take delight in its tangy flavors. And the politicized moments of these last months have offered plenty of opportunities to at least take a sip or two. We’re in the primary season, getting ready to pick candidates for the fall elections and trying to make up our minds, and everyone is being offered lemonade! And it almost always involves the pointing of the finger and speaking of evil–lies and mistruths abound. And sometimes the posturing has an effect on relationships within the Body of Christ. Long-time friends are alienated from one another and it’s all so sad. In that atmosphere it is crucial for brothers and sisters in Christ to follow the direction of the prophet and focus on loving connections and not political stances. When politicians point the finger and speak evil, we will not join in and instead focus on our mission to offer food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted. It’s not easy to separate politics from friendships, but for the sake of the Church, it has to be done. Friends should be our friends forever, especially when our political choices are different!

Thought for the Day: How does politics affect my friendships?

Luke 12:54-56

“You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” vs. 56

Jesus had such contempt for the people of his day. They could predict rain and scorching heat by watching the wind directions, but they failed to see what was coming to pass in the present. We wonder what he might say to us. We have made incredible advancements in science and are able to predict the weather in amazing ways. In the last half century those climate scientists have begun to issue dire warnings. As levels of carbon dioxide increase in the atmosphere we will see temperatures and sea levels rise, storms will become more intense, and there will be widespread drought in some areas and devastating flooding in others. Can anything be done? Most scientists say yes. We can make changes that will at least mitigate the coming climate changes. Many people have decided not to trust the scientists and believe we can just go on living as we have in the past. Making needed changes would cost too much and our rich nations just can’t afford it. People of faith recognize their responsibility to care for the earth and are very willing to make any needed sacrifices. And so we wonder, “Just who are the hypocrites in all of this?” This we do know: if we do nothing, as it appears we’ve decided to do, it is our grandchildren who will pay the cost.
Thought for the Day: Why don’t many people trust scientists?