Psalm 33:9-22

“The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save. Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, to deliver their soul from death…” vss. 17-19a

For millennia the nations of the world have been engaged in an enormous and deadly contest for power and control. Great empires have arisen, each one dependent on the latest advances in weapons and military might. In our time, by virtue of technology and genius we are now able to obliterate entire cities with the sending of rockets and the explosions of bombs. Combined, the nations have stockpiled enough firepower to destroy the entire planet many times over–and we’re still not done. The arms race continues unabated in spite of the horrors of the last century’s wars. In recent years more people have been driven from their homes than ever before in history–and the leaders of the world seem unwilling to call a halt! Even some Christians advocate for the development and use of more powerful weaponry! We know better! The psalmist says that great might cannot save us. War horses and atomic bombs are vain hopes for victory. Only the steadfast love of the Lord will ultimately deliver the nations from their war-mongering ways! Only then will the soul of humanity be delivered from death and destruction! We pray fervently for the triumph of love!

Thought for the Day: Why are leaders unwilling to do the things that will make for peace?

Psalm 33:1-9

“Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous. Praise befits the upright. Praise the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.” vss. 1-3

One of the consequences of these COVID years, paradoxically combined with our increasing mobility, has been the precipitous decline in worship attendance in most congregations. Oh, many have moved to live-streaming their services, but the experience of community worship simply can’t be replicated. Not only do we miss out on the shoulder to shoulder experience of Holy Communion, there is virtually no opportunity for singing. Some say they don’t miss the songs and hymns, and maybe they don’t. In some ways music is an acquired taste. But for the psalmist, praising God with stringed instruments was a natural expression of joy and thanksgiving. He even says that “praise befits the upright.” We can wonder what will happen to faith as fewer and fewer people have that experience–will it fade away if we stop gathering for worship? Time will tell, but the truth is that as people have returned to in-person praise they have reported that tears have come to their eyes in the singing of the songs and hymns. Something is happening in them! And it’s a good thing! Praise God for all the congregations that have reopened with fresh attention being paid to the worship experience. It’s one of the best ways we have of refreshing our souls.

Thought for the Day: What did I miss most during COVID closures?

Genesis 15:1-6

“And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.” vs. 6

Abraham’s response to God’s promise of many descendants was picked up by Paul as a proof that salvation comes through faith and not through obedience to the Law. Abraham didn’t have much going for him according to the scriptures. He never did settle down, was unbelievably cruel to the mother of his first son, and a big-time liar while he lived in Egypt. But he did trust God, and ultimately, that’s what he is remembered for. For most it’s a huge consolation to know that God hasn’t made perfection a requirement for entrance into the peaceable kingdom. We come as we are into the arenas of God’s grace, knowing full well that we’ve screwed up massively in the span of our lives, but still trusting that in Christ we are included under the mantle of unconditional love. Sometimes we wonder about those who do not believe, who for one reason or another have rejected God’s promises. Some even deny the existence of God. It’s so important to remember that such persons are loved by God–they too have been created in God’s image–God’s love is imprinted in their genes from birth. And that never ends. Even when we don’t believe God’s promises God continues to believe in us. And believe it or not that’s good news for us all! It’s just sad when people don’t know that!

Thought for the Day: How strong is my faith?

Luke 12:16-21

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.” vss. 20-21

Jesus told a parable about a man whose fields had done very well. In fact they produced so much grain that the man didn’t have enough storage facilities. So he decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones, where he’d have room to store all his crops. Many of us have stories like that too. We probably don’t have fields and barns but we may have had successful careers or businesses. Perhaps we’ve invested in apartment buildings or made a killing in hedge funds. When that happens it feels like we’re winning the game, that big game of life that tracks our income and investments. The money is how we keep score! It’s funny! When things are going well we feel a sense of pride in our success–we like watching our accounts increase in value. Even pastors get upset when they notice that their pension funds are taking a hit. It’s important for believers to take stock from time to time and remember that Jesus doesn’t give a rip about our bottom line. And he’s right! He called the man in the parable a fool, and we’re no different when we get obsessed about storing up treasures, and pay no attention to the state of our souls. 

Thought for the Day: How does my bottom line affect my morale?

Luke 12:13-15

“Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.’” vs. 13

There’s nothing that stirs up a family more than the division of an estate after a death has taken place. Ill feelings abound, attorneys are hired, and final disposition of lawsuits may take years to be settled. Even when a will exists and the intentions of the deceased seem crystal clear, family members end up at odds with one another. Sometimes people have lived for years with the expectation of a big pay-off when one or both of their parents finally die, only to be deeply disappointed. Of course this isn’t just a modern problem–even Jesus was asked to be an arbitrator and settle a family inheritance dispute. Greed has been around forever. We like stuff, and if we don’t have to work for it, all the better. Even when we think we’re above all that monkey business, in the right situation we can easily get our feelings hurt and think that we’ve been cheated. The best solution is to do a ton of estate planning, give most of our stuff to organizations we love, and make sure that our closest heirs are treated fairly in our wills. Even then there’s a good chance that someone is going to be upset–greed can expose our ugly side in a heartbeat. Blessed are those who have the spiritual gift of generosity! They will be the masters of wealth and not its slaves!

Thought for the Day: My family inheritance squabbles.

Colossians 3:8-11

“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator.” vss. 9-10

Once we have begun to imitate Christ in all that we say and do it will of course have an effect on our behavior. We’ll put aside anger, malice, and slander and adopt truthfulness as our new standard. People will know us for our integrity and marvel at the way we speak well of others, even those who might be our opponents. But we should not expect that all these changes will occur overnight. The work of the Spirit takes a lifetime, and even when we clothe ourselves with Christ, there will continue to be renewal and growth. We have been created in the image of God and that divine DNA is our greatest gift. It’s in that DNA that the Spirit does its work, constantly engineering and equipping, snipping away at malfunctioning genes, until our whole being is in accordance with God’s original design. And bit by bit, by the grace and power of God, we become the incredible loving beings that we have been designed to be. It’s not an easy process. Some have been badly damaged by toxic relationships and ill-treatment in childhood environments. Others are victims of abuse and deceit! The work of renewal is difficult when the original image has been distorted. It may even take a lifetime, but by God’s grace it does happen! 

Thought for the Day: How’s the renewal going in me?

Colossians 3:1-7

“So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” vs. 1

Sometimes we’re told that we need to accept ourselves as we are, and not spend our lives trying to be something that we are not. There is truth in that advice, but it’s not the whole truth, because the way we are is not always the best that we can be–in fact, sometimes it’s not even close! Paul tells the Colossians that since they have been raised from the dead with Christ in baptism, they should seek to be Christlike in all they say and do. If believers take Paul seriously that will likely mean making a lifestyle adjustment. We all know that there are a whole variety of ways in which we can choose to behave as we develop our own special identity–we see them demonstrated for us daily in social media and on television. We even encounter them in the people we meet at work or at the grocery store. Paul’s advice is simple: believers are to imitate Christ! Not so we can go to heaven when we die, but to make heaven a reality here on earth! Some might question if it’s even possible for mortals to be Christlike, and the answer is simple. Of course it is! We see people all around us, being themselves and at the same time imitating Christ. Naturally we can opt out–but why not be the best that we can be?

Thought for the Day: In what ways am I Christlike?

Psalm 49:1-12

“For the ransom of life is costly, and can never suffice that one should live on forever and never see the grave.”vss. 8-9

This psalmist, like the Teacher of Ecclesiastes, has accumulated a fair bit of wisdom in the course of his life, and he passes on an important oft-forgotten truth. No one lives forever, no matter how much money they might have! For him this knowledge brought peace and a freedom from fear and anxiety. He would be content with however many years he lived–the length of his days wasn’t anything for him to worry about. No amount of stress would extend his lifespan one bit. Of course it’s easier to say these things than to take them to heart. Sometimes it seems as though we are obsessed with living longer. Some spend exorbitant amounts of money in their last days just to wring out a few more months. In one way this is a testimony to the precious nature of life–it is arguably our most valuable possession. And in some instances it seems we have been able to slow the aging process. Many are living happily into their nineties and beyond. But not all! For some the golden years bring painful decline, depression, and loneliness. But still we try! We hang on to life with all our might! Still, that doesn’t mean we need to become death deniers. Healthy living means preparing for death, and trusting that in Christ it is not the end!

Thought for the Day: What am I doing to extend my years?

Ecclesiastes 2:18-23

“What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.” vss. 22-23

Even people of faith are affected by the truth revealed in these heartbreaking words of wisdom from the Teacher. No matter who we are, and no matter what our occupation or profession, our toil will involve the expenditure of time and energy, and sometimes it will be painful. For some the vexations of the day will be regular visitors as they lie in bed at night. And then one day the toil is over and we leave our jobs, and discover to our chagrin that all our efforts seem to have been for nought. Before long we are forgotten, passed out of mind like one who has died!

We’d love to say that we accomplished a lot, but retirement plaques are a poor reward for all the sweat and labor, and our children will just throw them away! If we think long enough about stuff like this, it can get pretty depressing–but we can’t deny the truth of the Teacher’s insights. So what shall we do? One answer might be to live in the present so much as we can, enjoying the delights of the moment, and not worrying about tomorrow. That’s what Jesus taught, and maybe we should take his teachings to heart!

Thought for the Day: How am I enjoying my present?

Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14

“it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.” vss. 13b-14

The book of Ecclesiastes is known as Wisdom Literature and found its way into the Hebrew Scriptures as a series of reflections and proverbs reflecting our human experience in the world. For the most part, the Teacher, or Qoheleth, tells it like it is, and doesn’t bother to sugarcoat life, and some readers are put off by its somewhat negative conclusions, but others find it refreshing. The Teacher is absolutely right about the business of life in this world. So much of it is pointless and a chasing after the wind, but it’s what we do, and we keep on doing it. We might even say that life itself is insanity, doing the same pointless thing over and over again, and each time expecting some different result. Many, by hard work or luck, attain temporal fame and wealth, and discover they’re still anxious and afraid. Their gains have not brought peace or serenity. And ultimately all they’ve earned or hoarded is taken away. Others have learned that there is another way, and they have devoted themselves, not to busyness, but to simply being. They don’t seek to accumulate but are content with smelling the roses along the way. And that just might be the key to joyful living! 

Thought for the Day: What keeps me busy?