Matthew 5:1-6

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” vs. 3

When Jesus looked over the motley crew he’d gathered as disciples during his first weeks of ministry he knew he didn’t have the cream of the crop. He begins his teaching by describing them as poor in spirit. Not only had they been gathered from the lower classes of their society, they likely weren’t known for their spiritual riches either. They may have appeared to be tough, but on the inside they were searching for a connection to God that had eluded them, probably for all of their lives. But Jesus loved them and offered a special blessing–undeserving though they might be, they would inherit the kingdom of heaven. There are many among us who have similar feelings. When we look around in our congregations and faith communities it may appear that everyone else has their spiritual ducks in a row. Of course we’re only seeing the externals–we have no knowledge of their core, but that gives us no consolation. All we know is that our spirits are impoverished and we’re a mess on the inside. And Jesus says, “Blessed are you poor in spirit–you are a part of my kingdom, and I’m going to use you to do wonderful things in this world.” The less we have to brag about spiritually, the more there is for the Spirit to do. And before long, in spite of our poverty, we are producing fruit in abundance.

Thought for the Day: Which of the beatitudes is my favorite?

1 Corinthians 1:14-18

“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.” vs. 17

Pastors who can preach with eloquence are highly prized in our congregations, and if they can throw in a dash of humor they are exalted. The best of them have their sermons live-streamed into multiple settings so that even more folks can be enthralled by their well-honed and polished deliveries. Such pastors take pride in their craft and love it when people say their sermons are the heart of the worship experience. Now all that would be fine if the Church were just another human organization, but it’s not! Paul knew that and seems to take pride in his lack of eloquence. He didn’t want people following him, he wanted them to focus their eyes on the crucified Christ. The good news wasn’t about Paul, it was about Jesus! Now obviously there are some subtleties involved here. No pastor is called to be an inept preacher–lack of eloquence does not guarantee that Christ will be seen! And perhaps what people in the pews crave even more than eloquence is authenticity! They want a preacher in whom they can see the power of the incarnate Word and who consistently points to Jesus. And ultimately people do know the difference between self-glorification and glorifying God. And when preachers know the difference, blessings abound!

Thought for the Day: What is an authentic preacher?

1 Corinthians 1:10-13

“Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.” vs. 10

The news that Paul had gotten from Corinth after his departure was disheartening. Because members of the congregation had come from different cities and had come to faith through the influence of a variety of preachers, they had become divided. They felt closer connections to particular leaders than they did to the Lord Jesus Christ and their unity was being threatened. It was a dismaying surprise to Paul, but something that is very familiar to us. Even though all believers cherish the scriptures and proclaim allegiance to Christ, the Church has been tragically splintered by partisanship and sectarian differences. The result has been an ongoing competition for members and an abandonment of mission. Since members of congregations do have diverse backgrounds and religious preferences, we can understand the divisions. We prefer worshiping with those who have similar convictions, and when there are disagreements sometimes it’s easier to leave than stay. But how much better it is when our communities hold unity as their highest value, and are determined to use their diversities as a strength for mission. There really is only one Church. How much better it is when that unity is reflected in our mind and purpose.

Thought for the Day: Would it be easy or hard for me to leave my congregation?

Psalm 15

“O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart;” vss. 1-2

In the psalmist’s world there were standards that went beyond mere obedience to the law. Certainly the Torah was honored and people tried to live according to its precepts, but such behaviors didn’t even come close to what was expected of God’s holy people. It was more a lifestyle than adherence to a set of moralisms. That’s been a notoriously hard principle for the followers of Jesus to get their heads around. We tend to focus on extraneous pietisms that have little or nothing to do with the blameless living the psalmist outlines. Ironically it’s not hard to identify the folks he has in mind. They stand out in our communities of faith, not because of their drinking, swearing, or smoking habits, but because they do what is right and can be counted on to speak the truth in every circumstance. They’re not rumor-mongers or slanderers, and they generously share their wealth with others without asking for anything in return. And they’re not living that way so that they can punch their tickets at the pearly gates; all they’re wanting to do is walk in the light of the Lord, and spread love to the unlovely and the unlovable. It is these who are the salt of the earth. If only we all would walk like them!

Thought for the Day: I wonder if I’m living a blameless life.

Micah 6:6-8

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” vs. 8

Sometimes folks act as though they’re confused about how they ought to live out their lives on this blue orb. On one hand this is understandable. There are a bunch of options out there and it’s not always easy to choose among them. But if we have even the slightest interest about how to walk in the way of the Lord, there’s no mystery at all. Micah puts it so plainly that not even fools could misunderstand.And he’s not just making this up! This is the consistent witness of the prophets all along–but it’s Micah who manages this magnificent summary, and it’s his verse that thousands of folks have committed to memory. Many even have the needlepoint version hanging on the walls of their homes. And when we can get our acts together and actually begin living as the Lord desires by doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly, our environments are transformed. Certainly there will be obstacles. We regularly get off track and lose focus in the face of cultural considerations and our personal desire for wealth and power, but prophets like Micah haven’t gone away. They’re still around and regularly call us back to the basics. And oh, what joy is ours when we actually find ourselves obeying!

Thought for the Day: What’s my “go to” bible verse?

Micah 6:1-5

“O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me!” vs. 3

The prophet Micah was very aware that Israel had not been acting in a way that was pleasing to the Lord. In this passage he imagines the Lord taking the controversy to the mountains and, in a court-like setting, presenting the case. In Micah’s vision the Lord sounds like a parent scolding beloved children. Some of us recognize the tone of the confrontation. We’ve done the same thing: beside ourselves with anger we recount all the wonderful things we’ve done for this ungrateful child. And when the child stands silent with head bowed we demand a response. “Answer me!” we shout, and because there is no adequate answer, the conversation ends. The hope in such situations is that there would be a change in behavior, and that’s likely what Micah hoped would happen with Israel. There are times in our lives when we need challenges from those who love us. Even when we live in Christ and trust in the forgiving word of Jesus, there will be times when chastising words are exactly what we need to hear. Sometimes our behaviors are reprehensible and only an “Answer me!” demand can pierce our stubborn hearts. It’s important though to remember that in Christ such exchanges take place in a context of love, and the last word will always be “I love you!”

Thought for the Day: How has the “answer me” tactic worked for me?

Matthew 4:18-23

“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.” vs. 23

According to Matthew John the Baptizer was like a one-trick pony. He preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins and people came to him at the Jordan River. Jesus, on the other hand, called ordinary people as disciples and then led them through Galilee as he preached, taught, and healed in the towns and villages. In essence he was taking them on a training mission, a year of internship as they learned the art of ministry. At first they just watched and listened. Only after some months of observation were they sent out on their own to proclaim good news to hungry ears. After Jesus’ death, they were the ones who brought the gospel to the whole world. In their example we see the parameters of our own mission. None of them ran for office or formed militia groups to overthrow governments. They had a three-fold calling: to teach the way of discipleship, to proclaim the good news of the kingdom, and to bring healing to hurting people. And that’s still the way it is for disciples of Christ. We are called to do it as individuals and as congregations, and we’ve been doing a superlative job! Teachers, preachers, and healers abound among us, and we’ve been a blessing to the entire world. The church is often criticized, sometimes rightfully so. Perhaps it’s time to start celebrating its successes!

Thought for the Day: What part of my mission have I done well?

Matthew 4:12-17

“Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee…From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” vss. 12, 17

After John had been arrested Jesus returned to the area where he had grown up to begin his active ministry. At first his message of repentance seems to be an extension of what John had been saying, and that’s not surprising. In any age those who wish to catch a glimpse of what God is doing in the world must begin by changing what they are doing. Otherwise there can be no transformation! So whenever we’re dissatisfied with the way things are or fed up with the symptoms of sin that so often make us blind to the joy of living, the first thing to consider is change, or in Jesus’ words, repentance. That shouldn’t be a strange notion to us–most people make some sort of attempt at self-improvement many times in the course of a lifetime. Of course what Jesus proclaimed was more than a primitive self-help program. We have a part in repentance to be sure, but as the people of AA have discovered, real change only comes with an infusion of Holy Spirit cleansing and power. It’s as we submit to our Higher Power that we begin the process of transformation, and can actually experience heavenly living! And as change becomes a reality, joy is restored.

Thought for the Day: What has repentance looked like in my life?

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

“He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption…” vs. 30

Paul sensed that one of the problems in the Corinthian congregation was that some of the people had begun to think more highly of themselves than they ought to think. He reminds them that when they were called to become believers they were all nobodies, and none of them was in any position to boast. God was responsible for everything that they were and for all that they had become, and Christ Jesus, not them, was the focal point of their congregation. Paul pretty much hits the nail on the head here. We still tend to elevate the gifts of the more visible among us, the charismatic preacher or the supremely talented musicians, and believe that the identity of our congregation revolves around these chosen few. And sometimes those folks like being the center of attention! But the truth is that all we have and are is by the grace of God. Christ Jesus is the source of all wisdom, and in him we are made righteous through redemption and sanctification. We’ve been called to be his servants and continue the Jesus mission in our world, and if we’re going to brag about anyone, let it be about the one we serve. It’s not that we’re the scum of the earth, but apart from Christ, we really don’t have much to offer.

Thought for the Day: When am I most likely to boast?

1 Corinthians 1:18-24

“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” vs. 18

Some years ago a new kind of evangelism strategy evolved in an effort to attract the large numbers of people who had come to be known as “searchers.” There was little concern about liturgy or creeds in worship. Instead there was a focus on music, not the old chorales, but adaptations of what were called “praise” songs, quick-paced and repetitive tunes without much depth. Bands were brought into the worship space and highly skilled musicians would lead the singing from a well-lit stage. Altars disappeared and holy communion along with them, as the focus of worship shifted from participation to performance. In some churches the changes also meant a decreasing emphasis on crosses–they would no longer be the focus of worship. Surveys showed that “searchers” found them depressing! To some extent the trends are understandable. If evangelism is seen as marketing there’s no doubt that a message centering on suffering and death is a hard sell. That’s certainly what Paul discovered in the course of his ministry among the Gentiles. But Paul didn’t back down–he didn’t care if his message about the cross was foolishness, he kept on proclaiming it anyway. Why? In his words, it was “the power of God.” And it was that message that was the core of the most effective evangelism strategy the church has ever known.

Thought for the Day: Why is the message of the cross so powerful?