Isaiah 9:6-7

“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” vs. 6

Early Christians knew the Hebrew scriptures like the backs of their hands, and after Jesus’s death and resurrection they found dozens of references in the law and the prophets that verified their conviction that Jesus was the messiah. This little verse from Isaiah was well known to them and they quickly connected it to the stories of Jesus’ birth that had arisen among them. In their eyes the Christ was indeed the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and, above all, the Prince of Peace. Many of us know these attributes, not so much from scripture, but from Handel’s Oratorio, arguably the most popular performance piece of the holiday season. Hearing these verses sung by a gifted choir can send chills up our spines and fill our hearts with gladness. The beauty of the choruses makes the popular Christmas songs of our culture seem obscene–there’s no silliness here, no Frosty or Rudolf–Handel’s Messiah is majestic and powerful, a fitting homage to the God-Man, Jesus Christ. We’ll be ending our Advent remembrances this weekend with worship that will most certainly feature the best efforts of our choirs and whole-hearted congregational singing. We may not be able to match the Herald Angels but our songs will come from the heart, and even the tone-deaf will be joining in! It really is the most joyous time of the year!

Thought for the Day: What is my favorite Christmas hymn?

Isaiah 9:2-5

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.” vs. 2

This little verse from Isaiah is familiar to folks who worship on Christmas and is often used as an introduction to the liturgy. Yet in recent years there are some who maintain that the light/darkness metaphor has contributed to the continuing problem of racism. They say that when light represents good and darkness represents evil it affirms common racist convictions regarding skin color. Of course many consider such observations to be pure poppycock and evidence of runaway political correctness. At the same time we must certainly agree that the issue of skin color has had enormous significance in our country. For hundreds of years it has determined a person’s place in the American caste system. It has nothing to do with intelligence, beauty, aptitude, or ability. On the surface it’s a ridiculous way to evaluate a person’s worth, yet skin color has been used exclusively to determine where people fit in. Historically, white color skin gives you a spot at the top. If you’re any shade of black you’re at the bottom. We can agree that this is not right, pass laws against discrimination, and still the problem persists. Perhaps those who see the light this holiday season will be able to agree that there is beauty in darkness, and then work to root out all remaining vestiges of racism among us.

Thought for the Day: Where do I fit in the American caste system?

Matthew 1:21-25

“When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife…” vs. 24

Joseph took dreams seriously! Four different times Matthew tells us Joseph woke up in the morning and did whatever he had been commanded to do during the night. His obedience was impeccable! Sometimes that’s how it works for us too. We might have been wrestling with a decision for some time, unable to make up our minds, and then decide to sleep on it. And when we wake up our direction is crystal clear–we do as we have been directed by our night visitors. There’s something refreshing about that reliance on the Spirit of God for direction. So often we tend to believe that we’re the ones in charge of our destiny and make decisions accordingly. We decide what we want to do and then do it! We end up chasing fame and fortune and never give it a second thought–and then wonder why a spirit of dissatisfaction accompanies us through life like a little black cloud. Paul described himself as a slave of Jesus Christ and expected that he would be guided by the Spirit of Christ as his mission continued. The resurrected Jesus is a living force in our world, and if we are his slaves, we should expect to get orders along the way! And blessings abound when we obey, even when the instructions come while we’re sleeping!

Thought for the Day: How does Jesus command me?

Matthew 1:18-20

“Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.” vs. 1

If all we had was Matthew’s account of Jesus’s birth, Christmas wouldn’t be nearly as much fun. In fact there probably would even be any Sunday School Christmas programs without Luke’s singing angels, watching shepherds, and the baby in a manger. In Matthew there’s only Joseph the Dreamer, and he pretty much runs the show. Matthew’s only concern is to show that Jesus came from the line of David and was born in David’s city through the direct intervention of the Holy Spirit. He wanted all his readers to know that in Jesus God had broken into human existence in a decisive way–this had not been an ordinary birth! Matthew didn’t write a theological treatise about the God-Man, he simply told the story of a man, a woman, and the birth of a baby. His story may not be as heart-warming as Luke’s, and it might be a bit patriarchal for some tastes, but his point is crystal clear. Jesus was the messiah and the incarnation of the Creator God, and in him there is salvation for all humanity. His name in Hebrew was “Yeshua,” or “Yahweh delivers,” and he would save his people from their sins.

Thought for the Day: In what major ways does Matthew’s story agree with Luke’s?

Romans 1:5-7

“through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name…” vs. 5

With the gift of grace Paul had also received what might be called a “calling.” He had been made an apostle, one who is sent as an emissary, in order that Gentiles might also become believers. Essentially, Gentiles were outsiders, anyone who was not a Jew, and it was a big deal when Paul and others realized that the good news of salvation was intended also for them. As a missionary Paul traveled from city to city bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to all who would listen and praying that they would respond with what he calls the “obedience of faith.” His choice of words is important. He’s telling us that faith is more than assent or saying “yes” to the good news–it is also an act of obedience. It actually calls us into a relationship with Jesus. In faith we bow down before Jesus and acknowledge him as our Lord. Grace has gotten us on the team. In faith we are called from the sidelines and enter the game. How is it that some hear the good news and remain unmoved while others joyfully begin to actively serve? Pastors and parents have pondered this mystery for centuries and have no good answers. It’s just the way it is. But when faith does happen it’s truly a time for celebration! 

Thought for the Day: What does it mean to obey the gospel?

Romans 1:1-7

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,” vs. 1

Paul actually calls himself a “slave” of Jesus Christ but since people are uncomfortable with that designation, translators have accommodated and usually substitute the word “servant.” But Paul meant “slave”! He considered himself to be owned, body and soul, by Jesus Christ, with a call to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. Many of us are uncomfortable using that designation–we much prefer calling ourselves “followers” of Jesus. There is a difference. As followers or servants we think of Jesus as being our ethical and moral guide for living. We tell others that we walk in the way of Jesus–we follow his teachings as opposed to those of Confucious or the Buddha. Now obviously that’s not a bad thing, but that doesn’t come close to the dynamic involved in being a slave. Being a follower keeps Jesus at a distance, the rabbi from Nazareth who lived and taught centuries ago. To be a slave is to recognize Jesus as a present power in our lives, a master who is very much alive now, and not just as our guide but as our captain! It’s not so much remembering and following his teachings as it is recognizing his Spirit as a dynamic daily presence. Jesus owns us, as surely as he did Paul, and he has called us to go with the gospel into every corner of our daily lives.

Thought for the Day: Am I a follower or a slave of Jesus?

Psalm 80: 17-19

“Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name. Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” vss. 18-19

As we look over the shoulder of the psalmist we see the prayer that he put in the mouths of worshipers for a time of crisis. It’s not much different from the kind of prayer that many of us might use regularly in the course of a lifetime. In this instance there’s a plea for restoration, a profound desire that the nation might return to a position of power and stability. It’s the sort of thing that we would like for our country. But more often our prayers are for our families and friends, that they might return to health, that strength might be restored. We really do want that for others, and oftentimes too for ourselves. And generally we also make a promise, that if our prayers are heard and answered, if restoration does take place, then we will never again turn away from the Lord. That promise seems to be a natural part of our human interactions with God. Now it’s fine to make such pledges–provided that they come from the heart and aren’t an attempt at manipulation. Because we are called to respond to God’s gifts with changed lives and willing spirits. And when our intentions match what we actually end up doing, the asked for restoration will be made complete, and God’s face is radiant.

Thought for the Day: What promises have I made to God?

Psalm 80:1-7

“You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.” vs. 5

Occasionally we can get some pretty bad cases of the “blues” during this time of year. Even though holiday music is on the air all through the day and neighborhood decorations lighten the darkness, a kind of malaise comes to visit, and it’s hard to maintain the requisite seasonal cheery smile. Sometimes we just feel like crying! Often it’s triggered by thoughts of those who have died or the apparent dysfunction of our family, and sometimes it seems as though God has stopped paying any attention to our prayers. Those feelings are especially true if we’ve been raised in a religious environment where sadness, pain, and suffering are seen to be signs of doubt. There’s a message in such communities that if we are truly close to Jesus we will be in a perpetual state of joy and praise. Of course that’s simply not true. Those who are in Christ will experience the full range of human emotions, sometimes all in the course of a single day. And tears should be welcomed, even those that come in full measure and require a whole box of tissues. And when everyone else is out shouting “Merry Christmas” with fake smiles on their faces, our real sadness can be magnified. Be assured, we are not deserted by God in our pain–the Jesus who wept at the death of his friend weeps now with us!

Thought for the Day: When does blueness hit me?

Isaiah 7:10-16

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.” vs. 14

During the years Isaiah was an advisor to King Ahaz of Judah, Israel and Syria had joined forces and launched an attack against Jerusalem, hoping to overthrow Ahaz. In the midst of the siege Isaiah goes to Ahaz, and when Ahaz refuses to ask God for a sign, gives him one of his own devising. A young woman will have a son and call him Immanuel, a symbolic name meaning “With us is God.” God was with Judah and Jerusalem was spared, at least for the time being. The name is familiar–believers from the beginning have attached it to Jesus–and it fits! If we’re wondering if God has abandoned us, or if there really is a God, we need look no further than Jesus. In him God is with us! It’s the most wonderful sign that humanity has ever been given. That’s why believers get so excited as we get ready for our annual celebration of Jesus’ birth. There are many things to be concerned about in our messed up world. Wars continue unabated, climate change is happening faster than we ever imagined, and refugees abound. And in the middle of all that we gather to sing out our favorite Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come Immanuel.” We don’t have to find God–God is already among us–unseen and powerful! Our future is secure!

Thought for the Day: What are signs that God is with us?

Matthew 11:7-11

“Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” vs. 11

Jesus had to be careful in talking about John the Baptist. He was a well-known radical preacher who had gained enormous popularity by speaking truth to power. Large numbers of people had become his disciples and they had been deeply upset by his arrest and imprisonment. In fact, Jesus had come from Nazareth to the Jordan River in order to hear John speak and be baptized by him. That moment turned out to be the turning point in Jesus’ life. Guided by the Spirit he went back to Galilee and began proclaiming a similar yet radically different message, one based not on what we can do for God, but on what God does for us. This distinction continues to be what sets the gospel apart from all the legalistic messages so common in our culture. That’s why waiting is so important for believers, not only in Advent, but all through the year. We’re not only remembering the unconditional love of God that was made flesh in Jesus, we’re actively anticipating signs of that same love in our daily lives. Oh what an exciting life we have! God has come and is coming–and even we who think ourselves the least in the kingdom have a ringside seat to the action.

Thought for the Day: What has God done for me?