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?

Genesis 32:26-32

“Then the man said, ‘You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.’” vs. 28

These days when traveling through Israel, tourists are amazed to discover large fields of prickly pear cactus. The pads are eaten as a vegetable and the pods make delicious jams and jellies–in Israel they are known as “sabra,” which is also the name given to native born Israelis. The name describes them well–like the sabra, a tenacious, prickly desert plant, these Jews believe themselves to be tough on the outside, but having a certain sweetness on the inside. Whether or not this is true, the name “sabra” does call to mind the tenacious desert dweller, Jacob, who wrestled with God and with humans and was blessed with a new name. “Israel” means “one who strives with God” and became the name by which Jacob’s descendents have been known. Indeed, according to the scriptures the people of Israel have a long history of struggling with God–nothing came easy for them. Of course the same thing could be said of the followers of Jesus. While the Christian life is often portrayed as being full of peace and serenity, for many disciples it’s been nothing of the sort. And there really is a sort of toughness required for those who live in Christ. Of course that’s not all bad–without the struggle there would probably be no growth! And a prickly pear really isn’t a bad role model!

Thought for the Day: Can a person be both tough and gentle?

Genesis 32:22-25

“Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.” vs. 24

Jacob had fled from Esau’s presence when his trickery in stealing his father’s blessing had been revealed, and he had stayed with his uncle Laban for over 20 years. He had married Laban’s daughters and had become a wealthy man, but he yearned for his homeland. After sending word to Esau that he was on the way, Jacob stayed alone at the ford of the Jabbak while his wives, children, and cattle went ahead. That night, not knowing what Esau’s response would be, Jacob wrestled with an unknown man until daybreak. It’s an intense struggle, and we get the idea that Jacob is battling with himself and with God. Occasionally we will have these dark nights of the soul, those sleepless hours when we duke it out with God. Usually these are the momentous times when our whole future seems to hang in the balance. In Jacob’s case the struggle came on the eve of his reunion with Esau–and he didn’t know what would happen. Our sleepless nights probably pale in comparison, but the emotional pressures can be intense, and we can’t always be certain of outcomes. We may even have a deep sense of foreboding at what we are intending to do. It’s not even a matter of right and wrong–we only know that this is something we have to do–and in the struggle we feel terribly alone. And mysteriously, God is there too!

Thought for the Day: Have I ever had a “Jacob moment’?

Luke 18:6-8

“And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” vss. 7-8

The parable of the unjust judge has been clear in affirming the faithfulness of God. If a crooked judge will answer persistent petitions, then certainly God will do the same. How could we even imagine otherwise? But the more important question has to do with the faithfulness of believers. After months, and even years of coming to God in prayer, and often not getting what we want, how long will we continue to be people of faith? Is there a point when we give up on God, go our own way, and even stop taking time to pray? Unfortunately, it would seem that many times this is the case. People do tire of repeating the same petitions again and again, especially when they’ve learned to think of God as their “great parent in the sky.” In such instances it’s not unusual for faith to virtually disappear. Sadly some will even say they no longer believe in God. But those who remain faithful eventually discover that the point and power of prayer is not in the answers, but in the process. Somehow as we regularly offer our petitions of praise and supplication, our divine connections even bring us the satisfaction we crave and all the answers we need!

Thought for the Day: What might cause me to stop praying?

Luke 18:1-5

“Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.” vs. 1

Jesus knew that prayer can often be a disheartening experience, mostly because there seems to be no response from God. So he tells his disciples a parable about an unjust judge who neither feared God nor respected people. But when a poor woman kept coming with a plea for justice, the judge finally granted her request just to keep her from bothering him. Jesus’ point is clear. If persistence pays off in dealing with corrupt judges, there is surely great value in regular and persistent prayer. Many disciples continue to need that encouragement. It isn’t that there’s some magic number of times we have to repeat a prayer before it is answered–God surely doesn’t keep track of such things. But it’s the persistence itself that brings satisfaction in prayer! Prayer isn’t a tool that Christians haul out when they’re in a rough spot, prayer is a way of life, a daily conversation with God about whatever is troubling us or giving us joy. And in those quiet moments, as time passes, prayers can be repeated for a lifetime. We may not get the results we want or expect but with the praying comes healing and peace. Connections are made with God and the entire community that bring spiritual strength and daily support. A life built on a foundation of persistent prayer brings satisfaction beyond all expectations.

Thought for the Day: What have been my most persistent prayers?