Luke 14:1, 7-11

“For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” vs. 11

When Jesus went to the house of the leader of the Pharisees on the sabbath, Luke says that they were watching him closely–and he was watching them! And their behavior in choosing a place at the table triggered some choice comments from him about self-exaltation. Their culture, like ours, placed a huge premium on honor and people would go to any lengths to impress their peers. We see the same sort of thing. Our children learn quickly that they need to put themselves forward to get recognition and clever self-promotion has become essential for advancement in business. Admittedly that’s probably not going to change in the kind of society that we’ve built for ourselves, especially since nearly every business or profession is dependent on aggressive marketing for survival. But once in a great while we find someone who goes against the grain, a person who has chosen to live humbly in this world of competition. They are like a breath of fresh air! They are who they seem to be, with no airs or sense of entitlement. And they really don’t care if they get honors or recognition. Content to be who they are, they love deeply and serve faithfully–and if they remain anonymous, that’s perfectly okay with them. And because they don’t care if they are ever exalted, they become blessings to us all!

Thought for the Day: What are the blessings of humility?

Hebrews 13:6-8, 15-16

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” vs. 7

We like to imagine that we make our own decisions about life without any outside influences, but the truth is that all of us are strongly influenced by leaders, both inside and outside of the church. The writer of Hebrews has in mind faith leaders, those who have been our guides in the spiritual and ethical realms. We are advised to consider how they live in the world and watch how their lives unfold. Sometimes they may have been charletons, saying one thing while doing another. In that case it would be wise to get another leader. But when we’ve known people for a long time and admire their consistency and integrity, we’d be wise to imitate their faith. The surest guides to fruitful and rich lives are not the political pundits and evangelists we know only from television and social media. They can put on a good show, but we know nothing of their souls! A leader’s values become visible most clearly through conversation and personal connections–and the best of them will always point beyond themselves to the Christ. It’s not that they will have led perfect lives–the most genuine leaders will always have stories of failure and pain. In fact their vulnerability and lack of pretense will draw us even closer, and we will gladly walk in their ways.

Thought for the Day: Who has been my greatest faith influence?

Hebrews 13:1-5

“Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.’” vs. 5

The writer of Hebrews concludes his letter to early believers with some words of encouragement and advice. His admonitions are consistent with the words of Jesus and the testimony of scripture, but still we seem reluctant to accept what he has to say about money. There are some who believe that if people didn’t love money our entire economy would grind to a halt. From our youth we have been told that the goal of life is accumulation: bigger and better homes, new cars, and extravagant travel. And to get all of that we need to have more money–and that becomes the dream for the majority of us. Some have set goals, believing that if they can get millions into their retirement pots, contentment will follow. But an even greater aspiration would be simple contentment with what we have–even if we didn’t manage to win the lottery or cash in on our stock portfolios. Some people live like that! They adjust their lives to whatever they have, and that is enough for them. As long as they have love in their lives, food in their bellies, and a pillow to rest their heads they will be happy. Some would even say that these are the great winners in the game of life, and we sense that Jesus would agree. 

Thought for the Day: What do I need for contentment?

Psalm 112:5-10

“For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever. They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord.” vss. 6-7

It’s easy to get discouraged at times like this. There is a constant barrage of warnings about climate change and “breaking news” of threats from all parts of the globe. Nations are competing to perfect missiles that cannot be defended against and we wonder if more attacks will soon be launched by our unfriendly competitors. And it’s even harder to stay upbeat when election campaigns are kicking off and we see warnings of doom and destruction if the wrong candidates are elected. Every commercial break, even in golf matches, brings heavily edited news clips and fabricated accusations. It’s hard to remember that in the midst of all this garbage there are good and righteous people who are sincerely working on behalf of the poor and in the pursuit of justice. The psalmist bids us not to be afraid of evil tidings, to continue with a spirit of optimism even in the midst of disaster, and we wonder if such an attitude is even possible. Our history as people of faith gives us hope. When our hearts are firm and secure in the Lord we will continue to trust in every circumstance, most especially when the politicians we detest end up winning elections. Such persons come and go, but the Lord continues forever!

Thought for the Day: When is it most difficult for me to be optimistic?

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?