1 Corinthians 12:3b-11

“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” vs. 7

Paul’s words to the Corinthians undermine one of the basic assumptions of contemporary Christianity, namely, that we engage in spiritual practices for the sake of strengthening our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That sounds good and it speaks to our love of individualism as a national creed. But it wasn’t Paul’s vision of the Church. His phrase “for the common good” implies that believers will not just be looking for faith practices that will be good for themselves. Rather, Paul taught that the Holy Spirit calls us into relationship with one another and that the gifts we are given are meant to strengthen the community, and not just our personal faith.

That’s probably the major reason people of faith who move to a new city or neighborhood cannot really be at peace until they feel part of a community or a congregation. They know how important it is to be connected and have come to believe that they have gifts that can be put at the disposal of the whole. What a blessing it is when such persons stumble into a Spirit-filled congregation that is able to identify and use their gifts! This is when the Church is at its best!

Personal spiritual growth can be a wonderful thing, but there is nothing more vital to our faith than connecting with a body that can actually use and multiply our gifts for the common good.

Thought for the Day: How am I using my gifts in my community?

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

“O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures…When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.” vss. 24, 30

The psalmist couldn’t contain himself! He was full of praise and exultation. Everywhere he looked he saw the hand of God. God was the creator and the sustainer of the universe and everything that it contains. There couldn’t have been a day that passed in which his joy could be restrained. God was quite literally everywhere, and inside him to boot!

It’s a pity that some of those connections have been lost in our AI, screen-jammed world. Some stare all day long and even into the night at their computers and phones, and completely miss the wonder of God’s presence. When we do take a break from our screens and wander into the realms outside our homes and offices, at first it’s hard to adjust. We don’t even hear the conversation of the birds and we miss the flight of the bumblebees. 

But then the Spirit breaks through and we are able to join the reveries of the psalmist. And it’s wonderful! Through our miraculous senses we are ushered into the presence of God, and our hearts are filled. Some days we may even decide to abandon our screens for the rest of the day!

Thought for the Day: What happens when we turn off our computer and phone?

Acts 2:14-21

“In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” vs. 17

Luke understood the Day of Pentecost as being a great Spirit-filled revival with Peter as the principle preacher. Peter, in addressing this diverse crowd of Jews, used a passage from the prophet Joel to describe what was happening. This outburst of excitement and enthusiasm was nothing less than the outpouring of God’s Spirit and a promise of a new and glorious day. All flesh would be touched by the Spirit and even the dreams of the old would come to pass.

Pentecost-like revivals have been a fixture in the life of the Church ever since that auspicious beginning, and the Spirit has been poured out upon all flesh. In recent months our country has begun to link that call for revival with the 250th anniversary of the United States. But this call is not being generated by evangelist leaders like Peter or Paul. Instead it’s billionaire politicians who are leading the way, encouraging people to think of our country as a Christian nation under God. 

For some this is good news, a sign of hope in troubled times. But others wonder! The teachings of Jesus are indeed a message to be embraced, but what Jesus taught has nothing to do with waging war, neglecting the poor, or the deportation of refugees. Is this really how the Spirit works?

Thought for the Day: Where do I see outpourings of God’s Spirit?

Acts 2:1-13

“All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’” vss. 12-13

For sheer dramatic effect there is probably no event more compelling than Luke’s account of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Think of it! There had been a gathering of Jews from around the Diaspora for the annual festival of Shavuot or Feast of Weeks and suddenly Galileans, the followers of the recently crucified Jesus of Nazareth, began speaking in the native languages of all those who had come to worship. This wasn’t an event like the birth of Jesus in a hidden and obscure stable; this was like halftime at the SuperBowl, an explosion of excitement that was both amazing and perplexing. Something big was happening and no one knew what it was!

Of course some were dismissive and gave all the credit to the fruit of the vine and its intoxicating side-effects. That’s far easier to understand than the outpouring of the Spirit that had taken place in the upper room. That’s still the way it is when we encounter people in whom the Holy Spirit is actively working. The transformation is visible and unexplainable. Lives are changed and brokenness healed. Some are quick to say that these are probably the effects of some new drug, but believers know that the restoration is the fruit of the Spirit’s presence. 

Thought for the Day: What Holy Spirit changes have I experienced?

John 17:6-11

“And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” vs. 11

For the people of Norway this is Syttende Mai or Constitution Day, their national day of celebration. It’s a big day, the Norwegian equivalent of the Fourth of July, and many Americans of Norwegian descent will use today to remember and celebrate their heritage. These ethnic celebrations are fun, and some are happy to participate. But they can also become times for division in congregations. Jesus prayed that his followers would be one, and from the beginning, unity has been one of the marks of an authentic Christian community. The apostle Paul certainly reflects that concern for unity in his first letter to the church in Corinth.

Through the centuries ethnic and racial differences have at various times been a challenge to the expression of oneness in our congregations. Something that is a point of pride for one group becomes an emblem of exclusion for another. As people have become sensitive to such barriers some cherished traditions have had to be put aside. For instance, some congregations have discovered that holding annual lutefisk dinners may not be the best tool for outreach!

For some it’s been hard to give up those connections to the “old country,” but followers of Jesus will gladly put welcoming the stranger ahead of “smelly fish” as part of their mission plan!

Thought for the Day: What ethnic tradition is apparent in my congregation?

John 17:1-5

“I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.” vs. 4

In John’s gospel Jesus  concludes his ministry by gathering his disciples in an upper room for final instructions and a closing prayer. In that prayer he indicates deep satisfaction with the way his life has unfolded. He believed that he had successfully concluded all the work that he had been given to do. That conviction is borne out the next day by his final words on the cross, “It is finished!”

It seems that Jesus’ main intention in life was to glorify God in all that he said and did, and it obviously gave him great satisfaction in knowing that this is what he had done. While on our part we can’t claim to have been sent as messiahs, the way we live our lives is a way to give glory to God.. Throughout history some have done this by using some version of the Latin phrase, “Sola Deo Gloria.” 

People like Bach, Handel, and Bernard Langer, who use such language with regard to their achievements are giving credit for their excellence to God. They’ve only done what they’ve done by the power and direction of God, and their words testify to their faith. It would be wonderful if all believers would use their gifts and talents, not for their own exaltation, but to give glory to God. How good it would be if we could say at life’s end. “I have finished the work you gave me to do. Glory be to you, O God!”

Thought for the Day: How has my life glorified God?

1 Peter 5:6-11

“Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.” vs. 8

We can’t be sure if the disciple Peter was really the person who wrote the epistle bearing his name. But if it was, he certainly knew what he was talking about. He probably never forgot the day in Galilee, when Jesus, just after calling him the Rock, humbled him in front of his peers by saying, “Get behind me, Satan!” Peter learned from that experience that temptations can come at us from most any direction.

Even our closest friends can lead us from the path of righteousness with empty promises and false assurances, and if we don’t have a strong moral compass we’re easy prey for deception.  Peter advised his readers to develop a solid self-discipline, one that will enable us to recognize those who are likely to confuse and deceive.

In this social media dominated culture the roaring lions prowl unimpeded through the morass of artificial intelligence and the scourge of those who call themselves “influencers.” There was a time when it was a terrible thing to be a liar and a deceiver, but in these latter days lying has become an artform and permeates every realm of society. Surely this is a time for constant vigilance and discipline. It’s much too easy to be victimized by those we thought we could trust!

Thought for the Day: Where does my life lack discipline?

1 Peter 4:12-14

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”

It’s good for us to get a glimpse of what life was like for Christians in the beginning years of the Church. While they were fired up by the good news of the gospel there were also fiery ordeals for them to endure. Peter refers to those occasions as being times of testing.

What we forget sometimes is that those moments still happen for followers of Jesus. We are not immune to injustice and acts of cruel insensitivity. And often life just isn’t very fair! Children and parents can disappoint us, and we certainly don’t anticipate the twists and turns that are a part of the aging process. Even our congregations can become a testing ground for our faith–it’s uncanny how nasty people of faith can be to each other! A loving community can transition into a caldron of vicious rumors and gossip in a heartbeat.

Peter seems to indicate that we should not be surprised when such things take place and brokenness comes knocking on our doors. That’s how it is in our good world. All people are broken and we are fools to think we’re not going to be affected. But Peter implies that those tough moments are when faith can become stronger than ever. We could even think of them as blessings!

Thought for the Day: What “fiery ordeals” have tested my faith?

Psalm 68:32-35

“Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people.” vs. 35

In our enthusiasm we are likely to describe most any sort of experience, ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime, as being “awesome.” But sometimes we use it so frequently that its impact gets watered down. After all, the more things we add to the “awesome” category, the less awesome any of them become. 

For the psalmist however, it’s likely that the word “awesome” could only be used to describe God. Everything flowed from God, the Source of all goodness and strength, the Giver of life and salvation, and the King above all kings. If we were to use that standard in describing the people and events of our lives, it’s unlikely that we would ever use the word “awesome.” Nothing could possibly measure up.

But still it would not be a good idea to take the word out of our vocabularies and decide never to use it. Perhaps it would be best to just restrict its use, and reserve it for those things which truly are awesome. Because there surely are awesome times in each of our lives. Those would be the moments in  which we are overwhelmed by the Divine Presence, times when tears come to our eyes and joy fills our hearts, not because of any human achievement, but because God has overwhelmed us. They do happen! God really is an awesome God!

Thought for the Day: How do I use the word “awesome?”

Psalm 68:1-10

But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy. Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds—his name is the Lord— be exultant before him vss. 3-4

There is a contemporary popular worship song by Robin Mark called “Days of Elijah.” The chorus has an upbeat tempo and its lyrics could well have been written by this psalmist: “Behold he comes, riding on the clouds, shining like the sun at the trumpet call. Lift your voice, it’s the year of Jubilee, and out of Zion’s hill salvation comes.” We love to sing hymns like this, and if it’s a choir number, with all the different parts, it can give a jolt to any worship service.

We need to hear and sing songs in worship occasionally that lift us up and give us joy. When the tunes are familiar everybody sings and good feelings abound. The metaphors in “Days of Elijah” are from biblical themes, and even if we don’t take them literally, the mood of triumph is unmistakable.

It’s not that we’re on the winning team and everyone else is losing. We celebrate because in Christ Jesus we’re all winners, and what better reason could we possibly have for songs of triumph? Besides, we celebrate resurrection every single Sunday and once in a while it doesn’t hurt to be absolutely jubilant with joy–and maybe even clap our hands.

 Thought for the Day: What’s a rousing worship song that I love?