Psalm 46:1-5

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” vs. 1

When Martin Luther wrote and posted the 95 Theses in 1517 he had no idea what the outcome might be. He knew they were provocative and a challenge for the papacy, but he didn’t realize how earth-shattering they would be. In the ensuing tumult he found comfort in the scriptures, particularly some of the psalms. In fact Psalm 46 became the basis for his most famous hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” When opposition and conflict flared and he feared for his life he found strength in faith–God wasn’t a philosophical concept for academic minds to dissect, God was his very present help in trouble, as close as his next breath. The Reformation sparked by Luther and others transformed the face of the Church for the next 500 years, and now some are saying that it’s time for a new Reformation. Those at the forefront of that exciting movement are doing and saying many challenging things, but no one can predict what the consequences of any changes might be. We still can’t see into the future with any kind of precision! But we do know one thing: God is not going away! We might experiment with different names and addresses, but the Ground of All Being will continue to be our very present help in trouble. This is most certainly true!

Thought for the Day: What would a new Reformation look like?

Jeremiah 31:31-34

“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” vs. 33

The Hebrews had come to believe that there was a special covenant between the Israelites and the Lord, and that the terms of that covenant had been laid out in the Law. According to Jeremiah, because of disobedience, that covenant no longer existed–a relationship based on the Law just doesn’t work! We know the truth of his words. Even though followers of Jesus are called to live by grace, we are regularly tempted to turn back to the Law as a way to order our lives and relationships. And it just doesn’t work! Oh, we can get children to obey with threats and punishment, but only temporarily. Once they grow up and leave home they do whatever they please, often the opposite of what their parents have taught. Jeremiah believed that we only become the people  God has created us to be when righteousness has been nurtured and internalized through unconditional love and regular forgiveness. And that works! We see it again and again. Children raised with love and mercy grow up to do good for goodness’ sake, and not because it’s a rule or a law. The image of God that is in their DNA blossoms and flourishes and they become what they’ve been created to be.

Thought for the Day: What’s the purpose of the Law?

Mark 10:49-52

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’”  vs. 51

Jesus had a reputation as a healer. That’s the main reason crowds followed him from place to place and gathered whenever he stopped. We can understand their reaction. We all crave healing, and if conventional medicine doesn’t give relief many will seek out alternative sources, including those known as faith healers. This little story is the account of one of Jesus’ healings, but what surprises us is the question Jesus asks when the man comes close to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He wants Bartimaeus to articulate his need. That’s an interesting question for anyone who approaches the Divine Presence–it’s a good question for any one of us. What do we want God to do for us? What is it we want from our holy encounter? What is our deepest desire? For the blind man the answer was easy–he wanted to see again. But what about us? What is it that we want? Perhaps the answer is obvious–we want healing. But maybe there is something else–deep inside we may be yearning for another kind of wholeness or completion, and maybe not even for ourselves. Our minds might be focused on the needs of parents or children. And beyond our little everyday worlds, there are the larger issues of society, politics, church, and environment. Everywhere we look there is a need for healing!

Thought for the Day: What do I want Jesus to do for me?

Mark 10:46-48

“Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” vs. 48

When Jesus and his followers passed through Jericho, a prosperous oasis town near the Jordan, its citizens took notice. Among them was Bartimaus, a blind beggar, and he called out at the top of his lungs, “Jesus…have mercy on me.” And many ordered him to be quiet! We can understand their reaction. It’s like that with the poor and needy in our communities too. We know they are present and see them every day, but we don’t want them to make a nuisance of themselves. Sometimes they hold up hand-lettered cardboard signs on street corners–and it irritates us. We’d like them to be arrested. Occasionally they even show up at our churches–they know about Jesus and think that maybe his followers will give them help. Like Bartimaus they cry out “Have mercy!” And mostly we don’t like that–we’d like the needy among us to remain invisible–it’s embarrassing when we have to deal with them. But they’re not going to shut up or go away. More and more people are becoming homeless–and they’re going to keep on expecting that Jesus’s people will have mercy on them. It’s right for them to feel that way–the big question is our response. We want so much to live comfortable lives in safe communities, and the poor are such a nuisance. Why can’t they all just go away?

Thought for the Day: How do I really feel about beggars?

Hebrews 7:27-28

“Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself.” vs. 27

The writer of Hebrews used familiar imagery (for his readers anyway) to convey the truth of the gospel. For any who were wondering how they could possibly atone for their sins now that the temple was gone, he had a simple answer, “Don’t worry about it…Jesus has already taken care of it.” His message continues to be good news, even if we aren’t familiar with high priests or atonement theories. For any who are concerned about forgiveness or who are wondering if their sins are even forgivable, the answer is clear. “Don’t worry about it! It’s been taken care of!” We don’t have to understand the logic or the mechanism, all we need to do is accept that we are forgiven sinners. Now, if we like thinking about such things or enjoy arguing about arcane theological issues, that’s fine. We can go right ahead and do that! But if we want to get on with the business of living without worrying about the past, we’re free to do that too. And that’s the choice most will make. Life is too short for us to waste time feeling guilty about our missteps, mistakes, or sins. By grace we have been set free in Christ to enjoy the life that is ours, both now and forever. 

Thought for the Day: How does it feel to live by grace?

Hebrews 7:23-25

“Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” vs. 25

After the death and resurrection of Jesus his followers continued to go regularly to the temple and make full use of the sacrificial system. After all they were faithful Jews and this is what they were accustomed to do. But after the temple was destroyed in 70 AD they were flummoxed–they needed some sort of ritual that could give them assurance of forgiveness. Gradually, as more and more gentiles became part of the church, the regular practice of Holy Communion filled that void, but some of the Jewish Christians needed more. One of them, the writer of Hebrews, began to understand Jesus as a High Priest, one who for all time had acted on their behalf by the sacrifice of his own life on the cross. For most of us his interpretation is difficult to understand and probably unnecessary. But we do understand the importance of knowing that Jesus is never going to go away. He will be present forever, and in him we always hear words of grace and forgiveness–and that’s important! That’s why participation in Holy Communion continues to be important for the health of our souls. We’re never as perfect as we may appear to be–sin is a constant stalker–and we need as many assurances as we can possibly get that we are loved and forgiven.

Thought for the Day: Why did the sacrificial system work so well?

Psalm 126:4-6

“May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.” vs. 5

Those who are accustomed to live each day with praise and thanksgiving in their hearts understand the powerful role that suffering plays in a well-rounded and healthy life. We have been created with the capacity to cry, not just to cleanse our eyes, but to give evidence of deep feelings, sometimes of joy, but more likely of pain and sadness. In other words, God intends for us to shed tears! It’s not true that “big boys don’t cry!” All people can and should–it’s a part of what makes us human. So when we get hit with bad news or experience suffering it is completely natural for tears to flow. Quite literally, the shedding of those tears is the first step on the road to healing. As the psalmist put it, “May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.” There is no benefit in stifling our pain and acting as though nothing is wrong–followers of Jesus should discard the notions of machismo picked up from culture, and remember instead that shortest bible verse, “Jesus wept.” Well-watered gardens produce the most brilliant blooms and abundant crops. And when we allow our hearts to be irrigated with nutrient-laden tears, we can expect that spiritual fruits will abound. Tears are wiped away and are replaced by smiles and laughter–and it’s all a part of our divine programming!

Thought for the Day: How common were tears in my family?

Psalm 122:1-3

“The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.” vs. 3

Everyone who lived in Jerusalem was aware of the seemingly endless cycle of disasters that had been experienced by Israel. And the psalmist was no exception! Yet he chose to focus instead on the wonderful things that had been done for the people, and he was exuberant in his praise and expressions of joy. It’s wonderful when we can come to the point in our lives when, no matter how they’ve gone, we can recognize that the Lord has done great things for us. Of course that starts with the great mystery of existence itself! No one has ever asked to be born, and purely by grace we have been made alive on a planet that defies description in a universe full of wonders. What a pity it is when we act bored or fed up or long for something more! My word, every day our senses are bombarded by sights, sounds, and smells that are precious gifts–and we get whole lifetimes full of those experiences! There’s an old children’s song that puts it well. “Oh, the Lord is good to me, and so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I need, the sun and the rain and the apple seed. The Lord is good to me! Amen, amen, amen!” It might sound silly, but it’s exactly what the psalmist recommended. The Lord has done great things for us, and rejoicing is always appropriate.

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

Jeremiah 31:7-9

“For thus says the Lord: Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel.’” vs. 7

It’s hard to determine the context of these verses, but it seems likely that they are part of an oracle that was proclaimed shortly after the leading families of Judah were taken to Babylon to live in exile. Not everyone was taken, some had fled to Egypt, but others continued to live in the ruins of Jerusalem. And they never stopped hoping! Some continued to gather for worship and sing praises to the Lord, hoping against hope that a remnant of Israel could be saved and one day the exiles would return. Everything had been destroyed–but their faith remained. The story is touching, and a reminder of the resiliency that has always been a part of our heritage as God’s people. That confidence or trust in God is one thing that endures, even when every other part of our lives has fallen about. We are ravaged by death, divorce, disease, and natural disasters, and still we keep looking to God for our deliverance. That faith gene, or whatever it is, seems indispensable for our continued existence, and will doubtless endure for all generations. It’s the one part of our essence that is indestructible, and that’s something that should make all humans sing aloud with gladness.

Thought for the Day: Could my faith ever be destroyed?

Mark 10:41-45

“But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.” vss. 43-44

If the Christian Church had a constitution and by-laws, these verses would likely be found under the heading “Leadership” as Article I. Jesus understood that greatness according to the world’s standards involved the accumulation of power and wealth. And we know that too! We see it on every level in every community on earth. Even the poorest nations are led by billionaire dictators. The rich never go hungry! And even churches get sucked in. What started with the disciples and their little power grab has continued, and today we have preachers with more money than the fabled Croesus. Those gross distortions are the opposite of what Jesus imagined for his followers. He could not have put it more plainly, “Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant!” And some disciples have paid attention. We see those servant leaders in our congregations and are blessed by their ministries. They do everything with deep humility and don’t need the acclaim of their peers to find worthiness before God. And they don’t just do it on Sunday! They are servants in every setting, as CEO’s, mailroom clerks, rocket scientists, lawyers, and teachers. And their embodiment of the gospel is changing the world. Not everyone is out to make a buck! And that’s a very good thing!

Thought for the Day: Servant leaders that I have known.