2 Timothy 2:14-15

“Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening.” vs. 14

It’s true that words are important and that the meaning of an entire sentence can be changed by the omission or addition of just a word or two. And sometimes it’s fun to debate the precise meaning of sentences, and even wrangle over which words should be chosen to bring clarity. But it’s also that these arguments about minutiae can drive others to distraction and even bring division. This has been especially true in the Church. Through the centuries almost every schism and rebellion can be traced to debates involved in developing dogma or theological propositions. One side will triumph or be declared the winner, sometimes by a vote in an assembly, and the other side, or sides, will pack up their bags and leave, often to form an alternative sect or denomination. Occasionally the differences have led to actual warfare, and thousands of people have died. Looked at from an historical perspective, the whole enterprise seems incredibly foolish, and yet we continue to do exactly the same thing in our current congregations and denominations. It’s amazing sometimes that the Church has survived at all! Admittedly it’s hard to put aside differences of opinion for the sake of the gospel. But unity requires an end to wrangling, especially when we think we’re right!

Thought for the Day: What’s the best antidote for wrangling?

2 Timothy 2:8-13

“The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” vss. 11-13

These verses are thought to be part of an ancient Christian hymn and review some of the basic truths that are important for believers to remember. We are encouraged to endure in our faith and not to deny Christ like Peter did. It may be that suffering will be in our future as it was for Paul. The refrain is familiar. But then there is this amazing verse, “If we are faithless, he remains faithful–for he cannot deny himself.” What an incredible word of hope, really the bedrock of the gospel. On Christ the solid Rock we stand, all other ground is sinking sand. Christ will be the Rock always, no matter how far we stray. Even if we are faithless, Christ will remain faithful. That’s what rocks do! What good news this is for us and for our children and grandchildren! We can stop worrying right now! God’s steadfast mercy never departs from us–there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. Even on our worst days, those times when we’ve behaved so poorly, and exposed our brokenness for all to see, God remains faithful and forgiveness is ours. God cannot not be God! Praise God!

Thought for the Day: When have I been faithless?

Psalm 111

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.” vs.10

For many people believing in a Higher Power is an afterthought, something to be considered when life starts to fall apart, and their plans for the good life go awry. Based on the declining levels of worship attendance, (fewer than 30% of the population each week), more and more people are living like this. Seemingly  there are very few folks who give the Lord a high priority in their lives. The psalmist would wonder about those statistics. For him the fear of the Lord (faith) was the beginning of wisdom, the anchor point around which everything else in life revolves. Perhaps this is why so many people get so messed up in the course of their days on earth. Even though all folks are broken to some extent, the brokenness of some is exacerbated by their careless decisions and lack of focus. Not only is their speech colored by lies and profanity, their choices reflect a preference for immorality and abusive behavior. What a blessing to know that people of faith put God first and day to day are growing in wisdom and understanding! They experience order in their lives and the fruits of their wisdom bring love and understanding to the broken and the hurting. In their lives the praise of the Lord endures forever.

Thought for the Day: What is the fear of the Lord?

2 Kings 5:7-15c

 “But his servants approached and said to him, ‘Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, “Wash, and be clean”?’“ vs. 14

Naaman had an elevated sense of his own importance. But when he came with his entourage to Elisha’s house, Elisha didn’t even come out to see him–he just sent out a messenger with instructions to go to the Jordan River and wash. Not only was Naaman not impressed, he became angry at the lack of respect, and decided to leave. But his servants were smarter than that and told him to just do the simple thing that Elisha had prescribed. Sometimes it’s hard for us as believers to accept that our salvation has already been taken care of, that it could be as simple as “wash and be clean.” For some reason we  have been hard-wired to think that faith is more complicated than that and that there are multiple hoops to jump through. Of course there are plenty of charlatans around who like to surround faith with complex rituals coupled with hard to understand doctrines and dogmas.  But in reality all that is required is an “I believe,” and the door to the Peaceable Kingdom is opened, our brokenness is healed, and we are restored. And all the glory goes to God! 

Thought for the Day: How do I complicate faith?

2 Kings 5:1-3

“Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy.” vs. 1

At the time of Elisha, about 850 BCE, Aram, Israel, and Judah were small monarchies clustered along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. They weren’t great powers but they seemed to take great delight in warring with each other. It’s interesting that while the nation of Aram was ultimately swallowed up by the Assyrians, the Aramean language spread over most of the Middle East and was likely the one spoken by Jesus. In Elisha’s day Aram and Israel regularly raided across borders, pillaging and taking captives, and Naaman was the commander of the Aramean army. But he got his name in the bible because he got leprosy, a dreaded skin disease. No one, no matter how famous, is immune to illness and suffering. Naaman however had an Elisha connection, a young slave girl from Israel that he’d captured on a raid and given to his wife, and she knew that Elisha could heal him. The girl told her mistress and set in motion a most unlikely chain of circumstances that concluded with Naaman paying a visit to Elisha. It’s amazing how connections like that work in our world. Simple conversations turn into life-enhancing messages that cut across ethnic, religious, and economic boundaries, and a brief comment turns into a surprise and sometimes even a miracle.

Thought for the Day: What’s an unexpected connection that changed my life?

Luke 17:6-10

“So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’” vs. 10

In this little parable Jesus says that the role of the slave is to do the master’s bidding without expecting praise or thanks. Presumably the disciples would have agreed. That’s how slavery works. But it must have been a jolt then when Jesus goes on to describe them as worthless slaves. His words seem harsh and we might wonder what he’s getting at. And yet this is exactly the way believers have come to think of themselves. While we might prefer to be known as disciples, in truth we are slaves in the service of our Lord Jesus. And as such, it is both our duty and our delight to thank, praise, and obey him in all that we say and do. It’s our duty because this is the job description of a servant–as we live the life of faith we’re simply doing what we’re supposed to be doing, and some days it may seem more of a grind than others. But it’s also our delight, because there is no finer calling than to be in the service of the Lord Jesus. And some days we experience that delight in all of its glory. We can’t even imagine a more joyful way to live out our days here on earth. Why wouldn’t it be delightful when we’ve got the best boss ever!?

Thought for the Day: What kind of a boss is Jesus?

Luke 17:5-6

“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’” Luke 17:5-6

The disciples were a lot like many of us. They believed that it was possible for them to increase their faith. So Jesus told them in no uncertain terms that size doesn’t matter. Their problem was that they weren’t looking for increased faith at all, they were looking for certitude! And that’s not faith. As the writer, Ann Lamott has said, “The opposite of faith is not doubt, it’s certainty.” That’s a hard concept to get into our heads, but what a relief it is when we finally get it. That’s why it’s so hard to deal with pious folks who smugly claim to have no doubts about God. They turn us off with their certainty, especially when they imply there’s something wrong with us. That’s why Thomas is so appealing. He was open about his doubts, but his faith won the day! That little bit of faith that we have is plenty–in fact Jesus says it has power beyond our imaginations. That mustard-size faith is big enough to handle cancer, heart disease, and divorce. Sometimes we get so fed up with the world that it’s hard to believe anything, but our little bit of faith keeps us going. God is and because God is, there’s nothing that can separate us from the love of God.

Thought for the Day: Why do I like to have certainty about stuff?

2 Timothy 1:6-14

“For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; ⁷for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.” vs. 6

This verse will remind many believers of their confirmation day, that ritual in which confirmands receive the laying on of hands as they affirm their baptisms. The pastor places both hands on their heads and earnestly prays that the gift of the Holy Spirit would be stirred up in them and that they would be guided and empowered by the Spirit in their service and in their suffering. It’s a powerful moment, at least for the pastor! But the reality is that the majority of confirmands quickly depart from faith. Sometimes they barely make it to the parking lot! And while most pastors have much to be grateful for in their various congregationa, they feel sadness for those who wander. Some even feel it as a personal failure! It isn’t that they fear for the souls of those youth–they know the gift of grace can never be lost. But what a blessing there is in faith! Paul had laid hands on Timothy, and it may be that Timothy had wandered. But Paul now prays that the gift of faith might be rekindled, and that Timothy would live with a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. And Paul’s prayer was answered. Timothy became a leader in the Church–his gifts were not lost!

Thought for the Day: What has rekindled my faith?

2 Timothy 1:1-5

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.” vs. 5

Paul had encountered Timothy when he visited the city of Lystra on his first missionary journey and he’d been impressed by the strength of his faith. Later on, after he and Barnabas had parted company, Paul returned to Lystra with Silas, and asked Timothy to accompany them as they continued their journey through Galatia. Timothy’s father was a Gentile but his mother, Eunice, was a Jew who had learned about Jesus from her mother, Lois. Growing up in that household had given Timothy a strong and lasting faith. Many of us can likely testify to the importance of family testimony in passing on the good news of Jesus. When our mothers and grandmothers are believers the strength of their witness is overwhelming. Of course family ties are no guarantee the faith will be passed on. We all know instances where children of devout parents wander off to pursue other gods, sometimes as a result of a kind of natural teenage rebellion. And sometimes they stay away from the Church. But we can never discount the prayers of a grandma or grandpa. When there is also a gentle, loving, and humble spirit, those prayers are highly effective,  and can often spark repentance and a return to faith.

Thought for the Day: How has family built my faith?

Psalm 37:1-9

“Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices.” vs. 7

No matter who we are, no matter what our political stance, we are living at a time when it’s possible to be  driven to distraction by what “the other side” is doing. And because there is seemingly nothing we can do to alter the course of events, it’s possible for our fretting to become an obsession. The psalmist evidently knew that feeling and advised his audience to “be still before the Lord.” And while that’s easier said than done, when we can pull it off, we can find amazing relief. As we quiet ourselves, and focus on something other than our smart phones and the internet, we can see God’s comforting presence in the course of our days. It could be in the flight of a butterfly or the busy cooing of the doves or in the kind smile of a stranger at the grocery store. There really is goodness all around, even in our most stressful days. And as far as the irritating people are concerned, their days are numbered, and their influence will inevitably disappear. There really is no room for fretting in the beautiful life that we have been handed in Christ. After all we’re on a timetable too and our time in this paradise is limited, so why should we spend our days being miserable, when there is so much that can give us delight?

Thought for the Day: What gives me delight?