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.

Mark 10:35-45

“James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’” vs. 35

According to Mark, the disciples were obsessed with greatness and glory. They’d been nothing when Jesus called them, but after a few months on the road they began vying for corner offices in the executive suite. At first this was an internal competition, something discussed privately, but before long James and John were bold enough to approach Jesus directly–they wanted him to do for them whatever they asked. They were looking for places of authority and power in the coming kingdom. A lot of us can identify. One of the ways we measure success is by noting how many people we have power over. Often we hear parents brag about their children by noting how many are under them in their job or profession. By the world’s standards the more people “under us” the better we’re doing. It happens everywhere–it’s why pastors want to be “lead” rather than “associate.” That’s why titles are important in the workplace–we want designations that reflect the perceived power of our position. And being a follower of Jesus doesn’t remove that lust from our hearts. No matter how faithful we are, we will most often have a concern for status and how we measure up with regard to others. We should note that this desire didn’t work out well for James and John, and in the peaceable kingdom it has no place at all.

Thought for the Day: What worldly aspirations have I had?

Hebrews 5:1-10

“He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people.” vss. 2-3

During the days of Temple worship in Jerusalem, the high priest was in charge of the whole sacrificial system. He was the one who organized the days on which sacrifices could be made, made sure there were always priests available, and provided plenty of animal sacrifices for purchase by the penitent. According to the writer of Hebrews the best of the high priests were gentle in dealing with the sinners who brought their offerings because they were fully aware of their own weaknesses. They too needed the forgiveness of sins. While such a system seems primitive and obscure in our time, we are aware of pastors in our congregations who possess those same gentle spirits. The best of them know their people intimately and treat even the wayward with respect and dignity. They seldom pass judgment in their sermons and are always ready to lift up the broken and comfort the weary. Often they’ll share stories of their own struggles with faith and temptation–they make no effort to cover up the fact that they too are sinners. While that might be disturbing to some–they want their pastors to be perfect–most people are pleased that their pastor has flaws. Somehow it makes them more believable!

Thought for the Day: What flaws does my pastor have?

Psalm 91:14-16

“With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.” vs. 16

Humans have always appreciated longevity, and the psalmist considered long life to be one of God’s choicest blessings. Most of us would agree, and do whatever we can to increase our years. We’re deeply aware that not everyone gets a chance to live long; some don’t survive infancy and too many fall prey to accident, war, or disease before they’ve even reached thirty. Knowing that death can come at any age adds appreciation for the years we do get, and drives our desire to add even more. In our times, advanced medical procedures and careful attention to nutrition and exercise have enabled many to live far beyond expectations. Centenarians are becoming more common and, barring disease or accident, most people fully expect to live into their 80’s and 90’s. What’s been discovered though, is that sometimes old age isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Quality of life issues pop up regularly with advancing years and we wonder if getting old is always a blessing. Sometimes the memory goes, arthritis can make movement a pain, and loneliness is often an issue. Life can become a burden–it’s not strange then that some begin to despair and even long for an ending. But when our genetic wiring is good and we can age with faculties and bodies intact, life continues to bring delight, and each day is greeted with thanksgiving. We may not know how many we have left, but thank God for today!

Thought for the Day: What do I fear about aging?

Psalm 91:9-13

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” vss. 11-12

Many people love the song, “On Eagle’s Wings,” the one based on Psalm 91. It could be the tune, the phrasing and the notes are beautiful, but the words have a power all their own. We like to imagine being lifted up from the cares and concerns of life and being carried away to a safe place, and we don’t much care whether it’s by the hands of angels or the wings of eagles. What’s interesting though is that the song speaks most clearly to us in the wake of death or disaster! Most often we haven’t been protected at all! And that’s generally how life is. Ugly and bad stuff happens, and most of us lack immunity. But still we love this psalm, probably because it helps to lift us from feelings of darkness and despair. It is so good to know that in God, we can count on being lifted up when danger lurks, and it’s a protection that goes far beyond episodic miraculous rescue. Our Lord does take care of us, and angels stand at ready, in our neighborhoods and communities, to take us by the hand and walk with us through tumultuous times. It’s all a part of God’s love for the entire creation.

Thought for the Day: When have I been lifted up?

Isaiah 53:10-12

“Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.” vs. 10

While it may once have seemed logical to understand the death of Jesus as a fulfillment of Isaiah 53, such a notion is now regarded by many Christians as untenable. For one thing the prophet was not referring to events that were to come, rather he was commenting on things that had already taken place, i.e. the tragic defeat and exile of Judah at the hands of the Babylonians. And secondly, he implies that God intentionally crushes those who he loves with pain. And while that belief was accepted as doctrinally sound for centuries, many followers of Jesus find it impossible to believe that God was responsible for Jesus’ death. They find it unthinkable to claim that forgiveness has come through God’s intentional sacrifice of his Son, a type of divine child abuse. It is true that Jesus died on a cross, but not because God willed it! Jesus died at the hands of the Romans as a consequence of his profound love for sinners. So what does the death of Jesus have to do with forgiveness? Some struggle with that question–it’s hard for them to find the linkage. Others don’t have an answer, but continue to see the cross as a metaphor for forgiveness, a universal forgiveness that is ours as a gift of sacrificial love.

Thought for the Day: What does Jesus’ death have to do with forgiveness?

Isaiah 53:4-9

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.” vs. 5

Israel’s exile in Babylon meant a complete overhaul of the nation’s self-understanding. They had seen themselves as special, as God’s Chosen People, but now they had lost wealth and power, along with their standing in the world. The prophet, living with the exiles in Babylon, used the figure of a Suffering Servant to help them understand what had happened to them. His description of the Servant’s suffering is stunning in its detail and painted a picture of sacrificial atonement that was dear to their hearts. It’s a brilliant, insightful passage whose images captured the hearts of the people, and helped them understand their deliverance as a gift of God. Many centuries later, after the death and resurrection of Jesus, as believers tried to make sense of his suffering by turning to their scriptures, these verses jumped from the page. It was as though Isaiah had been writing about Jesus of Nazareth–the description worked so perfectly. As time went on and theologians began to craft what became the orthodox teachings of redemption and atonement, Isaiah became the major prooftext for their now familiar doctrines. And whether we subscribe to those teachings or not, there is little doubt that these 2500 year old words from an ancient prophet are still a remarkable way for hurting people to find meaning in suffering. 

Thought for the Day: What does the death of Jesus have to do with my sins?

Mark 10:23-31

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” vs. 25

People have had a hard time with this saying of Jesus. In our wealth-worshipping culture, in a country where so many aspire to becoming rich, we wonder how in the world he could have spoken such heresy. Many preachers, to assuage the consciences of congregants, have bent over backward to come up with sermons that take the sting out of his words. They tell stories about camels and needles and make it seem as though he was really encouraging humility, that this was just Jesus’ metaphorical way of telling his followers to seek moderation in all things. And their hearers go away relieved, thankful that they don’t need to be troubled by their excessive wealth. The problem is that Jesus meant what he said. Wealth is a huge issue in our capitalistic world and we should all be troubled by our obsessive infatuation with possessions. Now Jesus isn’t saying that the rich are going to go to hell when they die–but he is telling us that kingdom living requires the renunciation of riches. We can never know the joy and peace of simple living when our minds are preoccupied with investments and returns. Is it possible in our world to live simply? Of course, as he told the disciples, “for God all things are possible.” By grace, we who have so much, can learn to live as though we have nothing.

Thought for the Day: What would I do if I lost my wealth?

Mark 10:17-22

“Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’’ vs. 21

The man was at a crisis point, and probably surprised to find himself there. He’d lived a good life, exemplary even, and had reaped the blessings of hard work and enterprise. He was likely envied by most of his peers–yet something just wasn’t right, and he was plagued by a sense of uneasiness. So he asked Jesus a question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”, and got a religious answer, “Obey the commandments!” At that point he likely began to breathe a bit easier–he’d done that for his entire life. If that was the requirement he had nothing to worry about. And then Jesus crushed his spirit, “Sell what you have, and give the money to the poor!” Oops! As good as he was, he couldn’t part with his wealth. So he went sadly away–and we can’t blame him. That’s what most of us would have done too! Of all the things we’re called on to do as we follow Jesus, everything else is child’s play when compared to the challenge of giving our money away. We don’t even like to give in support of budgetary needs in our congregations and we groan when pastors talk about making financial commitments. But Jesus regularly talked about money! He knew that nothing reveals the state of our souls more vividly than reckless generosity.

Thought for the Day: Why is it so hard to be generous?