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?

Habakkuk 2:1-4

“Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith.” vs. 4

Habakkuk has filed a complaint with the Lord and then settles back to wait for a reply. When he reports the answer, it seems cryptic, which is, from our own experiences with prayer, not all that unusual. But Habakkuk does receive some measure of assurance. God has not abandoned Judea, in spite of the external appearances. The key to an ongoing relationship with the Lord is faith. It’s this word of promise that has been the source of strength for believers of all ages. The proud trust in themselves, but the righteous trust in the Lord. No matter how things seem to be going in our world, no matter what enemies might appear at our doorsteps, patient endurance is the key to our serenity and peace. This isn’t allegiance to any particular doctrine or denominational creed, but an absolute trust that the One who brought all things into existence will continue to sustain life and will one day bring all things to a glorious conclusion. Of course we can’t prove any of this–if we could it wouldn’t be faith–but we really don’t have any decent alternatives to hang on to. The good news is that faith has worked pretty well for humanity in the brief time that we’ve been around, and there’s a pretty good chance it will sustain us far into the future. Our mysterious God has an amazing way of infusing us with peace!

Thought for the Day: What would I do without faith?

Habakkuk 1:1-4

“Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.” vs. 2

If we didn’t know that Habakkuk was reporting on what he was seeing 2500 years ago, we could swear that he was our contemporary. He’s complaining to God about all the awful things that were happening, and he wishes that he didn’t have to see them. There are plenty of folks who have been joining that refrain in recent years. Everything seems out of control and even though much of the violence and destruction is happening at a distance, round the clock cable news brings everything to our family television screens. And if we want to look at the really ugly things there are a multitude of web sites that can fill us in with all the gory details. This isn’t what most of us signed up for! We would much prefer to live out our days in peace and serenity without a hint of strife or contention. And probably the hardest reality of all is that no one seems to be in charge. And because we’re impotent in the face of those perpetuating the seemingly worldwide misery, it’s natural to feel completely helpless, and search for distractions to occupy our attention. But when we’re done complaining, we can always try praying, and it’s here we get a big surprise. God is, and through our little seemingly insignificant actions, great good is being done. And some days we can even see it!
Thought for the Day: Where do I see good being done?

Luke 16:27-31

“He said, No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’” vs. 30‘

In the second half of the parable, attention moves away from the rich man’s wealth, as  he expresses  concern for his five brothers, and asks Father Abraham to send Lazarus to testify to them. He believes that they will repent if they hear the poor man’s story. Abraham is not convinced. The brothers have heard the testimony of Moses and the prophets and have had ample opportunity to change their ways. He says that they wouldn’t believe even if someone would rise from the dead, perhaps an ironic reference to Jesus’ own resurrection. And that is of course the gospel truth! Unbelief is a tough nut to crack, and we’ve seen it again and again. Believers have heard the words of Jesus regarding wealth for generations–and seldom will they pay any attention. They simply assume that it doesn’t have anything to do with them, that they’re immune to the allure of wealth and that they can love money to their hearts content. Millions of people are ravaged by poverty and hunger every year, and while thousands do respond generously, too many others continue to  use their wealth for conspicuous consumption. They do this knowing full well that Jesus expects them to give generously and without regard for their own needs. We know what Jesus expects of us, but we’re unwilling to do it!

Thought for the Day: What might cause a wealthy person to repent?

Luke 16:19-26

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus…who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table;” vss. 19-21

It’s hard to miss the point of Jesus’ parable about the rich man and Lazarus. The contrast is striking. It seems the two men knew each other–at least they were neighbors. The rich man dressed in the finest clothes and feasted sumptuously every day. Lazarus was clothed in rags and competed with dogs for leftovers from the rich man’s table. And then in death their positions were reversed. Lazarus was comforted by Abraham while the rich man was tormented in the flames. Nothing is said about the morality of either, but we can infer that there’s a warm spot in God’s heart for the poor. And it isn’t just because the rich man was wealthy that he ended up in torment, it’s because he was aware of Lazarus’ situation and chose to do nothing. And really that’s how it continues to be for the wealthy. It’s not that they shouldn’t have large amounts of money–riches come to us in a variety of ways and many times they are earned. But when there is suffering involved, and people are chronically hungry or living in substandard housing, while the wealthy do little or nothing to help, justice itself becomes perverted. And that’s an affront to Christ!

Thought for the Day: How did I become rich?

1 Timothy 6:11-19

“As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” vs. 17

In the first century, as congregations sprang up in all the major cities around the Mediterranean, most of those who came to faith in Christ Jesus were from the poorer classes, with many of them being slaves. They loved the inclusiveness of the gospel proclamation. But not everyone was poor! As in the time of Jesus rich folks also responded to the good news, and even though it was agreed that the love of money was a root of all evil, some people who came to faith were wealthy. And they were not turned away, nor were they expected to sell everything that they had. Here they were told not to be haughty, but to be “rich in good works, generous, and ready to share.” We see this in our congregations too. Because wealth can come in so many ways, some folks, without even pursuing riches, end up with more money and possessions than they ever dreamed of having. When this happens in our lives we should be aware that riches can be a blessing or a curse. When believers are generous with their possessions they can do enormous good in the world, but when they fall in love with their stuff, life can get off track in a hurry. 

Thought for the Day: How did I get so rich?

1 Timothy 6:6-10

“Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that^* we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.” vss. 5-8

That little phrase, “godliness with contentment brings great gain.” is worth remembering and holding close to our hearts. And in case we’re wondering what godliness is, Paul tells us that it’s connected to the pursuit of righteousness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Of course more attributes could have been added, but this gives a general idea of what a good life is like, and it’s not unattainable! In fact, it’s in the striving that we reach the goal. We all know believers who live like this, and there is one more common denominator they all share–none of them spend their lives chasing after riches. Paul puts it clearly, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,” and we’ve all seen that story lived out too. From the beginning of life to the end, those who are godly will be content with adequate food and clothing. Now that sounds simplistic and it probably is. Most of us have interests that extend beyond the basics, and having those desires adds spice to our otherwise mundane lives. But Paul is right! We really don’t need much to be content in this world when our priorities align with our godliness.

Thought for the Day: What is my life like when I am content?

Psalm 146:5-9

“The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.” vs. 9

After his baptism, when Jesus was in the wilderness hammering out the terms of his call in the distracting presence of the devil, he didn’t get a new playbook from the Spirit. When he emerged from the desert, all of his preaching and teaching came directly from the words of the prophets and the psalmists. These were universal truths, and he quickly made them the core of his gospel message. Again and again he proclaimed justice for the oppressed, the feeding of the hungry, caring for the stranger, and upholding widows and orphans. Today those basic teachings continue to give believers a blueprint for ministry and can even give us a guideline for political involvement. It’s hypocrisy of the highest order to say that we love Jesus if we turn our backs on the poor and the needy, or refuse to help the millions of refugees fleeing famine and oppression. It’s so important to remember these basics in the growing politicalization of American churches. No matter which politicians we favor, believers will always look first to the clear agenda of Jesus as laid out in the gospels. If we read his words carefully, it’s not at all difficult to see the connection to Amos, Isaiah, and many of the psalms. And it’s in that connection that we’ll find our template for action.

Thought for the Day: How has politics affected my congregation?

Psalm 146:1-4

“Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.” vss. 3-4           

This psalmist obviously spoke from experience. He’d lived long enough to realize that princes, no matter how appealing their promises, had a limited shelf life. They wouldn’t be around forever. Because of this reality the psalmist recommended that people put their trust in the Lord, the creator of the heavens and the earth. We would do well to heed his advice. We live in a fractious, divided, and highly partisan environment, and new leaders regularly push themselves into our awareness, always offering a vision of change or a promise of restored glory. Using intricate algorithms and skilled marketing techniques, they match their promises to their audiences as they pitch their perspective and curry our favor. While most people will eventually cast their lot with one or another of those leaders, it’s crucial for us to remember that none of them should be trusted. Not only are some of their ideas bogus, all of them will age out, and it’s amazing to see how quickly they are forgotten once they fade away. But God never disappears–not only has God always been, God will always be, and that is our one solid hope for the future. The heavens and earth will pass away, but God remains forever, an ever-present strength in every time of trial.

Thought for the Day: Why do people get passionate about politicians?