Mark 9:2-6

“Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’” vs. 5

When Peter was at a loss for words he usually said something–it was his way of dealing with anxiety, and as an extrovert, it was more comfortable for him to talk than think. So on the mountain of transfiguration, after a powerful vision of Jesus as the Christ, he blurts out the first thing that came to mind, “Rabbi, let’s build something!” His inclination meshes with what we sometimes like to do after life-changing experiences. Because time is never static, we know that the priceless moments can’t possibly last and feelings quickly dissipate. That’s why we take pictures, dozens of them, store them in the cloud, and hope that when we next retrieve them, the feelings of the moment will return. Now it’s a good thing to take pictures, and they are a sometimes shocking aid to our memories, but the past can never be repeated and experiences can only be remembered. Peter caught a glimpse of the resurrected Jesus on the mountain, but a season of suffering remained before he would know the full glory of Easter. We too will have our share of mountain top experiences, and sometimes those memories can sustain us as we move through the shadowy valleys. But even if we forget, the promise is sure–on the other side of suffering resurrection and transformation await.

Thought for the Day: A moment in my life I’d like to return to.

2 Corinthians 4:5-6

“For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” vs. 5

Sometimes we encounter people who have a bit of a glow about them, and not because they’ve been drinking. It’s the radiant look in their eyes, a light that we sense comes from deep within them, a light accompanied by unconditional love and a zest for life. And it’s not because everything has always gone well for them–sometimes we can see from the lines in their faces that they’ve known pain and suffering. But still the light shines and we are warmed by their presence in our lives. Paul is talking about that light in today’s passage and he says that it comes from the God who spoke light into the world in the very beginning. That light resides in every human heart, but in some folks it’s not being blocked by self-interest or greed, those things Paul calls “unbelief.” What a blessing it is, when in the course of our lives, the Spirit of Christ breaks through our defenses and awakens that dormant light. When that happens life itself changes and we are transformed. People will notice the difference–they’ll see the glow and the radiance, and the love in our hearts will be unmistakable!

Thought for the Day: When is the light most likely to shine in my eyes?

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” vs. 4

Paul uses dualistic language here to describe those forces present in the world that contrive to keep us from recognizing the presence of Christ, either in ourselves or in the world. While we might not call those powers the “god of this world,” or even “demons,” we do know what he’s talking about. We all experience the religious, political, and economic garbage that is constantly fermenting in our lives in the course of daily living. And in this age of social media it seems to have gotten even worse. We’re constantly besieged with rumors and gossip on every hand, and bit by bit our consciousness is filled with “stuff” that neither edifies or enriches our relationships with God or our neighbor. We are blinded to the light in the lives of others and fail to allow our own lights to shine before them. Those things which bedevil us are not evil in themselves, but together they form an impenetrable barrier to the exchange of love and goodness. We become quick to judge and assess blame, and can be overcome by feelings of paranoia and resentment. Fortunately God does not abandon us to unbelief but keeps chipping away at our blinders from both inside and out–and one day we will see clearly once more!

Thought for the Day: What keeps me from seeing the light in others?

Psalm 50:1-6

“Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.” vs. 2

For the psalmist God was anything but hidden. He believed that the Lord daily summoned the people of Israel, from the rising of the sun to its setting, to acts of worship and sacrifice. And more than that, he was convinced that Jerusalem itself, holy Zion, home to the temple of Solomon, was the dwelling place of God on earth. True worship took place there, and the light of God shone forth and enlightened the people. Now that the temple is gone, totally destroyed over two thousand years ago, some say that it’s pointless to think of God’s presence as being localized in a particular place. God is everywhere present they say, and worship can take place anywhere. Of course such a statement is true–we can worship anywhere, and at any time. But we shouldn’t be so quick to discount the value of holy places, those spots where we feel the presence of God with particular intensity. It could be on a mountain, or out in the wilderness, or maybe in the sanctuary of a church, a place dedicated to the worship of God. Some even have a special place in their homes where they take time daily to bask in the presence of the light that shines forth from God. Such worship will be an opportunity, not only to offer prayer and praise, but to listen. God has established a covenant of love with us, and in our quiet times will offer both compassion and direction. Blessed are those who hear and obey!

Thought for the Day: Where’s my holy place?

2 Kings 2:9-12

“When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.’ Elisha said, ‘Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.’” vs. 9

Elisha’s request may seem strange to us, but he was making a reference to the inheritance laws of Israel, where the first-born son, at the death of his father, was awarded a double share of the inheritance. Elisha is asking Elijah to recognize him as his first-born successor, which as the choice of the Lord, he ultimately became. Most all of us are familiar with the laws of inheritance in our country, and many have taken steps to avoid probate by writing wills and establishing trusts. We want to be able to direct our remaining wealth and property to worthy heirs or benevolences. We particularly want to make sure our children and grandchildren will be taken care of. But Elisha suggests that there are more important things to be passed on from one generation to the next. Have we ever considered whether our descendents will inherit the Spirit that has filled us with faith and driven our desire to love and serve? Will they trust in the Christ within and be a part of the Body of Christ in the world? Will they worship the living Lord? What would happen if we intentionally bequeath to them a double share of our Spirit in our last testament? It would be the most valuable gift we could give them!

Thought for the Day: How would my children receive a double share of my Spirit?

Mark 1:32-39

“In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.” vs. 35

The Sea of Galilee is a harp-shaped lake about eleven miles long and is surrounded by large hills. Along its banks in the time of Jesus were a number of small towns and villages. Capernaum is at the northern edge, right about where the Jordan River enters the lake. When Jesus got up before dawn he would have climbed one of the nearby hills, and from there as he sat to pray he could watch the sun come up over the eastern hills, the country we call Jordan. As the sky lightened over the lake and the birds began to fly along the shore, he spent time with God, considering the direction of his ministry. These were the moments of refreshment in his life, moments to reflect on the prior day and to be recharged with the presence of God’s Spirit. We need those quiet spaces too, places where we can get away from the crowds and the interruptions of daily living. Sadly, it’s hard for us to get this done. Many don’t even like places of stillness and will do anything to titillate their senses–even when they go for walks earbuds and phones are their companions, and messages from God are likely to go unheard. When Simon and his companions found Jesus he was refocused and ready to move on. He’d seen God in the sunrise and was ready to take the message to the world.

Thought for the Day: Where and when do I find spiritual refreshment?

Mark 1:29-31

“He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.” vs. 31

Mark adds a personal touch to his story by telling how Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law during a Saturday afternoon visit to the family home. Whether Mark intended it or not we can’t help but be amused at what happened. A cynic would say that this healing was done as much to benefit the helpless men as it was the feverish woman. She got healed and they got served! More than that though, the story shows that much of ministry simply happens in the course of everyday living. As we’re going about our business we encounter hurting folks–and often they’re members of our own families. Rather than focus on helping those at a distance we need to recognize that often it’s those who are close to us who need our careful attention. A husband or a wife can easily be neglected in our rush to serve others, not to mention the children who are ignored while mom and dad are off doing good works. There are too many stories about children who grow up with a jaundiced view of church because they needed attention–and their parents were too busy helping Jesus! On the other hand, we’ll always remember how we were tended through our various illnesses by family members who loved us deeply. In those moments love grows and flourishes!

Thought for the Day: How do I serve my family?

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

“I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.” vs. 23

Paul’s life had been resurrected by the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he wanted to share that blessing with as many people as he could. So he carefully crafted his message to fit the life situation of those he wanted to reach. He learned to speak the language his hearers would understand. To Jews he spoke as a Jew, to Gentiles as a Gentile–in his words he became all things to all people. He could do this because he knew that the gospel wasn’t in itself conservative or liberal; it wasn’t a theology or philosophy. Rather, it was a power, a renewing force, that liberated people from the morass of their own small-mindedness, and that connected them to the living Christ. It took people out of their everyday concerns and gave them a vision for caring and serving, for loving with the heart of Jesus. It’s sad then, in our time, to see people retreating into their little enclaves of like-minded persons, and worse, believing that they and they alone can grasp the truth. The gospel, as Paul understood it and as Jesus proclaimed it, sets us free from ghetto thinking and opens us up to the Peaceable Kingdom, where enemies are loved and all people are valued. The world was changed by Paul’s shapeshifting, his willingness to be as others for the sake of the gospel–and that same power is available to us.

Thought for the Day: How do I change according to who I am with?

1 Corinthians 9:16-18

“What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.” vs. 18

Paul was under attack by some opponents for profiting from his work as an apostle. He bristled at the charge and responded in a typical Pauline way. First he says that he has a right to receive compensation–a worker deserves to be paid! But then he tells them that he will accept no payment for his work as apostle–he proclaims the gospel free of charge! And that is enough reward for him! This wasn’t the last time such an issue has come up in the church. There’s always been a certain amount of tension that revolves around clergy pay. Congregations generally agree that their pastors and staff deserve compensation, and most are well cared for. But some religious leaders have discovered ways to turn the preaching of a prosperity gospel into enormous profit for themselves and their families. They say that God rewards faith materially and that their followers therefore expect them to live extravagantly. Some have amassed fortunes in excess of a billion dollars–and they say proudly, “See how God has blessed me!” In general though such “evangelism” does nothing to enhance the gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, people are put off by such excesses, and the gospel is diminished. And we can be sure that Paul would not be impressed!

Thought for the Day: Why are scam artists attracted to religion?

Psalm 147:1-11, 20c

“His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” vss. 10-11

We spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about how good we are at stuff. Our culture gives acclaim to those who can golf well or run fast or make bushel baskets full of money. Admittedly it feels good to get accolades from peers for our accomplishments, and if we can set records or get our names in the paper all the better. We love to get recognized for our achievements–even if it’s only a gold watch at our retirement party. It’s what life is all about–or is it? The psalmist certainly wouldn’t agree. He says that all those skills we spend so much time polishing, all the brownie points we get from our peers, all those things so valued by society–none of that is of any interest to the Lord. If he’s right, then our spiritual connections to the Divine will be the prime focus of our lives. Those who immerse themselves in the steadfast love of the Lord will know deep satisfaction even if they never win a race or get the highest score on a test. That love draws us out of our self-absorption and into a deeper level of existence, one that is not contingent on the ups and downs of our personal stories and experiences. We’ll have joy always, even if we never win a thing!

Thought for the Day: What’s my greatest accomplishment?