1 Thessalonians 1:1-5

“We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” vss. 2-3

This letter of Paul to the Thessalonians is the oldest section of the New Testament and gives a glimpse into the inner life and concerns of the earliest Greek followers of Jesus. As such, it’s instructive to see that Paul and his companions regularly mentioned and remembered this little congregation in their prayers. Just think of it! From the beginning prayer has been the central ingredient of our life together in the church! Always and everywhere believers, whether together or separated, have lifted up prayers of thanksgiving and supplication for their brothers and sisters in faith. And we’re still doing it! While prayer is and has always been a mystery to many, it has persevered through the ages–most all of us have people and causes in our minds and hearts every day, and we lift them up to God. Skeptics might wonder why this is so, but the answer is simple. It’s what connects us together! And in this communal connection there is healing and hope. When we know we are being prayed for it makes an enormous difference in our sense of well-being–it’s a remarkable demonstration of compassion and care. During these last months of physical distancing, praying for others has been the prime way for congregations to remain united–and so it will continue!

Thought for the Day: Who is on my prayer list? Who is praying for me? 

Psalm 96:1-9

“For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.” vss. 4-5

Religious folks and American politicians regularly speak of God, but we can’t always figure out what they’re talking about. Sometimes the word seems to be thrown into conversations or speeches haphazardly, and is used in a way designed to make the speaker look good. Seldom are any of these persons asked to describe the God that they have invoked–and if they were, we’d likely get an amazing variety of answers, ranging all the way from the profound to the ridiculous. Lots of people in the psalmist’s day were talking about gods too, but the psalmist doesn’t take them seriously. In his estimation there is only one God, the One who brought all things into existence, and who then sustains them from day to day. He’s obviously spent some time thinking about the Lord, something that can be enormously helpful for us too. The process isn’t as easy as it sounds–it can be difficult to describe God in ways that are satisfying even to our own minds, especially since the bible describes God as unknowable. Often it’s just easier to say what God is not–an exercise that can be amazingly helpful in finding clarification. But it is worth it to meditate on God! At the very least we will discover that God is more than we’ve ever imagined, and a very present help in times of trouble.

Thought for the Day: Who or what is God?

Isaiah 45:1-4

“Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and strip kings of their robes, to open doors before him— and the gates shall not be closed:” vs. 1

Jerusalem was conquered in about 587 BCE and the leading families were taken into exile in Babylon across the Euphrates River. In 539 BCE the Babylonian Empire was conquered by Cyrus, the leader of the Persians, one of the greatest rulers the world has ever known. Cyrus cultivated a benevolent relationship with the nations he defeated, and in the case of the Israelites, issued a decree that allowed them to return to Jerusalem and Judea. Naturally, the Jews were thankful, and the prophet writes that Cyrus was the anointed, or messiah, of the Lord. This is the same title that had been given to David, and that was later given to Jesus. It’s a reminder that the return from exile was the work of the Lord–it was certainly no accident. It’s a blessing to know that God works in our world with a variety of folks, and not just those who believe as we do. We see this frequently in these times of global migration and the mixing of peoples. We live shoulder to shoulder with Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and many other religious groups. God works through them in good and gracious ways as surely as God works through followers of Jesus. The Body of Christ is greater than we’ve even imagined!

Thought for the Day: A person of another faith in whom I’ve seen Christ.

Matthew 22:8-14

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless.” vss.11-12

Pastors love passages like this! On the surface the king’s response to the man’s breach of wedding etiquette seems heavy-handed, and a violation of the Jesus kindness principle. So preachers get to do a little research into Palestinian wedding practices, throw in a Greek word or two–and everyone goes home happy. But still we wonder! The parable is straightforward and predictable. The invited guests refuse to come so the banquet hall is filled with people off the streets, both good and bad–end of story and the Pharisees would get the point. But then there’s this quirky little verse–and it sounds very much like a warning to the early church. “Yes, you did get into the banquet even though you didn’t deserve it, but!!!!! You could still get thrown out!” Folks don’t much like that interpretation because it  implies that grace isn’t enough! Could that really be what Jesus is getting at? Such a conclusion is really a stretch because it goes against the whole of the gospel–but what other conclusion is there? Maybe it’s no more than this: Just because we have a place at the banquet doesn’t mean that anything goes! We might not like to hear that, but it is most certainly true! And Jesus says, “Live with it!”

Thought for the Day: What could get me thrown out of the banquet hall?

Matthew 22:1-7

“But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them.” vss. 5-6

This parable obviously packed a punch for Pharisees when they heard it. They immediately ratcheted up their plans to eliminate Jesus–for them he was nothing but a troublemaker. For us it’s interesting, but not easily relatable–we don’t live in a time of regional kings and royal wedding celebrations. And it’s hard to understand why anyone would ignore an invitation to a banquet. But when we allow the story to linger a bit in our minds we begin to see some real parallels. Because we too are deeply involved in our own stuff, and for many there’s nothing more important than their personal economic well-being. And when there’s an invitation to become involved on a communal level to deal with serious global issues, many of us go our own way. And more than that, there are some who take offense at those who do respond to the invitation and who begin to work for the common good. They’re called do-gooders and radicals, a threat to the rights of free-born citizens, those who believe their highest calling is to do exactly what they please, regardless of consequences to others. That’s proven to be one of the most difficult things for modern thinkers to grasp–individualism and individual rights have such a grip on our culture that we’ve forgotten what it means to be “kids of the kingdom,” and members of the community of Christ.

Thought for the Day: What are my communal responsibilities?

Philippians 4:6-9

“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” vs.8

Over the last few weeks, as we’ve dealt with the pandemic and the presidential election campaign, many have become despondent at the tone and the mood of social discourse. As rhetoric grows more harsh and divisions solidify it gets harder and harder to rejoice in the Lord and to maintain a spirit of gentleness. The Apostle Paul would likely be one of those encouraging withdrawal from the daily accounts of accusations, exaggerations, and violent upheavals that we get from the news media. At the very least he would say that we need to curb our intake! Atmospheric pollution can ruin our lungs, but political pollution damages our souls. As he said to the Philippians he says to us, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Can we find such things in the turmoil and nonsense of the current environment? Of course, the Lord is near! All around us, every day, we see opportunities for praise and thanksgiving. We can lift spirits, calm anxieties, curb fears, and sometimes all it takes is a smile, a listening ear, and a word of love. 

Thought for the Day: What will I think about today?

Philippians 4:1-5

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.” vss. 4-5

Paul tells the Philippians in the closing part of his letter that the “Lord is near.” Most often we read these words as a kind of warning–Paul wants the Philippians to be on their best behavior when Jesus returns–and it could be that this is what he has in mind.  But it’s more likely that the words mean just what they say–the Lord is already near and close at hand. And since that is the case, Paul tells the people to rejoice, and not just at Sunday worship, but always! For many that attitude is a bit of a stretch! Let’s face it, we frequently don’t feel much like rejoicing, particularly when we live in a time of uncertainty and things aren’t going our way. Even when we have every intention of being cheerful and happy all day long, it usually doesn’t take long before stuff happens, and sometimes it happens even before we’ve had our morning coffee! Paul knew that; so he links rejoicing with gentleness, an attitude toward life that is similar to what is known as forbearance, a kind of patient self-control and tolerance. As we begin to relate to others in that fashion, we learn to not sweat the small stuff, and to focus instead on the big picture. We are alive, the Lord is near, and every day is an occasion for rejoicing–even the ones that challenge our serenity!

Thought for the Day: What part does rejoicing play in my daily living?

Psalm 23

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” vs. 5

The psalmist was familiar with the banqueting table image that is so dear to our hearts as we consider our future life in Christ. In this familiar psalm he expands that vision in an unexpected way, and assures us that one day we will be at table in the presence of our enemies. Some have narrowly interpreted this as an exclusive backroom soiree with our Lord in a place where our enemies cannot disturb us. But that particular vision doesn’t work with the expansive picture we see in other scriptures. So it’s more likely that the psalmist has in mind the universal meal of Isaiah and that we’ll be sitting at the table of the Lord with our enemies. All people, friends and foes alike, will be eating rich food and drinking fine wine together in the peaceable kingdom. In many congregations followers of Jesus anticipate that meal in their regular celebrations of Holy Communion–it’s a foretaste of the feast that is to come. In the past, for a variety of reasons, participation in Communion has been limited to a select group, all those who have jumped through the regulatory hoops. In recent years there’s been a change, and the phrase “All are welcome,” is heard as part of the dinner invitation. It’s been a welcome shift, and has opened the possibility for friends and foes to eat and drink together now, just as they surely will in the life to come.

Thought for the Day: Why is it hard for enemies to eat together?