Philemon  17-24

So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.” vss. 17-18

What a gift this letter is for us! It’s likely the only piece of personal correspondence to make it into scripture, and its inclusion gives us a glimpse of Paul’s everyday life.

He has grown to love Onesimus and considers him a brother in Christ, and now he would love to have Philemon set him free from slavery. He even promises to repay any debts that Onesimus might owe. It’s an indicator of the depth of Paul’s love. This is how it works for all who bear the name of Christ. We know that Jesus has enjoined us to love one another as he has loved us, and we readily accept this as a generic commandment for how we shall live in this world. But it’s when the generic becomes specific that Christ is honored! Sometimes, many times even, we find ourselves in a position to show our love for a particular person, often to the point of sacrifice. It’s in these moments that the depth of our love, and the authenticity of our faith is really tested. Sometimes the cost of such loving can be dear, and even have an effect on our cash reserves. There’s always a risk in loving, one that Paul gladly accepted, and as we continue to walk in the way of Jesus, we too will regularly make risky choices.

Thought for the Day: When have I taken risks in loving?

Philemon 1-16

“I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment…I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.” vss. 10, 12

Slavery was a way of life in the Roman Empire. It is estimated that in the areas visited by Paul on his missionary journeys about 20-30 percent of the population were slaves and served in a variety of positions in households and businesses. Some did menial labor while others could be highly educated and serve as teachers. As the gospel spread through the Empire many slaves were attracted to the new teaching and were baptized. Paul regarded them as a part of the Church, but nowhere in the scriptures was there a movement to abolish the practice of slavery. It was firmly entrenched in the culture. But one slave, Onesimus, was of particular interest to Paul. Probably a runaway he had been of great use to Paul during one of his imprisonments, and Paul had become quite fond of him. Onesimus belonged to Philemon, an old friend of Paul’s and a leader of the congregation in Colossae, and Paul decides to send him back to his master. We don’t know why Paul chose to do this but the letter he wrote to Philemon was included in the New Testament. And while it isn’t a call for emancipation, it is an indication that at the very beginning the gospel of Jesus Christ was already beginning to eat away at the whole institution of slavery. The two are simply incompatible!

Thought for the Day: Why were Christians okay with slavery for so long?

Psalm 1

“They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.” vs. 

In the psalmist’s worldview people were either good or wicked and the secret to finding happiness was to walk in the way of the righteous and avoid the path of the wicked. That’s a popular perspective, and many of us have been taught this dualist way of thinking from childhood. And even if we’ve learned that life is more complicated than this, and that all people, rather than being either good or bad, are actually both righteous and sinners, the psalmist’s words contain a great truth. Namely, it does make a difference where we put down our roots, especially when it comes to matters of faith! If we associate or hang out with those who do not share our convictions, values, or sense of morality, it’s incredibly difficult to maintain solid connections with God. We are communal creatures, and our communities have a powerful influence on how we conduct our lives. So we’re only fooling ourselves if we think those associations make no difference. But if we put down our roots where they have access to the water of life, joy will follow, and the fruits of the Spirit will abound. Those faithful folks we choose to join on life’s journey will of course share our brokenness. They won’t be perfect! But as we continue together in Christ we will prosper.

Thought for the Day: Where have I put down my roots?

Deuteronomy 30:17-20

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live…” vs. 19

Deuteronomy tells us that obedience for the Israelites was a binary choice: there were only two options with regard to the Law. The people could either obey or not obey. Obedience would bring them life and disobedience meant death. Now it’s certainly true that choices are important. Most people grow up knowing that the decisions they make at particular times of their lives can have lasting consequences. We’re familiar with Robert Frost’s poem, “Two roads diverged in the wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by.” But it’s not true that life is a matter of choosing between good and evil or life and death. According to Genesis all things are created good, and that includes humans. And good people often make poor choices; in fact they can easily mess up their lives big time by going in the wrong direction. But they never stop being good people! And while our brokenness regularly haunts us on the journey, by the grace and the mercy of God the healing power of repentance is always at hand. And as we daily experience new birth our goodness shows forth like the flowers of spring, light fills the world, and God is glorified.

Thought for the Day: How do I receive daily healing?

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

“If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today… then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.” vs. 16 

The Law of Moses was foundational for Judaism. Throughout the history of Israel people were taught that everything hinged on their obedience to the commandments of God as revealed in their scriptures. If they loved the Lord their God and obeyed all the ordinances, commandments, and decrees of the Law they would live long and prosper. The fact that their years of occupation in the land had been marked by division, revolution, invasion, and captivity didn’t seem to faze them. The problem lay not with the Law but in their failure to obey. If they could do better then surely blessings would follow. That sounds good, and even Christians fall for the deception. Some of us are convinced that until we get our acts together God’s blessings will be withheld. But the truth is that the good life comes not through obedience but through God’s steadfast love and mercy. As John put it in his gospel, “The Law was indeed given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” When that truth finally fills our hearts the sense of peace and serenity is enormous. It’s not all up to us! Jesus has our back!

Thought for the Day: What happened when I first felt the truth of grace?

Luke 14:12-14

“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.” vs. 13

Jesus doesn’t seem to care if his host was offended by his parting remarks. In fact he’s oblivious to the social conventions that are so important in our world. When we interact with others, whether inviting folks over to our homes for a meal, or going out to eat with friends and acquaintances, most people are always keeping a record, either in their heads or on their calendars. There’s a certain equilibrium that requires keeping track of whose turn it is to be the host. But Jesus seems to be a fan of letting things get out of balance. He thinks it’s far better to invite people who have no way of returning the invitation. He wants us to connect with people out of the goodness of our hearts, and never worry about evening up the score. That’s hard to do! So much of our generosity is calculated and done with the expectation of return. How much better it is to seek out people who really need our kindness and help, and have no expectation that there is going to be a return on our investment! There are plenty of poor, crippled, lame, and blind in the world who need our care, and if our gifts to them aren’t paid back, it’s nothing to worry about. In our giving, God’s blessings will abound, and that’s what counts.

Thought for the Day: When do I play the “whose turn is it” game?

Luke 14:1, 7-11

“On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.” vs. 1

Jesus interacted with a variety of people and he often accepted dinner invitations from his opponents. On this occasion he was in the home of a leader of the Pharisees, and Luke notes that they were watching him closely. They knew that he was unpredictable and that he was likely to violate some sabbath ordinance. What’s ironic is that as they were watching him, he was also observing how they were behaving. And in what he saw he was reminded of an old proverb about putting oneself forward in the presence of the king, and he told them a parable about choosing the place of honor at a wedding banquet. Of course he’s not just giving wedding reception etiquette here. What he said reflected his desire that his disciples be known for their humility. And as the centuries have passed, that’s exactly what they have done. All the great saints of the faith were humble to the core and avoided exultation whenever they could. It’s not easy to behave that way. Many believers struggle with being humble, because it feels so good to be exulted. We love it when someone singles us out for praise in the presence of others. Now sometimes to our chagrin, such things do happen, but woe to those who cultivate the praise of others. That’s just not the Jesus Way!

Thought for the Day: How do I feel when others are praised and I am not?

Hebrews 13:15-16

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” vs. 16

For generations the faith life of the Jewish people had revolved around the sacrificial system, and when some of them had become Christian there was a question about whether those sacrifices were still appropriate. Of course when the temple was destroyed by the Romans this became a moot point. But there was still within the people a sense that sacrifices should be a part of their worship. This writer indicates that it was entirely proper to offer God a continual sacrifice of praise that would be embodied in the fruits of our faith. That advice is summed up in his admonition to do good works and to share what we have. Essentially these two things sum up our life in Christ. We live not as individuals, but as part of the Body of Christ, and within that Body we will continually be looking to the needs of others. Those aren’t complicated instructions and they certainly don’t require an understanding of theology or doctrine. But we do know this: when believers dedicate themselves to the simple practice of doing good in their neighborhoods and communities, and are willing to share what they have with the needy, our whole society is blessed. These are the behaviours that change the world.

Thought for the Day: When did doing good become natural for me?

Hebrews 13:1-8

“Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’” vs. 5

As the writer to the Hebrews concludes his letter to the Jews who had become Christians, he has some  directions for how they shall live their lives. After mentioning the mutual love which binds them together he advises hospitality toward strangers, a concern for those in prison and puts in a word for faithfulness in marriage. And then he pens an admonition that seems directed at the 21st century. “Keep your lives free from the love of money,” he writes, and we are reminded that believers of every age have been bedeviled by the desire for more and more stuff in their lives. Oh that we could be content with what we have! It seems so basic, but it’s enormously difficult to pull off. Rare are those people who manage contentment in our luxury-loving world. Temptations come at us from every direction, from television and streaming services, on our personal devices and in the newspapers. Marketers have reached a high degree of sophistication, and all we have to do is think about something, and behold, we instantly get text messages and emails offering us unbeatable deals. And it’s hard to turn off the desires once they’ve been tweaked! The Shaker hymn nails it: “‘Tis a gift to be simple.” And what a blessing when we can pull it off.

Thought for the Day: What does contentment feel like?

Psalm 112:6-10

 “They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; their righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honour.” vs. 9

The psalmist is effusive in his praise of the righteous, those believers who walk in the way of obedience, and it’s interesting to see what attributes he holds up as deserving of special honor. He doesn’t mention a thing about their grand houses or estates, nor does he note their exploits on the battlefield. Instead he mentions that they are gracious and merciful, that they distribute freely and have given to the poor. These are exactly the same virtues that decorate the lives of those who are in Christ, and who have taken up residence in the Peaceable Kingdom. In this time and in this culture people who live like this are becoming a rarity. Instead we are deluged with the blogs and videos of influencers, those who realize that the new trend is to flaunt greed and revel in gilded homes and palatial estates. For those who have taken the teachings of Jesus to heart it’s hard to ignore the shenanigans of billionaires. Is it possible for those who are so wealthy to be so wrong about how to live? The psalmist would have no problem answering that question. They’re not only wrong, they’re dead wrong! Righteousness has nothing to do with net worth or gross earnings. It has everything to do with walking in the way of humility and peace.

Thought for the Day: Who are most likely to give to the poor?