Psalm 112:1-6

“It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice.” vs. 5

The psalmist tells us here that those who fear the Lord and who walk in the paths of righteousness will be blessed in a multitude of ways. We can say the same for those who live in Christ and who follow in the way of Jesus. The behavior is not intended to impress God or insure a seat on the Heavenly Express, but flows freely from the spiritual connection that they have with God. It’s standard procedure in the Peaceable Kingdom. It’s interesting that the psalmist mentions generosity as one of the marks of faithful living. For those of us who live in an age when out-of-control greed and ostentatious living has become a mark of success, it’s becoming increasingly rare to encounter people who give liberally and with no thought of return or gain. Fortunately our faith communities abound with such folks, and we see the signs of their generosity regularly. They understand that divine justice requires the sharing of material blessings. When that lifestyle becomes as natural as breathing we will be able to sing gladly that it is well with our souls. This is exactly how we’re supposed to live! That’s the life the psalmist admired so much…and it hasn’t changed in twenty-five hundred years.

Thought for the Day: When is generosity a struggle for me?

Proverbs 25:6-7

“Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great; for it is better to be told, ‘Come up here’, than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.” Proverbs 25:6-7

The book of Proverbs was one of the three books of Hebrew scripture that have been classified as Wisdom Literature. Its content varies but generally it includes a variety of pithy sayings and observations gleaned from various sources that give a practical guide to everyday living. Jesus often used this style of teaching in the course of his Galilean ministry. In fact these two verses found their way into his parable about guests vying for places of honor at a wedding banquet. He never wanted his disciples to forget that humility is one of the essential elements of faithful living. This proverb was his reminder that humiliation quickly follows our efforts at self-exultation. If we’re really interested in bringing the gospel to life for searchers, there is probably nothing more important than having a humble attitude both in our speech and in our behaviour. Our culture has had enough of pompous braggarts preening before the cameras and flaunting their exploits on social media. Admittedly, humility isn’t very marketable, and the truly humble often go unnoticed, but in the relationships that count, humility always wins the day.

Thought for the Day: What does humiliation feel like?

Luke 13:15-17

“When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.” vs. 17

Jesus hadn’t minced words when he corrected the leader of the synagogue and his cronies. He called them hypocrites, and the people responded with rejoicing. Not only were they happy to see the bent woman straightened, they were likely thrilled to see the religious leaders put in their place. There’s nothing like hypocritical piety to rankle the feelings of the faithful, especially when the offenders are masquerading as leaders. Jesus had warned against practicing one’s piety before others, in order to be seen by them, and this was a case in point. We still don’t like those kinds of “holier-than-thou” attitudes in our faith communities, and when pastors and preachers are the offenders, it can get pretty ugly. It happens when leaders are tempted to tap into the perceived power of their position in their efforts to lead. Jesus taught that leaders are called to bring healing to the broken, and to adopt a servant attitude in their leading–and he wasn’t afraid to put them in their place! Sometimes we wonder whose responsibility it is to shine light on hypocrisy. Not many like to take the risk of confrontation! But sometimes, for the health of the community it has to be done. Blessed are those who have a heart for the task!

Thought for the Day: When might I call someone a hypocrite?

Luke 13:10-14

“Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight.” vss. 10-11

When Jesus saw the bent woman in the synagogue crowd as he was teaching on the sabbath, he couldn’t contain himself. Even though he knew there was a law against healing on the sabbath, he called her over, laid hands on her and told her to straighten up. And she did! And the leader of the synagogue was indignant! Jesus should have told the woman to make an appointment for another day. We can’t be too upset with the man–in his world the law was sacred, and his job was to protect it from even the slightest infractions. If offenses were permitted, then it wouldn’t be long before the whole legal system would be in jeopardy. Soon people would be making their own decisions about right and wrong and there would be chaos. But Jesus was operating by a different code, one that valued compassion and kindness about all else. It’s important to remember this when we are the ones getting bent out of shape by the careless behavior of others. Sometimes those things that we hold so dear aren’t nearly so important as we think they are. And if our judgments are keeping us from loving the hurting, perhaps we need to take another look at Jesus.

Thought for the Day: What kind of things get me bent out of shape?

Hebrews 12:25-29

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe;” vs. 28

The writer of Hebrews goes to great pains to make connections for his readers between what happened in Jesus and the stories of God’s interactions with Israel. Because most of us have rather sketchy knowledge of the Old Testament passages he makes reference to, some parts of Hebrews are hard to decipher. In this section the writer is making connections between the shaking of Mount Sinai and the much anticipated quaking that is to come as a part of the last days. While we probably don’t even think like this anymore, there is a word of promise here that is worth hanging on to. Those who are in Christ, those who dwell in the peaceable kingdom, have nothing to fear. Our future is secure! And because we have that hope, all that is expected of us is deep thanksgiving, which will obviously include heartfelt worship and praise. Sometimes we might wonder why we should go to church, because there are times when it seems boring or inconvenient.  But the early Christians don’t seem to have wondered why. For them it was the very best way to offer God thanks for a beautiful and a guaranteed future! And so it is for us! Even in those times when it doesn’t seem very likely.

Thought for the Way: Is my future shaky or secure?

Hebrews 12:18-24

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering…” vs. 22

Because the writer of Hebrew was writing to people who had become Christians and were also well-versed in the intricacies of the Hebrew scriptures, Old Testament allusions abound. Here he makes reference to the gathering of the Israelites at the foot of Mt. Sinai when according to Exodus the people were terrified by the sight of the Lord’s activity on the mountain, the darkness and fire and fierce tempest.He contrasts the warnings received on that day with the celebration awaiting believers on Mount Zion. He says that the next time that we gather before the Lord there will be a festal gathering, a celebration of new life. It’s important to note that this writer does not focus on the warnings, and imply that they are still in effect for those who live in Christ. Some of us have had warnings like this thrown at us by overzealous preachers who are fixated with messages of gloom and doom. In reality those stories are in our scriptures strictly as a point of contrast with the message of hope and comfort that is ours through Christ Jesus. One day we will stand before God, but it’ll be a day of jubilation, and not of condemnation.

Thought for the Day: How do I react to a message of gloom and doom?

Psalm 103:1-8

 “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” vs. 8

The psalmist would have been surprised to learn that many Christians avoid the Hebrew scriptures as much as they can, having been brainwashed into believing that they contain nothing but tedious laws and stories of a vengeful demanding God. Of course all we need to do for another perspective is to actually take time to read those scriptures.. In reality the pages of the Old Testament are filled with remarkable passages like this one that affirm the absolute goodness of God and the uncompromising mercy and grace that is central to God’s nature. How sad it is that we spend even a single day imagining that the Lord is out to get us or cause us harm! We have been created in the image of God, and in spite of our brokenness, that goodness has never been taken from us. Here we find that God’s love is not only unconditional, it’s steadfast! There is nothing that can stop the Lord’s love from flowing into our lives. No matter what we do, no matter where we wander, Divine Love will continue to sustain and support us. In fact, the abundance of God’s love is beyond our human understanding. It’s exactly what we need in these troubled times when dysfunction and confusion seems to have taken over. No matter how unsteady and unreliable our leaders might become, God’s love will continue to be our hope and our joy, as long as we live and beyond.

Thought for the Day: When do I most need assurances of God’s steadfast love?

Isaiah 58:13b-14

“if you call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honourable; if you honour it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs; then you shall take delight in the Lord,” vss. 13b-14a

Those who have spent a lifetime worshipping on a weekly basis probably do so for a variety of reasons. For some it’s simply a habit and they don’t really think too much about it. But for others it truly is a delight! While few spend the whole day in church, those who do worship consistently report that the time spent with their faith community is well worth it. Not only do they get a chance to meet with friends and neighbors, there’s always a chance they’ll get acquainted with someone new. And the liturgical experience, whether familiar or new, generally gives a chance to sing–and God knows, that’s always good for our spirits. And then there are the scriptures and the sermon, a chance for us to hear a new gospel truth or be reminded of ways we can put our faith into action. Prayers help us to center our attention on our relationship to God and give us time to offer the names of hurting family or friends. But probably the center of the service is Holy Communion, that mysterious meal in which we become one with Jesus and get a chance to actually taste his forgiveness and love. Isaiah is right. Keeping the Sabbath is a never-ending delight.

Thought for the Day: What do I find delightful in worship?

Isaiah 58:9b-12

“If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,

then your light shall rise in the darkness.” vss. 9b-10

In recent weeks we have seen multiple photos and videos from occupied Gaza that show the radical effects of hunger and starvation. Hundreds have died and many more hundreds have died in their efforts to reach food distribution centers. The pictures of the children are heartbreaking. They aren’t dying as the result of bomb blasts or gunfire but because they are being denied food and nourishment. It isn’t that food is unavailable. Less than fifty miles away truckloads with the needed supplies are waiting for permission to enter the land and deliver the food. It truly is a humanitarian crisis! And most of us deal with it by avoiding the pictures–they’re just too hard to look at! The prophet knew about such things. He knew how humans love to speak evil and point fingers to assess blame. But he also indicates that there’s nothing more important than offering food to the hungry and satisfying the needs of the afflicted. We all know about the atrocities of Hamas–and the Palestinians have been severely punished for those actions–surely it is now past time to stop the ongoing starvation of the innocents.

Thought for the Day: What can I do when it seems there’s nothing I can do?

Luke 12:54-56

“You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” vs. 56

The people in the crowds who gathered to hear Jesus teach were adept at making weather forecasts. Years of agricultural living had made them experts on interpreting the skies and the winds. They were much more capable than we are when it comes to reading the book of nature. But Jesus called them hypocrites because they failed to grasp the significance of his mission in the context of the changing times. In our age we don’t have to know any physical science to predict the weather. We get our amazingly accurate forecasts just by looking at our smartphones. But we’re not much better than the folks in Jesus’ crowds at deciphering the spiritual dimensions of our existence. We tend to become completely bogged down with our material obsessions and actually miss the real point of living. There is a better way to live than in blind obedience to the power hungry misguided rulers of our world. We don’t have to be obsessed by the vagaries of the stock market or the latest Tic Tok or Etsy trends. We are called into that new life by the invitation of the Holy Spirit, and as we learn to savor the delights of gospel living, the joy of the kingdom will lift us from despair and give us hope.

Thought for the Day: What’s my interpretation of the present time?