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

If nothing else, our experiences over the last couple of months have taught us that we live in a dangerous world and, no matter how good our intentions, we can’t always control outcomes. Life is hard, and problems can come from most any direction at any time–some would even say that we are surrounded by enemies. The psalmist’s world was very similar, but instead of focusing on the dangers and trying to find scapegoats, he turned to the Lord, the great Shepherd of sheep, and offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the bounty of life. People of faith are discovering much the same thing as their lives shrink in the presence of the coronavirus. As we’re drawn back to the essentials of daily living we are discovering that the Lord is taking very good care of us, and that our cups are overflowing. Even with enemies all around there are daily reminders of God’s incredible love and bounty. As skies have cleared we’re seeing a new creation, blue skies and radiant sunshine, with trees budding and flowers blooming all around. Some of us are discovering the joys of long walks and connecting with far-flung families. Even time has relaxed its relentless grip on our schedules and we’re finding opportunities to complete long-delayed projects and start new ones. The Lord is our Shepherd and even now, we will never want for anything!

Thought for the Day: What surprises have I received in these last months?

Acts 2:46-47

“Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.” vss. 46-47a

Initially, the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem did not imagine that they would be considered the founders of a new religion. They were very content within Judaism and made temple worship a part of their daily routine. They were different from other Jews only in that they believed that Jesus was the messiah. Still there was something about them that outsiders found attractive and they soon found that their number was growing. Later on they would attribute that difference to the change of heart wrought by the presence of the Holy Spirit. They had been filled with the Spirit of the Christ and began sharing instead of hoarding. They even gave up possessions and held all things in common. They understood that there was more to living than personal gain and they treated each day as a gift from God. We are seeing that same Spirit in our communities in this time of crisis. All around, even in the presence of scams and rampant greed, we see people, full of Christ, being willing to give and share with exceptional generosity. And even though we can’t make it to our sanctuaries for worship and prayer, the testimony of our deeds will never be forgotten. We are gaining the goodwill of many!

Thought for the Day: Why does adversity spark generosity in some people?

Acts 2:42-45

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” vs. 42

As places of worship have closed their doors through the course of this pandemic, leaders have regularly reminded believers that the Church has not been closed, and they’re one hundred percent correct. The Church has never been about steeples, sanctuaries, or classrooms, and Luke’s description in Acts remains accurate to this day. The Church is the people of God, called by the Holy Spirit, who devote themselves to scripture, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer. And what we’ve discovered is that locked doors have actually opened the way to ever more creative ways of celebrating that fellowship. Pastors are preaching and their sermons are going viral. Technology has made it possible for personal connections to continue and prayers to be shared–we’re seeing people as they really are and not in their Sunday best. We even can see inside their homes! Many congregations are keeping in touch far more effectively than ever before and some are even finding ways to break bread together. Granted, we’re missing the physicality of corporate worship, but that deprivation will only make it sweeter when restrictions a. What we have discovered is that being united in Christ Jesus gives us a presence that cannot be stifled or curtailed. We are the Body of Christ, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against us, and a mere pandemic doesn’t have a chance!

Thought for the Day: What is my congregation doing to connect with me?

Luke 24:24-35

“Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” vs. 35

Some believers have reported that what they’re missing most in the physical distancing related to the current reaction to the spread of the corona virus is participation in Holy Communion. There are no shortages of worship services on YouTube and being live-streamed, but while it’s nice to check in on all those sermons and the special music, it’s hard to replicate the breaking of the bread. It’s this great mystery that is at the heart of our life together in the church, and it’s been like that from the very beginning. As soon as those early disciples began their weekly meetings, they included the meal of bread and wine, for it was there that they encountered the Risen Jesus. Learned theologians and biblical scholars have tried hard to explain how this happens but in the end our formulas and explanations fail us. All we can say is that in this simple meal of eating and drinking Christ becomes alive for us, and by grace, love fills our hearts. As we taste the bread and smell the wine, our eyes are opened and we recognize Jesus. It may very well be a momentary thing–sometimes he vanishes quickly–but it is enough to bring us back again and again. And it’s what we’re aching to do right now!

Thought for the Day: What aspect of worship am I missing the most?

Luke 24:13-27

“Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.” vs. 27

Luke makes it clear to his readers that the good news about Jesus was not self-evident even to his disciples after that fateful weekend in Jerusalem. Some women had spread the news of his continuing presence but their reports were not considered authoritative. What the early believers needed was some evidence that what had happened in Jesus was consistent with the Hebrew scriptures. They didn’t want something that was brand new, they wanted good news that was rooted in the history of their people. And that’s why people today continue to immerse themselves in the study of scripture. We know that folks are making stuff up all over the place, and some of it can sound really good, but without a history it’s impossible to build trust. Of course we’re always coming to new understandings of the scripture–it has loads of surprises for us–but it’s so important to make sure that the truths we entrust our lives to are rooted in our community’s stories. And so we keep on studying ancient creeds and practices. We try to figure out the values and convictions of those who were the pioneers of our faith, always remembering that new occasions teach new duties. And in those connections with the past we’re bound to find our confidence for the future.

Thought for the Day: Why do some people find history boring?

1 Peter 1:21-23

“You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.” vs. 23

Peter’s words to those early followers of Jesus were intended to give them encouragement and hope. They were a holy people, set aside by God to make a difference in the world. Their strength came not from their own merit or worthiness but as a gift from God through the Holy Spirit. The life that had been engendered in them had not come from the union of a sperm and an egg, but from the eternal Word of God, present in the creation of the universe and now present in them through the Christ. They really had been born anew, a new birth celebrated in baptism and lived out in the love that marked their daily interactions. It’s almost as though we exist as two persons in this world, the one that is the product of biological and genetic interconnections, and the other that has been born of God. Sometimes we’re barely aware of our divine selves and live totally in response to our natural appetites and inclinations. We grow, mature, mate, work, breed, and get old–and our other self remains hidden, certainly to others, and often even to ourselves. What a blessing it is when we can begin to relax into the person that God has birthed in us! That’s when love begins to flow and we start to see the joy of living in the moment. It’s a moment of discovery worth savoring!

Thought for the Day: When did I discover my self that is born of God?

1 Peter 1:17-20

“You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.” vss. 18-19

A ransom is typically understood as the payment that gives a person release from captors. In this passage it’s used as a verb to describe how the blood of Christ sets sinners free from their sinful pasts. It seems a fine metaphor and through the years countless Christians have understood that the innocent blood of Jesus is what has set them free from sin. It only becomes a problem when we start asking questions. For instance, to whom is this ransom paid? Or, why is a ransom even necessary if God offers forgiveness by grace? Answers to such questions are seldom satisfying and as a result many have stopped using ransom talk in understanding atonement, and some have even stopped using atonement language altogether. Instead of using a metaphor that arises out of the Hebrew sacrificial system outlined in Leviticus, they’re more comfortable with the language of sacrificial love found in the New Testament. With that understanding as a background, Peter’s words are a beautiful description of the mystical wonder of God’s grace. We don’t have to pay for forgiveness with silver or gold, it’s a free gift–and it becomes ours, not so much through the blood of Christ, as through Christ’s self-giving love.

Thought for the Day: Why does blood imagery touch a responsive chord in so many?

Psalm 116:12-19

“What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.” vss. 12-14

When the psalmist was restored to health there was only one adequate response. He headed to the temple as fast as he could to offer a generous sacrifice of thanksgiving. His response gives us pause for thought about our own situation as we now look forward to the ending stages of this COVID-19 pandemic. As restrictions are eased, a sign that the worst has passed, it would seem appropriate for us to look for ways to express ourselves in thanksgiving. Certainly we’ll want to express thankfulness to health-care workers and others who have put themselves at risk, but some will also want to offer praise and thanks to God. Fortunately there are a multitude of ways to do that. Relief organizations have depleted a large portion of their resources over the last few months–we can certainly funnel our thank offerings to them. And if we’re a part of a faith community there are a multitude of ways to say thank you. Our pastors and lay leaders have shown boundless imagination and creativity in reaching out. They’ve made enormous efforts to stay connected via technology and old-fashioned phone calls. And there have been no weekly offerings! Those congregations are going to need our thank offerings and more. It’s a great way to return thanks to the Lord!

Thought for the Day: How am I going to return thanks to the Lord?

Psalm 116:1-4

“Then I called on the name of the Lord: ‘O Lord, I pray, save my life!’” vs 4

The psalmist was in a buoyant mood; he had a story to tell and he wanted everyone to know his good news. He had been at death’s door, close to giving up his spirit, and very near to entering the dark haunts of the dead. At the last moment he had cried out to the Lord in despair, asking that his life be saved–and his prayer had been heard! In response he composed a psalm of praise and vowed his never-ending love for the Lord. We can understand his feelings. Perhaps we too have had similar experiences–it’s not at all uncommon to cry out to God when death draws near for ourselves or for someone we love. When all else fails, God is the one who is summoned, and sometimes, but not always, our prayers are answered and lives are saved. In those moments words of thanks come almost unbidden from our mouths, and we’re glad to affirm our love for God. But what about those other times, those occasions when fervent prayers go unanswered and death comes to stay? Those are real tests for faith, and some respond with unbelief. But not all! There are many whose prayers are not answered who continue to express their love for God. They have come to believe that their love for God is a reflection of God’s unconditional love for us and not dependent on answered prayers. And they are blessed in their mourning! 

Thought for the Day: What is conditional love?

Acts 2:14a, 36-41

“So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.” vs. 41

According to Luke the growth of the early Christian community was explosive, with 3000 persons being baptized in response to Peter’s sermon. While we might question Luke’s numbers and the impact of a particular sermon, there is little doubt that there was missionary zeal among believers from the very beginning. They’d been touched by the Holy Spirit of God and they believed the message they’d been given was meant to be shared with all people. According to tradition they went with the word in every direction, inviting people of every folk and nation to become a part of Christ’s Body. In our time there has been a slowing of that evangelistic enthusiasm among the followers of Jesus. There’s more a feeling of “live and let live” and almost a reluctance to reach out to others. Some of this may be a reaction to the evangelistic methods and message of the past, which is understandable, but it may also be an indication of an adaptation to our culture. With the move toward inclusion and understanding, we may no longer be convinced that being a follower of Jesus is a benefit to anyone. Perhaps it doesn’t make any difference what people believe, and if that’s the case, why even put ourselves out making the effort to share our faith with others? It’s a crucial question, one that folks claiming to be full of the Spirit should be seeking to answer!

Thought for the Day: What’s the point of baptism in our secular age?