Exodus 17:1-7

“From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.” vs. 1

We can assume that Expedia was not available for Moses as he began leading the people through the wilderness. As a result he was forced to rely upon the Lord as travel planner, and it really didn’t work very well. They moved along as the Lord commanded but when they got to Rephidim and set up their tents they discovered there was no water. Naturally the people are upset, but instead of blaming the Lord, they took out their frustration on Moses. As the story comes to us it becomes a parable about the difficulties of living as the Lord commands. Some of us have tried diligently to make career and family moves that are in line with what we perceive to be God’s will. And sometimes the results are disastrous! We find ourselves struggling to exist in situations that seem intolerable with no relief in sight. The natural tendency is to find someone to blame, and while some do choose to blame God, most find it’s handier and more satisfying to blame others, maybe a spouse or a boss. For some people complaining becomes almost a way of life– they’re never satisfied, no matter how often they move or change spouses. In the Exodus story Moses gave the people water from a rock, and ultimately that’s our solution too. And as Paul tells us in Romans, our Rock is the Christ!

Thought for the Day: When my life gets screwed up, who do I blame?

John 3:14-17

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” vs. 16

Sometimes the gospel of John can be a bit disconcerting. Jesus sounds different, more divine than human, and we can have a hard time getting used to the change in voice. In this third chapter, for instance, what begins as a conversation with Nicodemus changes into what seems like a sermon intended for a congregation. It’s not that the words are upsetting, indeed, these are some of the most beautiful and uplifting words in all the bible. Most of us have them memorized! But in reality these aren’t the words of Jesus, these are the words of the Christ! Once we understand this, some of our misgivings fall away and we can begin to appreciate the powerful good news that John has for us. He’s not just writing the biography of an historical figure, he’s revealing the Word of God that was made flesh in Jesus of Nazareth. Here we see Jesus as the Christ, full of grace and glory, and we are invited to put our trust in him as the only Son of God. John, the gospel writer, knew that God has a deep and eternal love for the whole world, sinners and righteous alike, and he wants his readers to trust that in Jesus they can have life. It’s a beautiful message–one that will be cherished for all time–we are loved, now and forever! This is most certainly true!

Thought for the Day: Which is my most favorite gospel?

John 3:9-13

“Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?’” vss. 9-10

Nicodemus didn’t understand Jesus’ talk about the Spirit of God. It wasn’t that he didn’t know the scriptures, after all he was a teacher of the law, but he didn’t get that the Spirit blows where it wills and not according to our presuppositions. People can know thousands of bible verses and still be totally blind to the movement of God in the world. It’s not that knowledge is bad for us–it’s a good thing for folks to get college degrees, study theology, and maybe even go to seminary. But we don’t need all that to feel the wind of God in our faces and to bear the fruit of the Spirit in our daily lives. More often than not we most fully experience the Divine Presence in ordinary people whose lives, for one reason or another, have been brought into congruence with God’s love through daily prayer and quiet passionate living. Such persons speak of what they have seen and bear testimony to what they have experienced and in their eyes we see the Christ-light clearly. Their books and resources are not found in libraries or even on-line, but they have drunk deeply of God’s grace and reflect God’s kindness–and we are grateful to call them our sisters and brothers in Christ.

Thought for the Day: Who or what has been my fount of knowledge? 

John 3:1-8

“The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” vs. 8

It’s amusing sometimes to hear people talk with such great assurance about God’s presence in this world. They seem to have some sort of direct line to the Divine Presence that is available only to themselves, and perhaps, a few others. Often there’s an off-putting arrogance about them, as though they, and they alone, have the answers to life’s perplexing questions. Jesus tells Nicodemus, a man who presumably had been reared in an answer-giving culture, that the Spirit of God is like the wind, it blows where it chooses but we don’t have a clue about what it is up to. His analogy may seem disconcerting to some, they would like God to be predictable and easily discerned. But for most folks this vision of the Spirit is liberating and exciting. They like it that they don’t know what God is up to and they look forward to the surprises that are sure to come their way. Just think of all the unbelievable changes that have happened in just the last few years. Women are seen as equals and gay persons are no longer despised–in some congregations they are welcomed as pastors and leaders! That stuff only happens because the Spirit of God is on the loose–some of us can’t wait to see what will happen next!

Thought for the Day: How has God surprised me?

Romans 4:13-17

“For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us)…vs. 16

Paul was writing to a community in Rome that included both Gentile and Jewish followers of Jesus Christ, and he was thrilled to be able to present an inclusive gospel. Times had changed and Gentile believers did not have to first become adherents of the Law to be a part of the Church. The game-changer was grace, a gift freely given to all who trusted God for their salvation. Grace continues to be the center for every congregation committed to walking in the Way of Jesus. Left to our own devices we would quickly degenerate into law-bound, rule-worshiping bands of exclusivists. We would see ourselves as righteous and quickly sniff out those among us who by chance fell into sin. But Paul’s gospel was different. He knew that God’s promises of forgiveness and life rested on grace and were guaranteed to all, especially to ungodly sinners. What a privilege it is to be among the inheritors of that glorious message of love and mercy! It actually should make us proud to be Christian! We are the purveyors of good news, news that the whole world desperately needs to hear and experience. 

Thought for the Day: What does grace mean in my life?

Romans 4:1-5

“But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.” vs. 5

Paul takes pains to remind his readers that their ancestor, Abraham, was made righteous, not because of his works, but because of his faith. And then, in the process of making his point, he defines faith as trust. We would do well to remember his definition! Too often we fall into the trap of thinking that faith is something like “believing,” and that it involves assenting to a particular set of credal statements. While it is true that creeds have value for a community of faith, it is trust that binds us to one another and to God. And the most important aspect of trust is allowing our sinful selves to fold into God’s loving arms and knowing that we don’t have to perform well to please God. Even as ungodly persons we have been redeemed and forgiven, and the image of God is being restored. Like Abraham we have been invited to journey with God into a future that is jam-packed with blessings and every goodness. That call has come in spite of our flaws and short-comings, and as we trust the promises that come with it, our lives are transformed. There are some of course who don’t trust grace and who prefer to “go it alone.” But they can’t escape being loved by the One they don’t trust–they too have been justified. It may mean nothing to them, but it means the world to their family and friends.

Thought for the Day: Why do some find it hard to trust God?

Psalm 121

“I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” vss. 1-2

From ancient times humans have looked to the mountains as the dwelling place of the Divine Presence. The Hebrews were no different–people were forever building shrines in high places and using them for worship. The psalmist likely shared in that understanding–he tells us that when trouble came he would lift up his eyes to the hills in his search for help. But he has an additional insight, one that derives from a more advanced theological understanding. He knew that his help would come, not from the mountains and the hills, but from the One who had made them. And so it is! Heaven and earth are full of God’s presence but God transcends all that exists–God is greater than we can even imagine. So when trouble stalks us and suffering visits our homes, God is never more than a breath away. Our Helper is constantly with us, in our coming and in our going, and every place in between. God has been with us in our pasts and God is our future. One day we will know God fully, just as we have been fully known. The psalmist found great security in that knowledge and so should we. Some days it may feel as though we are alone, but it’s all a mirage. Our God is always at hand!

Thought for the Day: Where do I get a special sense of God’s presence?

Genesis 12:1-4a

“I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” vs. 2

Over the last few years large numbers of people have expressed a desire to see America become a great nation again. Although some would argue that America is already great, on the surface, there is certainly nothing wrong with aspiring to greatness. The question then becomes, “What is it that makes a nation great?” Is it total domination, territorial expansion, economic prosperity, or global respect? Opinions differ! The perspective of Genesis provides an interesting possibility. The nation that evolved from Abram’s seed would be called great if it became a blessing to all the families of the earth. So how does America measure up? There’s little doubt that we have been blessed, and there have indeed been periods when we have been a blessing to the whole world–but not always. At times we have been obsessed with military domination and economic self-interests. Often we’ve tried to isolate ourselves from the pain and suffering of the poor and the hungry. Instead of opening our arms to the tired masses, we’ve been closed and threatening. It would be wonderful if the vision of Genesis were a national priority and we could honestly say our nation is more concerned about the needs of others than our own. Perhaps then we could truly say we are a great nation!

Thought for the Day: What will make America great again?

Matthew 4:1-11

“The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’” vs. 3

Jesus had just experienced an encounter with God that had exploded his mind. He’d come out of the water and seen a dove circling down from the skies–and with the dove came a voice, “You are my Son, my Beloved, with you I am well-pleased.” It was an overwhelming word of affirmation, and he sensed in that moment that he was being called as God’s Messiah. But what then? The Spirit stayed with him and led him into the wilderness, the traditional place of testing for prophets. He fasted for a long time and then the onslaught began. The tempter came and started messing with his mind, and the attack centered on the affirmation. If Jesus could be led to doubt that he was the Beloved Son of God, his mission would fail. Jesus parried the probes and emerged from the wilderness full of confidence and power. Often we’re not as successful. It is so hard for us to believe that God’s heart is full of love and that we are the beneficiaries. Even though we too are the beloved of God, the tempter regularly tries to get us to doubt the relationship. It’s just easier to think we’re unworthy, the scum of the earth, and incapable of doing what God has in mind for us. But that’s not who we are! We‘re the Holy Children of God and the Evil One has no power over us!!

Thought for the Day: Why do I doubt myself so much?

Romans 5:12-19

“Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.” vs. 18

In Paul’s estimation the gospel can be understood logically. Just as Adam’s sin led to condemnation for all, so Jesus’ righteous act leads to life for all! In his mind, it’s as simple as that! Now we might find good reasons to argue with Paul’s syllogism, but there’s a strong appeal to his argument. In essence he’s saying that sin is like an uncontained and deadly virus that has spread unabated through every time and place. We’re all infected! There is no vaccine and all quarantines have proved ineffective, but the righteousness of Jesus has all the qualities of a benevolent virus and can be an effective antidote! Like sin it will ultimately infect all people, but it will bring life and light to all. Even now we can see it spreading through the world as it passes from one person to another through infectious smiles and acts of love. Of course we would like to see it spread more quickly…we’ve gotten pretty tired of the ugly symptoms of sin that we see popping up all around. The trick is staying hopeful and getting out where people are…we won’t infect anyone with grace and mercy if we hang out in our little righteous pockets. Sin is virulent, but it’s really not a match for love!

Thought for the Day: Where did I “catch” righteousness?