Romans 1:5-7

“To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” vs. 7

Pastors love Paul’s greeting to the Romans and many begin their sermons echoing his words, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” What more could we possibly want for one another than grace and peace! Those two words are the content of the good news that is for all people on the planet. This is what the story of Christmas is all about. Oh, we argue about a lot of things as the saints of God. We have our doctrines, theologies and creeds and we’ve grown comfortable with their definitions and dogmas–and many of us love to debate! But all of those things are beside the point–the whole of the gospel is grace and peace and nothing more! God’s gifts of wholeness and forgiveness have been showered upon us in abundance and they are ours without price and without cost. Those who take those gifts to heart are blessed with peace that defies and surpasses human understanding. Theoretically then, a pastor’s sermon could begin and end with the apostolic greeting. There really is no need for anything more! Of course that will never happen! They have a need to preach and we have a need to hear. Their wisdom is a lamp and a guide to our feet as we gracefully and peacefully make our way through life! 

Thought for the Day: What motivates pastors to preach?

Romans 1:1-4

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,” vs. 1

In Greek the word used by Paul to describe his relationship to Jesus was “slave,” a somewhat harsher term than the “servant” many translators have chosen. He wanted his readers to know that he was completely bound to Jesus, and that he had no choice but to follow in his Way. Like the translators we too are made uncomfortable by slavery language–too many people continue to live as slaves in our world even today. It’s repugnant to think that humans would have the right to own another person. Yet Paul’s choice of words is amazingly apt in describing the relationship many of us have come to have with our Lord. Of course it’s true that in Christ we are set free to live in the image of God–but it’s also true that we are bound to live as Christ’s presence in the world. In Christ we are both slave and free! That doesn’t mean that we can’t go off and live as we please. Many do choose that path and follow their passions and desires to a multitude of ends. But the blessings that come with bondage to Christ are priceless. Not only are we set free from all the chains of guilt and pain that have imprisoned us, we are actually empowered to live in the image of Jesus and bring good news to all we encounter. It really is the best possible life!

Thought for the Day: What have I been set apart to do?

Psalm 80:17-19

“Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.” vs. 18

With the kingdom in shambles, the psalmist knows that Israel needs the help of the Lord and asked that the king be empowered to lead his army to victory. He promises that if the Lord will act to restore the people, they will never again turn away from faith. Many of us are familiar with the psalmist’s tactics. We too have gone the bargaining route with God. If only God will answer our prayers we will be faithful and live as God desires. Our words and actions will be pure and we will serve Jesus with gladness for the rest of our lives. The people of Israel made such promises regularly in moments of stress, and, as soon as things had turned for the better, went right back to living in their old ways. Sad to say, that’s likely the way it is for us too. No matter how heartfelt our promises to change and live differently, we will usually revert to our previous patterns as soon as the pressure is off. This doesn’t mean that change is impossible–humans are capable of repentance and it actually happens quite frequently. But true repentance is rooted in a recognition of our need to change and a sincere desire to lead a new life. It can never be a part of a bargaining process. It didn’t work for Israel and it won’t work for us either.

Thought for the Day: What kinds of bargains have I made with God?

Psalm 80:1-7

“O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?” vs. 4

Horrible things had been happening in Israel. External enemies had attacked and overrun the country. People had been praying that the Lord would appear and lead their armies to victory, but nothing had happened. There had been no rescuer or savior…so the psalmist assumes that the Lord is angry with the prayers. He probably wasn’t the first to think such a thing and he certainly wasn’t the last. People of all times and places have assumed that the reason things weren’t going well for them was because God was angry. Religious leaders have generally affirmed such feelings and told believers that God needed to be appeased before prosperity would return. Increased offerings and more generous sacrifices would probably be necessary to get back in God’s favor. The truth is that God is not angry! Jesus said that God doesn’t reward some and not others because God loves all. Rain falls on the just and the unjust! God’s love is for the whole world. Too many people have spent their entire lives convinced that God was angry and they were being punished, and it’s about time that we stop thinking that way. There is suffering in the world…that’s obvious…and it remains a great mystery. But God is the one who brings healing and restoration…and God regularly smiles on us all, and never gets angry with our prayers!

Thought for the Day: Why do people sometimes think that God is angry?

Isaiah 7:10-16

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.” vs. 14

Isaiah was so frustrated with King Ahaz of Judah. Two armies were on the march to besiege Jerusalem and Isaiah had received a word from the Lord that Judah had nothing to fear. But Ahaz refused to ask for a sign of confirmation–evidently he didn’t think he needed any help from the Lord. Isaiah tells the king the Lord will give a sign anyhow–a young woman will bear a son and name the child Immanuel, which means “God is with us.” When Matthew was writing his gospel, he remembered this verse from Isaiah and uses it as a confirmation that the birth of Jesus was a sign of God’s continuing strength and presence. God does not leave us bereft of support in this world of threats and violence. How do we know that? Well, a child has been born and we’ve come to know him as Immanuel. We aren’t alone, no matter how dismal our circumstances, no matter how uncertain our futures may appear. And that’s the good news of Christmas! Right now there’s probably a lot of hoopla going on in our lives, that’s the nature of the season. But underneath the tree, hidden by packages carefully wrapped, there rests the child Jesus, and in him God has come and will come to us–even if we don’t ask! Such is the nature of grace!

Thought for the Day: Why are we reluctant to ask for God’s help?

Matthew 11:6-11

“Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” vs. 11

In Matthew’s estimation there is a great divide between John and Jesus. John was the best and the greatest of the prophets; he was articulate and spoke the truth to those in power. He announced that the kingdom of heaven had come and told people to repent so that they could be included. At its best John’s message lacked grace and was full of law. Forgiveness came as the result of repentance and change…and people liked what they heard and flocked to be baptized. Jesus also announced that the kingdom of heaven had come near but he didn’t baptize anyone. Instead he fed people, healed them of their infirmities, and made them whole. He brought good news to the lowly and the poor and showered their lives with mercy and forgiveness. We still struggle with those two approaches to kingdom living. John’s message resonates with our default position…from birth we’re programmed to believe that being good is a product of hard work and resolve. But often that system leaves us guilt-ridden and spiritually empty. But Jesus is still hanging around…he comes to us as the Christ and showers us with unconditional love and unlimited forgiveness. He fills up our hungry hearts and restores us to holiness. In him we become the wonderful people we’ve been made to be…in him we’re even greater than John the Baptist.

Thought for the Day: How is my hungry heart filled?

Matthew 11:2-6

“When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’” vss. 2-3

“Are you the one who is to come?” John wanted to know. He’d heard what Jesus had been doing, and while it didn’t quite accord with what he thought the Messiah would do, he was still hoping. He knew that there had been a whole string of purported Messiahs and, one by one they’d been thwarted in their efforts. None had been able to muster the power and authority necessary to restore the kingdom to Israel. Maybe Jesus would be the one! We too wonder about Jesus sometimes. We’ve heard the stories of marvelous deeds of power–some have testified about the impact he’s had on their lives. We’ve even heard that he’s been raised from the dead and that he’s a living presence in our world. Some days we believe what has been told to us and say the creeds with confidence. On those days we whole-heartedly cast our lot with Jesus and claim to be his followers. But at other times we can’t help but wonder. As the popular song puts it, “I wonder as I wander out under the sky, how Jesus my Savior did come for to die…” And that’s okay! It’s the most natural thing in the world to have questions about the Divine Presence. Life seems so ordinary–shouldn’t Jesus make it extraordinary? We wonder–and continue to trust!

Thought for the Day: What do I wonder as I wander?

James 5:9-10

“Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!” vs. 9

James was fed up with the grumbling among the local followers of Jesus and he wasn’t above using scare tactics to straighten them out. He mentions that the Judge is near at hand and if they don’t want to be judged, they should stop the squabbling. He sounds a bit like a parent trying to control children during the holidays by reminding them that Santa is watching and that he’s keeping a list of who’s naughty and nice–and that they’d better be good for goodness sake! We don’t know how the people responded to James’s warning, but those tactics have had a long history in the life of the church. There are many pastors who still use them. It makes sense to believe that behaviors can be controlled by threats. And sometimes people do  repent if they’re reminded that the Judge is watching! But in the long run that kind of message does little to create genuine love and joy in a community of faith. What most sinners are looking for is a word of forgiveness and hope, and their slipping back into sin doesn’t mean that grace has failed. What they need is not a scolding but a warm hug of encouragement and mercy. Warnings are necessary as children learn to avoid dangerous behaviors, but Jesus showed us a world where forgiveness is the last word, and judgement is full of grace.

Thought for the Day: When is it okay for a pastor to remind people of judgment?

 James 5:7-8

“Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.” vs. 7

Followers of Jesus in the early church fully expected him to come again and they believed that it would happen soon. Many thought that this would be the occasion for the restoration of the kingdom of Israel, and that all nations would be involved. For them it would be the fulfillment of what the Hebrew prophets had promised. When it didn’t happen, some became impatient and required regular reassurances from their leaders that it was going to happen. James tells them they need the patience of a farmer–the coming of the Lord was like a precious crop, and it wouldn’t come until all was in readiness. We too wonder when the promised peaceable kingdom will become a reality. We know things are not yet the way they’re supposed to be–there’s still too much violence and suffering–and it would be easy to lose faith that anything will ever change. Some may already have given up! It’s hard to be patient, especially when we’ve already been waiting for 2000 years! But waiting is really part of the plan. We already know that nothing worthwhile ever comes without it. Will it ever come? Of course, the seeds have been planted and we can see the signs–love and joy are in the air, not because Santa is on the way, but because Jesus has already come.

Thought for the Day: What feeds my impatience?

Psalm 146:5-10

“The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.” vs. 9

During the time of the psalmist people were on the move. When drought or famine came families didn’t stay where they were, they went to the places where they could find food and shelter. There were no fixed borders and no one worried about national identity or citizenship. People did keep track of tribal connections and they always knew who the strangers were. According to the psalmist the Lord watched over such persons. Accordingly there were special provisions in the Law to insure that they, along with orphans and widows, would be taken care of. We too live in a time where there are mass movements of refugees. All over the world people have been scattered for a variety of reasons: hunger, poverty, persecution, violence, the list goes on and on. In some places such persons have been welcomed with respect and kindness, in other places they’ve been turned away as a threat to security. Followers of Jesus, recognizing his refugee status as a child, will do whatever they can to show the Lord’s care for such strangers. Often they’ll provide food and shelter–sometimes they’ll find them employment and other support. Unfortunately, such welcoming has become controversial and divisive in our country. Some churches have been the targets of hate groups for providing shelter to asylum seekers. But we don’t really have a choice! The Lord watches over strangers. How can we turn our backs?

Thought for the Day: Why is immigration such a hot button issue?