Psalm 40:6-11

“I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.” vs. 10

The psalmist was writing to give thanks to God for blessings received–he’d had some problems but was now doing well. His words reveal his appreciation and also indicate that he had been faithful in sharing the good news with others. And just in case the Lord hadn’t noticed, he is careful to mention the wonderful things that he had done. As we read between the lines we can’t help but wonder about his purpose–it almost seems as though he’s providing the list to insure continued blessings. If so, it wouldn’t be surprising. We too have the sense that our good deeds should provide some insurance against future calamity. And if there’s a hint that things are starting to “go south” in our lives, we’re quick to remind God that we deserve better. Of course that’s not how life works–we can do all sorts of commendable things and then get hit by horrendous disaster–good works do not guarantee good health or good luck. But that doesn’t mean that God has abandoned us–God’s steadfast love continues in every circumstance. And when tough times come our way we can be confident that our prayers will be heard and one day joy will be restored. That’s just how it is with our loving God!

Thought for the Day: How have my good deeds been rewarded?

Psalm 40:1-5

“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.” vs. 3

Sometimes we underestimate the impact of our testimony in the lives of others. We imagine that our influence is minimal and that people are unaffected by what we say about faith and our relationship to God. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth! The psalmist had experienced blessings in his God connection. Life had hit a rough spot but he had continued to trust and God had lifted him up. In response he couldn’t help but tell his story and give praise to God. And he has confidence that through seeing what had happened to him many others would in turn learn to trust in the Lord. That’s why it’s so important to offer times for personal testimony in our faith communities. Over and over we’ve all seen how powerful those stories can be–sometimes they have much more impact than even a well-crafted sermon. This isn’t just a matter of reciting bible verses and repeating a few theological maxims. Instead, what we hear in those testimonies is the unvarnished interaction of the Spirit of God and our own human hearts. Initially it takes some courage to open our mouths–we expose ourselves to the critique of listeners. But in our willingness to be vulnerable, others are moved, and their faith is nourished and strengthened–and before long they’ll be singing the same song.

Thought for the Day: What is my testimony and with whom have I shared it?

Isaiah 49:1-7

“he says, ’It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’” vs. 6

The prophet speaks of Israel as the servant of the Lord, a nation destined for restoration, and to be a light to the nations. We can’t help but wonder at the incredible optimism that underlies this passage. Israel had fallen and its royal house had been exiled–Israel had lost all standing in the eyes of other countries. But the prophet insists that God has not abandoned the nation. There is still a plan for the people of God–they will not only be restored to their ancient lands, they will be a light to the nations. It’s that conviction that has sustained the community of faith ever since. No matter what happens, no matter how we might stumble or fall, God still has a plan for us. Through us, flawed though we may be, the good news of God’s love will be channeled to the end of the earth. And it’s happening now! Not through the grandiose, aggressive posturing of political entities, but through the steadfast faithfulness of the body of Christ. We have representatives in every corner of the globe and through us the hungry are fed and the poor hear the good news. Our mission never ends–we are the chosen ones of God.

Thought for the Day:  What is God’s plan for me today?

Matthew 3:16-17

“And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.” vs. 16 

According to the gospels, Jesus’ ministry began with a divine encounter just following his baptism. We don’t know his frame of mind or intentions when he entered the water–that remains a mystery–but we do know what happened as he emerged from the river. As Matthew puts it, the heavens were opened to him and he saw the descending Spirit of God in the form of a dove. It was an incredibly powerful experience, a vision that changed the direction of his life. In that moment he knew that he had been loved and chosen by God. Filled by the Spirit he went into the wilderness to pray about his response to the call, and, after 40 days of meditation and testing, emerged to begin his transforming ministry. Not many of us have experiences that are even remotely similar to that of Jesus, but some do. From time to time we hear their stories, how in a moment of prayer and reflection they felt touched by the Spirit and filled with a sense of the Divine Presence. While those powerful times don’t come to most, we have all received that same call to serve and love, and on our good days we will similarly feel the enriching nudge of the Spirit–and we will be transformed! 

Thought for the Day: How does the Spirit of God come to me?

Matthew 3:13-15

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.” vs. 13

The relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist has been a source of endless speculation from the beginning. That there was a connection is obvious, it’s mentioned numerous times in all four gospels. Mark and Luke tell us that Jesus, having been raised in Nazareth, traveled from Galilee to the Jordan where John was baptizing. Since John’s baptism included the confession of sins, it could be concluded that Jesus too was aware of his need for repentance. It may be that he was intending to become one of John’s disciples. Matthew feels a need to provide clarification. So he adds a bit of dialog to the other accounts. Jesus, Matthew affirms, didn’t need forgiveness, he was submitting to baptism as a mark of his total identification with sinners. Whether the story needed Matthew’s corrective can be debated. Many have no difficulty believing that Jesus was just like every other human who has lived. In their estimation, such a Jesus is even more appealing. The fact that he knows what it feels like to wrestle with issues of sin and guilt is for them a huge comfort–if Jesus was a sinner it’s certainly not a deal breaker. Of course such a notion has never been a part of orthodoxy. Most of us have grown up believing that Jesus was without sin–and that he took our sins upon himself to insure our forgiveness. For the orthodox it’s hard to imagine anything else!

Thought for the Day: Why was Jesus baptized?

Acts 10:39-43

“All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” vs. 43

The book of Acts gives us a sense of the early Christian message through sermonic vignettes from Peter and Paul. In this one, from Peter, we learn that the chief gift available to believers was the forgiveness of sins through the name of Jesus. Most of us have no problem with Peter’s proclamation. Indeed, because we are sinners and regularly wander from holiness, it gives great consolation to know that God forgives, and that forgiveness is freely available through Jesus. At times however, church leaders have regarded forgiveness as their personal treasure and have used it as a lucrative money maker. Some of the old cathedrals of Europe were built with funds raised from the sale of indulgences, a church invented scheme to absolve people of all penalties for sin through the payment of a fee. Such distortions have been an embarrassment to the church and a huge stumbling block to the spread of the gospel. It really is absurd to believe that the precious forgiveness offered by Jesus to broken and wounded people could be monetized, and then withheld at the whim of pastors or priests. Forgiveness is offered to all as a free gift from God, and those who trust that good news receive its cleansing power. The only thing that keeps anyone from enjoying that peace is lack of faith. Those who cannot trust can never know peace!

Thought for the Day: How can unbelievers receive forgiveness?

Acts 10:34-38

“Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” vss. 34-35

In Peter’s world it had been unlawful for a Jew to associate with Gentiles, and he had scrupulously avoided them for all of his life. And then everything changed! First there had been a vision of unclean foods, and then a voice, “Get up, Peter, and eat!” As he wondered about the vision, an invitation came from Cornelius, a Roman centurion, and propelled by the Spirit, Peter soon found himself in a crowd of Gentiles, preaching the good news of Jesus. New insights flooded over him and he struggled to make sense of what was happening. It wasn’t easy for those Jewish disciples to cross long-standing boundaries and embrace Gentiles as brothers and sisters in Christ, but eventually they got it done. We continue to find it difficult to break down walls and accept the “other” as part of the family. Some of us have seen the struggle first-hand in our congregations as we’ve been asked to put aside long-held prejudices and welcome gay persons, honor their marriages, and accept them as our pastors. Some haven’t been able to do it! They’ve chosen to stand with tradition and practice exclusion–it’s their way of keeping faith and aligns with their understanding of scripture. But others, following Peter’s witness, have opened their arms to those who had long been rejected–and blessings have multiplied.

Thought for the Day: How do I feel about full inclusion of gays in our congregations?

Psalm 29

“Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters.” vss. 2-3

In our time God is little more than an impotent fictive being for many people. They use God’s name almost exclusively as an interjection and seldom in a prayer. They often espouse a kind of superficial spirituality but have little or no interest in traditional forms of faith. The psalmist would have been appalled! For him God was like a powerful thunderstorm moving inland from the sea and spending itself in a spasm of wind, lightning, and rain over the forests of the coastal mountains. In other words God was an awesome force in the world, and not to be taken lightly. Of course we tend not to see God in storms and earthquakes–we have a better understanding of how such natural events occur. But science is never a good substitute for God, and those who worship it miss the Divine Presence that lies at the core of all that exists. Science can answer our questions about the weather but it can’t come close to explaining the mysteries of life and light that are the essence of our great God. People of faith have come to understand that every day deserves the quiet invocation of God’s presence and frequent consulting of God’s Spirit. The Lord of the Universe is the Ground of all Being, and not the product of needy imaginations.

Thought for the Day: When is God most real to me?

Isaiah 42:1-9

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.” vs. 1

Isaiah wrote these words with respect to Israel, and he presumed that the nation would be the agent of the Lord’s redemptive power. This was the “new look” Israel, a country focused not on tribal expansion, but on being the spirit-filled, light-bringing presence of the Lord among the nations of the world. Later on when Jesus submitted to the baptism of John these words rang in his ears as a call from God. He felt the presence of the Spirit and believed that he had been sent to bring light to the nations–and that’s what he did! He didn’t form an army or make threatening gestures, he wasn’t that kind of leader! In fact, there was a spirit of gentleness about him as he acted with conviction and purpose to bring release to captives and recovery of sight to the blind. Through the years, those baptized into his name have been expected to continue that mission and many have done exactly that. All over the world servants of the Lord have faithfully acted as beacons of truth and love. Whole communities have been formed in the name of Jesus and worked to bring justice and peace to the broken and the poor. Through us the vision of Isaiah has become a continuing reality–and the Light of Christ shines brightly.

Thought for the Day: What is my calling?

Matthew 2:1-12

“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’” vss. 1-2

Matthew’s little tale of the wise men from the East is a familiar part of most Sunday School Christmas pageants. Even though it has no scriptural connection with Luke’s story of shepherds and angels, no program would be complete until the wise men have made their appearance. Matthew probably intended it to represent the universal relevance of Jesus’ birth–he hadn’t just come for Jews, but for all people, and even Gentiles were drawn to honor his coming. Many Christians use the story as the gospel reading for the Day of Epiphany, January 6, when they celebrate Jesus as the Incarnation of God. During the liturgical season of Epiphany we are then drawn to recount the many times in his life when he revealed the divine light with his words and deeds. Naturally, there has been a ton of speculation about these magi and all kinds of assertions have been made about their identity. Of course there are no definitive answers to those questions–this isn’t likely a representation of an historical event. At best the wise men are a reminder that the coming of the Christ in Jesus has cosmic significance. Even the stars of the heavens point to his holy presence among us.

Thought for the Day: What gift did you bring to Jesus this Christmas?