Psalm 46:6-11

“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” vs. 10

The psalmist knew that God is heard most clearly in the sounds of silence and not in sermons or even the singing of psalms. It’s nice to have solid preachers and gifted choirs in congregations, but God comes closest to us when we put aside words and simply listen in the stillness. Some find that hard to do. We seem to like noisy environments–even when we’re alone we use ear buds to bring in a steady stream of talk and song. The ancients didn’t have those distractions and learned to spend long periods of time in complete silence and meditation. It’s what Jesus did when he wanted to reconnect with God–he’d go away into the mountains or along the sea. When only the sounds of nature are present, and we close our mouths, God comes. And invariably we discover, as did the psalmist, that God is worthy of exaltation, all day, every day. It may be a challenge for us, waiting on the Lord in silence probably isn’t one of our spiritual gifts. For some it may feel like torture. We don’t like to be alone with our thoughts and crave external words. But when we can do it, if only for a few minutes, we make an amazing discovery. God comes in the silence and can actually be God for us–in those moments love fills our souls, and joy is our reward. 

Thought for the Day: Where do I go to be still before God?

Psalm 46:1-6

“Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.” vss. 2-3

As global temperatures rise more and more people are convinced that we are in the beginning stages of significant climate change. Even though some aren’t convinced that this is human-caused they do agree that preparations need to be made for the consequences of warmer temperatures. Even though sea level changes seem incremental they will cause catastrophic damage to our coastlines–there will be massive flooding in some of the world’s most heavily populated and vulnerable areas. Storms will increase in intensity–damages from rain, winds, and flooding will be widespread and millions of people will be displaced. Though the psalmist likely didn’t have a clue about such things he was aware of natural disasters–earthquakes were commonplace along the Jordan Rift Valley–and he believed that in such circumstances the Lord was our refuge and strength. This doesn’t mean that we can afford to adopt a casual attitude about the environmental threats that we currently face. Even though the earth will likely survive any damage that humans can inflict, there are things that can be done to mitigate the coming disasters. As we begin to make those necessary changes we can be sure that God will be our very present help in trouble. Despite our careless stewardship, we will survive.

Thought for the Day: What’s our best hope in the face of a changing climate?

Jeremiah 23:1-6

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord.” vs. 1

Judah was in a tough spot and Jeremiah was convinced that it was the fault of the kings. Speaking for the Lord, in a biting and forceful sermon, he blames Judah’s shepherds, i.e. kings, for destroying and scattering the people, and he looks forward to a day when a new righteous king will establish justice in the land. As time passed, each time there was a regime change the people hoped for the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy–and they were always disappointed. When Jesus came on the scene there were many who hoped that he would be the one to restore the kingdom–until his last day on earth his disciples were looking for such a restoration. People still have those expectations for would-be rulers–even in a democracy we keep hoping that the president will be a proper shepherd and provide solid leadership for the flock. It’s always disappointing when those who promise to care for the sheep end up fleecing them instead. What we learn from scripture is that ultimately kings of this world are liable to let us down. Occasionally we’ll find one who operates with humility and compassion, but more often they are ego-driven and power hungry. The disciples came to believe that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and the only reliable guide for life’s journey. It was true then and it’s doubly true now.

Thought for the Day: Which of our presidents have been good shepherds?

Luke 21:10-19

“This will give you an opportunity to testify.” vs. 13

When early Christians were arrested and hauled before courts and judges they rejoiced at the opportunity they had been given to testify concerning the living presence of Christ Jesus in their lives. That’s generally how it has always worked for people of faith. No matter what disaster or trial may come our way in the course of our journeys it will always provide a chance for witness. In fact, the more we’ve endured, the more suffering that has come our way, the more credible our words and testimony will be. When we can speak of our horrible experiences and still show an attitude of love and forgiveness, what we say will always touch hearts and inspire imitation. Of course that doesn’t come easily to us. Our tendency is to cover up our pain and be silent about the suffering that we’ve endured. Sometimes it hurts to uncover old wounds and make honest confessions about mistakes that we’ve made. But when we open up to others and speak from the heart about the ways God has sustained our spirits in times of turmoil and confusion, it is going to make a difference. We may not have been arrested for believing in Jesus but our stories of perseverance will bring hope and encouragement, and in hearing them, others will also find the strength to endure. 

Thought for the Day: What testimony can I share with hurting people?

Luke 21:5-9

“As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” vs. 6

When Jesus visited the temple during his lifetime, most of the restoration work begun by Herod the Great would have been completed. His builders had completely remodeled and redone the temple built by the returning exiles from Babylon. Modeled after Roman buildings it was a work of art and a source of pride for the Jewish people. Jesus’ disciples were impressed–even modern visitors marvel at the carefully hewn massive stones that make up the foundation of the temple mount. Those Galilean fishermen likely stood with their mouths agape–and then Jesus tells them all would be thrown done. It’s hard to overestimate what the loss of the temple meant in those days of tribulation and turmoil. Luke writes at a time when the destruction had likely already taken place and the words he used to describe what happened give us a glimpse of a nation torn apart by rebellion and war. The point is not that Jesus predicted the disaster so much as the effect it had on his disciples. The unthinkable happened! And sometimes it happens to us too. Those things that we had considered as solid and unchangeable fall apart, and we’re left to put together the pieces–if we can. Our blessing is that God does not dwell in a temple built by human hands. Our God transcends the calamities and disasters of life and gives the courage to endure.

Thought for the Day: What unthinkable things have happened in my life?

2 Thessalonians 3:6-9

“For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.” vs. 10

This verse is familiar to folks who are generally unfamiliar with the scriptures. We’ve heard it many times in a variety of contexts. Most often it’s used to buttress the belief that welfare recipients should work in exchange for their benefits. It’s not unusual for people in our country to believe that millions are taking advantage of the welfare system to receive money and services that they do not deserve. In some instances this is undoubtedly true–people are enormously inventive in coming up with clever scams of every kind. But it’s equally true that millions of people are unable to work for a whole variety of reasons and have enormous physical and economic needs. And the bible is very clear in saying that the nation has a responsibility to care for the poor and needy. It’s a shame then that this one verse, the only one of its kind in all of scripture, is used to cast all welfare recipients in a bad light. Paul’s words reflect conditions in one congregation at one particular point in history, a moment when many were expecting the imminent return of Jesus. They should not be used as a pretense for withholding funds from people in desperate need of assistance. Obviously where people are scamming the system there’s a problem to be addressed, but it’s not an excuse to turn our backs on the poor.

Thought for the Day: How do people scam welfare?

2 Thessalonians 3:6-9

“Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us.” vs. 6

Paul was not all sweetness and light in his responses to some of the issues in the congregations that he had helped to found. To say that he was direct is an under-statement, he never hesitated to issue commands when he believed there were serious issues. In this instance, he has heard that some believers in Thessalonica were quitting their jobs and living in idleness. Evidently since they believed in the imminent return of Jesus, they didn’t believe there was any need to continue working. Paul disagreed with passion–he even advised his readers to avoid such folks. Whether that was appropriate or not can be questioned, but it certainly is true that nothing undermines the morale of a congregation more than members who are all talk and no work. This isn’t so much a factor among rule-based Christians–leaders don’t tolerate non-involvement, but where grace is emphasized it can be an issue. Leaders are reluctant to say or do anything that might seem judgmental, and significant numbers of people respond by not doing their share. It’s hard to think of a good solution to this issue–in our time people pretty much do what they want–but there’s no doubt that the mission of the Church is damaged. No team can succeed when members of the team refuse to practice!

Thought for the Day: What’s the morale like in my congregation?

Psalm 98:6-9

“Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it. Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the Lord…” vss. 7-9a

The psalmist understood that all creation had been called into being by a word from God. So when he talks about making a joyful noise to the Lord he naturally assumes that such praise would only not only come from humans but from the natural environment. Everything, rocks, hills, trees, rivers, seas–all that moves on the face of the earth, flies through the skies, and swims in the deep–all will join in singing together for joy. And why will there be such praise? Because God is present in all! Sadly this comes as new information for too many people. For centuries we’ve not recognized the Divine Presence in the world around. Oh, at various times there has been talk of Mother Earth or Gaia, but mostly such conversation has been dismissed or labelled as heresy. The result has been a sense that humans are free to exploit and ravage the environment. We cause the extinction of species, pollute the air and water, and fail to hear the cries of pain from that which we abuse. Fortunately, in recent years we’ve begun to recognize the interconnectedness of all things and realize that all creation bears the stamp of God’s presence. Life in every form is precious, and even rocks praise God with their beauty and strength!

Thought for the Day: How do trees express joy?

Psalm 98:1-5

“O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.” vs. 1

The people of Israel regularly offered praise and thanksgiving to the Lord as they traveled to worship in the temple. Special songs were composed by the Levites and if the country had been enjoying success on the battlefield the rituals were particularly festive. They believed that any prosperity and all victories were the work of God on their behalf. Strangely, we followers of Jesus often get caught up in our experiences of pain and suffering on the journey, and spend an inordinate amount of time with laments and cries for help. But life isn’t always like that. Occasionally, and even often, we’ll be overwhelmed with the blessings that have been poured into our laps–at times we can feel exceptionally prosperous. Our families do well, our children surprise us, and even the nation seems full of goodness. It would be nice in those times that we could be as exuberant as the psalmist in singing to the Lord a new song. God does do marvelous things in our lives and in response we should raise the roofs with our shouts of joy. God gets plenty of blame in tough times–how wonderful it is to reverse the pattern and offer loud cries of praise when times are good.

Thought for the Day: When was the last time I praised God for my blessings?

Malachi 4:1-2a

But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings…” vs. 2a

Some prophets of Israel looked for the coming Day of the Lord, a final intervention by God in which the evil would punished and the good rewarded. There are still many who look for such a Day. Their hope is that the really bad people who are such a scourge on society would be destroyed. It’s an understandable desire. Most all folks would like for there to be some sort of ultimate justice. But there’s another vision for the future, one that doesn’t divide humanity into good and bad and require vengeance from God. Adherents of such a view see the Day of the Lord as a time of purification, a time when the stubble of our lives is burned away, and God acts with unquenchable love to cleanse all people. In Malachi’s words there would be a rising of the sun of righteousness, with healing in its wings. That’s an image worth hanging on to, one that is similar to John’s description of the Light that shines in the darkness and that cannot be overcome. Of course not all will like that picture of the future. They like the idea of division and punishment–it is after all the way of the world. But people of grace will welcome an inclusive view of the life to come. They look forward to the day when the image of God will be fully restored in sinners and all will be welcomed home.

Thought for the Day: How do I understand the Day of the Lord?