Acts 17:26-31

“For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’” vs. 28

Luke remembered that Paul’s debate with the Athenians on Mars Hill contained a couple of apt references to Greek poets, and that Paul seemed to share their perspectives on the Divine Presence. Paul taught, as did those ancient philosophers, that all people are the children of God, in biblical terms he’s saying that we’re all born in the image and the likeness of God. Using a modern metaphor we could say that we have a Divine genetic imprint, God’s DNA, flowing in our blood and finding a home in the cells of our heart. Paul goes on to say that because we are God’s offspring, much is expected, that it’s our calling to stop living like runaways, and turn our attention to being God’s hands and feet in the world. In a word, Paul says that all people should repent, (his message is exactly the same as that of Jesus) and start giving their lives to acts of service and love. Of course not many paid attention to Paul that day on the Areopagus, and his call to repentance fell on deaf ears. The Athenians enjoyed the speculation and philosophical conversation, but they quickly lost interest when Paul called on them to change. A lot of us are like that. It’s fun to debate and share ideas about God, but when it comes to following the Jesus Way, whole bunches of us prefer the cheap seats on the sidelines!

Thought for the Day: Why do folks enjoy speculating about God?

Acts 17:22-25

“For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.” vs.23

The people Paul encountered in Athens were proud, sophisticated, and tolerant of a variety of religious views. They had a long history of debate and philosophical conversation and loved to hear scholarly presentations with a universal perspective. Of course, Paul is no slouch himself–he had sat at the feet of the finest Jewish teachers and likely was familiar with the Greek philosophers. Like a skilled debater he starts his presentation at the Areopagus by reporting observations made during his tour of popular tourist stops. He has noticed an interesting altar inscription and reports that he has astounding information about their unknown god. He agrees that the Lord of the Universe is invisible to human eyes but goes on to say that this God is the creator and sustainer of all that exists. His statement of faith continues to be our own basic understanding of the Divine Mystery. We may not be able to find words to adequately describe God’s awesome presence, but we do believe that this God is the Ground of all Being. This basically unprovable truth is undeniably believable, and people of faith for many generations have continued to depend upon it for their healing and hope.

Thought for the Day: What do we miss if we deny the existence of God?

John 14:7-14

“Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” vs. 12

Those who put their trust in Jesus in this world shouldn’t have to spend a lot of time figuring out how they’re going to spend their lives. John’s gospel makes it very clear that disciples will do the works that Jesus did, and in fact, will do even more. This doesn’t mean that we’re going to do even more spectacular miracles, we don’t have to do that, but together we’re going to touch many more lives than he did with healing love and forgiveness. It’s a matter of scale. He was one person and we are the Church, we are many people, and we have the capacity to transform humanity. And more than that, we’ve got a special God connection in Jesus. His Spirit informs, enlightens, and sanctifies us on the way, and with his power our power is unlimited. It is true that we will spend some time figuring out the particulars of our calling; we all love to be able to use our peculiar gifts and talents in ways that will be useful and give us joy. We might even be able to serve in a series of occupations or professions–but whatever it is that we choose, our primary calling is to do the works of Jesus. And it’s pretty obvious that there’s a lot of loving that’s left to be done!

Thought for the Day: What works of Jesus am I doing?

John 14:1-6

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.” vs. 1

It’s no accident that we most frequently hear these words from the gospel of John in the context of a funeral or a memorial service. There are literally no more comforting words in all of scripture. It’s all here, all the hope and promise of our life in Christ. Whenever we feel discouraged, whenever our hearts are broken, there’s nothing better for us to do than to turn to God, and more specifically to turn to Jesus. We look to God because all things are in God’s hands; God is the creator of the universe. God brings us into existence and breathes life into us. We look to Jesus because he is the image of the invisible God; he is the Christ. He is our Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. In him we find our peace, our joy, and our comfort. In him we see, touch, hear, and feel the unconditional love of God. So it’s no wonder that when our tears are the freshest and our pain the most intense we find comfort in John’s words. And, oh yes, they are a vivid reminder that, if it’s death that has gotten us crying, in Christ Jesus we see a new beginning, both for those we love and for ourselves. For he’s gone to prepare a place for us, that where he is, we may be also. He is the Way! And when we know that, peace fills our hearts!

Thought for the Day: What verses would I like read at my funeral?

1 Peter 2:6-10

“Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” vs. 10

Peter was writing to the scattered Christians of Asia and Galatia, and reminding them that, though they were few in number, they possessed a power and presence that came directly from God. He wanted them to know that, even lacking the credentials of race or heritage, they were a holy nation and a royal priesthood. Peter’s metaphor is powerful and has been a favorite for the people of God through the centuries. Even today our chests can swell with pride as we consider who we are in this world of passing fancies and divided loyalties. We come from a variety of backgrounds and heritages, some are rich and some poor, many have a strong theological background while others are barely believers, but together we are the Church of Christ, God’s own people, chosen by the Spirit for service in the world. And what makes us special is not privilege, insider knowledge, or power! Rather, we are the people of grace! We are those who have received mercy–and we know it! Like Paul, we boast in our weakness, knowing we have done nothing to receive favors from God. All we are and have is a gift, it’s a knowledge that makes us proud and humble at the same time. In Christ, we are called to relax into life, and enjoy every passing minute and hour until our time runs out–and our service is over!

Thought for the Day: What keeps me from enjoying every moment?

1 Peter 2:1-5

“like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” vs. 5

There have been some who have railed against the closing of churches in this time of quarantine, claiming that it is an aggressive act by an oppressive government. Others have laughed at the notion that any agency could have the power to close the church, and such persons are exactly right. The Church of Christ can never be identified with bricks and mortar, or building materials of any kind. As Peter described it, the Church is made up of living stones that have been built into a spiritual house. We are a holy priesthood, called by the Holy Spirit to offer ourselves as servants to the world. Those who have traveled to the Holy Land are reminded of this great truth with every visit. They go to see the ancient ruins and scattered stones of fallen basilicas, but their real inspiration comes from the living stones, the people of Israel and Palestine who continue to faithfully serve in trying and difficult circumstances. As those stories are heard, hearts are moved and pilgrims are inspired. So it is among us. Our sanctuaries may be empty but the living stones are alive; inspiring, encouraging, and bringing the love of Christ to all who are in need. When historians look back, it could very well be that they will report that it was in this time that followers of Jesus grew in grace and in faith more than any other.

Thought for the Day: How have I grown in these last months?

Psalm 31:15-16

“My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.” vs. 15

One of the great truths of human existence is that we are not in control. While that may seem self-evident to those who are wise, it still comes as a shock to many. In our youth we are regularly told wonderful lies by those who love us, aphorisms like “You can do anything,” or an old favorite, “You can be anything you want to be as long as you believe in yourself and work hard.” When we’re fed a regular diet of positivity and self-reliance, it comes as a jolt to discover that ultimately we’re not in control, that there are a myriad of outside influences that powerfully shape our destinies. Now there certainly is some benefit to positive thinking, that can’t be denied, but it’s even more important to know that we are not in control, that we never have been in control, and we never will be. Certainly the psalmist knew that and he found it to be a great comfort–and so should we! Our times are in our Creator’s hands, and the One whose eye is on the sparrow, certainly has an eye on us. There’ll be plenty of twists and turns along the way, as the powers of the world and the forces of our environment open and close doors, but there’s no reason for our hearts to be discouraged. We are in Christ, and in Christ things will not always go as we have imagined, but they will always go well.

Thought for the Day: What did I imagine my life would be like?

Psalm 31:1-5

“Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.” vs. 2

Many of us have been fervent in our prayers over the last months, offering up petitions for ourselves and our families, praying both for protection and for healing. It’s a natural response to the rapid spread of disease and aligns with what the psalmist was feeling. But there’s been an added element for us, a realization that the whole world needs our prayers, that every aspect of life going forward is being threatened. This is a global infection and it’s not only threatening our medical systems and personal health, it’s causing economic and financial upset as well. Unemployment is at record levels and recovery seems years away. Large numbers of people are upset and incendiary language is becoming commonplace. Wholesale disruption seems close at hand! It’s hard for believers to even find adequate words for our prayers–our daily petitions hardly seem equal to the apparent coming calamities. Coupled with those feelings there is the deceptive sense, arising out of our isolation, that all is fine. Our slowed down lives can lull us into tranquility–but that’s no excuse for abandoning prayer. Now more than ever people of faith around the world should be diligent in crying out to the rock and fortress of our global community. Our prayers will be heard, and, yes, they will make a difference!

Thought for the Day: What’s my biggest prayer concern these days?

Acts 7:55-60

“But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him…” vss. 57-58a

The crowd didn’t care what Stephen had to say, they only wanted to kill him–and so they did, and made Stephen famous as our faith’s first martyr. Unfortunately he wasn’t the last! There is within certain segments of humanity a deep aversion to kindness and truth, and whenever individuals begin to attract attention with their loving words and actions, we can be sure that the haters will not be far behind. Of course, now we don’t use stones to silence the innocent, we’ve become sophisticated and use social media. Anyone whose name becomes known for acts of decency and words of truth can expect to receive an onslaught of hateful tweets and a barrage of hurtful and slanderous accusations with no basis or substance. The attackers are intent only on the destruction of reputations and refuse to be silenced or constrained. It’s no wonder good people are reluctant to enter public service or become known beyond their communities. Stephen asked that those who stoned him be forgiven, and that continues to be the model for our response to the haters–but it’s so hard! When we see people killing with venomous words and vile threats, it arouses a deep thirst for revenge, and we are not much inclined to offer mercy. We might even question why we should even think about forgiving those who are unrepentant–perhaps they deserve justice and only justice!

Thought for the Day: Why should the unrepentant be forgiven?

John 10:6-10

“I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.” vs. 9

For the people of Israel the Shema prayer “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone” was the core of their faith and was to be recited every morning and evening. Many put a parchment containing this verse from Deuteronomy 6:1 in a little cylinder called a mezuzah and placed it on the doorposts of their homes and on their gates. Whenever they went out from their home or came in they would touch the mezuzah and remember the Shema prayer. In this passage from John Jesus tells his disciples that he will be their mezuzah, that he is in fact the gate through whom they pass every morning and evening of their lives. In him they find salvation and in him they will be fed. That good news continues to be the by-word of our lives in every circumstance and it has had special meaning for us as we’ve “sheltered in place” these last months. Often we’ve gone out with a prayer on our lips and returned giving thanks, always looking to Jesus as our guide and strength through uncertain times. That Christ center is the one thing we can count on when we lose faith with the pronouncements and promises of politicians, when no one seems capable of providing sound guidance and direction. Jesus is not only our Shepherd, he is the Way!

Thought for the Day: What verse would I put in my mezuzah?