John 8:33-36

“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” vs. 36

In 1945 the State of New Hampshire adopted the motto “Live Free or Die,” a slogan with roots dating back to the French Revolution. Some feel that it’s the perfect summation of the revolutionary principles that guided American patriots to declare independence in 1776. Like Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death,” its words evoke passion and lift up freedom as the most desired human core value. Many of us would agree–but the picture gets murky when we begin to define just what freedom is. Our tendency is to think of freedom in political terms and assume that it’s closely related to what our constitution calls the Bill of Rights. That’s not a bad definition but it doesn’t come close to what Jesus meant when he spoke of freedom. For him freedom meant liberation from the power and bondage of sin and was unachievable by human effort. Such freedom is far superior to that won by American patriots and can be experienced by people living under every kind of political domination. External circumstances do not affect the liberty enjoyed by those whom the Son has made free. Such persons find light and joy in every moment of every day–we can see it in their eyes and in their loving. It’s wonderful to live in a free country! But it’s even better to freely live in the Light of Christ!

Thought for the Day: What does it mean to be free from the bondage of sin?

John 8:31-32

“Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’” vss. 31-32

John tells us that the Word was present with God in the beginning and that through the Word all things came into existence. He further tells us that this Word became flesh and lived among us as Jesus of Nazareth. When Jesus began his ministry many people who heard his word believed in him. They acknowledged that he had come from God, but they still didn’t get what this meant for their lives. People still struggle with that matter of what it means to believe in Jesus. For some it’s a matter of acknowledging that he existed, performed some miracles, was crucified, and then raised from the dead. Now those are good things to agree on–but they don’t come close to what John was talking about in his gospel. He says believing is intimately connected to continuing in the word of Jesus, and this is where it gets tricky. This word didn’t originate in the mind of a first century Jewish rabbi–rather it came directly from the Word that was with God in creation. To believe is to receive the Light of the World and let it permeate every aspect of our being. It is to be bathed in the Light of Christ! When that happens we will know the truth and nothing else will matter for us.

Thought for the Day: How do I bathe in the Light of Christ?

Romans 3:22b-28

“For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…” vss. 22b-24

Through the centuries, as believers have read Paul’s letter to the Romans, they’ve taken verse 23 of chapter 3 to heart, and have used it as the great leveler. Yes, indeed, all of us are sinners, from derelicts to saints, and there’s no use denying it. Many of us grew up making that confession within five minutes of sitting down for worship, “I am by nature sinful and unclean, I have sinned against you by thought, word, and deed.” It’s become our identifying mark, useful as an excuse in most every circumstance, and we’ve used it often. And of course it’s true–but we forget that it’s only the first half of Paul’s sentence! Yes, all have sinned, but all are now justified by his grace as a gift! Our sin is in the past! Our present and future are full of grace! So why do we keep claiming sin as our identity? Why not confess on Sunday morning, “I am cleansed and restored. I am good and merciful, created in the very image of God.” Are we afraid of raising people’s expectations of us? Granted, there are advantages to using sin as a cover, but it’s such a dismal way to live. It’s like hiding in darkness instead of rejoicing in the light–and it diminishes what Christ has done for us.

Thought for the Day: What happens when I tell others how wonderful I am?

Romans 3:19-22a

“But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” vss. 21-22a

Paul was attempting to give the congregation in Rome a more theological perspective of what had happened through Jesus. As part of his argument he takes pain to explain that the righteousness of God is in no way a response to the law or human obedience. Instead, he implies that the righteousness of God has been present from the beginning, that it existed even prior to the law, and it was obvious in the Torah and the writings of the prophets. For the sake of order commandments and laws were written and observed but those regulations only served to reveal human sin. It was in Jesus Christ, the second incarnation of God (the first being creation itself), that the already existing righteousness of God was clearly revealed. And now, Paul says, through faith in Jesus Christ, all humanity can share in that God-given righteousness. And it’s totally a gift from God! That was Martin Luther’s great insight as he studied the book of Romans back in the early sixteenth century. He had presumed that he could never become good enough to deserve the righteousness of God. And then he saw the truth–righteousness wasn’t something to be earned–it came as a gift, by grace. And, as his eyes were opened, a great load was lifted from his shoulders–he was set free to be!

Thought for the Day: What am I free to be?

Psalm 46:6-11

“The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” vss. 6-7

In recent months, given the state of affairs in our world, i.e. the tensions among nations and the threat of global warming, we’ve begun to hear talk of the “last days” among some Christians. They’re convinced that these current events are the signs spoken of in scripture and a sure indicator that the end is near. Others are not so sure! According to their historical perspective there’s an ebb and flow to the events and circumstances of world affairs. It may be that climate change has exacerbated some environmental conditions and made storms larger and more frequent. And there is a lot of tension and warfare on every continent, but that’s always been the case. By some measurements the world is actually better off now than ever before. The psalmist would likely agree. Things were bad in his day, really bad, and he still dares to put his trust in God. And that’s his word to us too. When things get tough, he tells us, the God of our ancestors is still our refuge. There are many endings that await humankind in the next centuries, but there will also be many beginnings–and through everything God is in charge. Instead of cowering in fear to await the “last days” we’d be well advised to pull up our britches and get ready for an amazing future. 

Thought for the Day: What do I think about the “last days”?

Psalm 46:1-5

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” vs. 1

Sometimes we forget that Martin Luther was not only a great biblical scholar and theologian, he loved music and wrote dozens of hymns for congregational singing. His most famous, “A Mighty Fortress,” took its inspiration from Psalm 46. Luther lived in turbulent times among constantly warring nations and regularly expected to be arrested and put to death. While he was mostly grateful for the protection provided by the Elector of Saxony, he believed that God was his true fortress and strength in every time of danger. This psalm spoke to his heart. We who have known turmoil and tragedy in our lives understand Luther’s feelings. There are people in our lives who offer protection and assurances. We are blessed to live in communities with police protection and wonderful hospitals. Many of us are under the regular care of a physician–we’re getting the best health care available. But nothing beats knowing that God cares deeply and has our back in every conceivable circumstance. In fact, not even death can separate us from the love of God. It’s particularly important for us to hang on to that hope in times when earthly institutions and governments seem on the verge of breakdown. After our daily exposures to the internet’s charges and countercharges it’s good to be able to turn to God as our very present help in trouble. God truly is our never-failing bulwark!

Thought for the Day: What daily help do I get from God?

Jeremiah 31:31-34

“No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.” vs. 34

Jeremiah prophesied during one of the most dismal periods of Israel’s history and watched as Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed and the ruling families hauled off into captivity. Many of his sermons were full of judgment and calls for repentance, but he was also able to see beyond the chaos and into a promising and hopeful future. His vision has resonated through the centuries and many hear its words as a sign of hope for our troubled and rancorous generation. He saw a time when goodness would prevail and become as natural to the human heart as breath itself, and indeed, there are moments when the Light shines and we see evidence of God’s transforming presence. Someday all people will know God, and the current mayhem and terror will be a distant memory. Sadly, it’s not likely that this will happen soon–after all it’s 2500 years since Jeremiah spoke and there’s still far too much ugliness and pain. The good news is that God is full of forgiveness and all of our sin will be forgotten–ultimately love and mercy will prevail! In the meantime we will be content with the glimpses of Light  that come our way every single day. For now they’re just what we need to maintain the dream!

Thought for the Day: Why do I remember my sin if God has forgotten it?

Luke 18:5-8

“And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night?” vss. 6-7a

Jesus was not above using examples from the world to give encouragement to his followers. His parable reflects one of the realities of our justice and political systems. Sometimes leaders who care nothing for God and have no respect for people will do the right thing. They do it not for any humanitarian purpose but because it’s expedient. Wise followers of Jesus know this. Some of them regularly work with our legislatures and congress to put the pressure on the people with power. And sometimes those leaders can be persuaded to make good and just decisions even if they’re not good and decent people. The good news is that we don’t have to rely on such power-brokering to change the world for good. God permeates all and ultimately even the poor will have justice done for them. If God-fearing lobbyists can apply pressure on leaders, just imagine what the Christ who dwells within their hearts can do! Even our most pathetic politicians and judges are created in the image of God, hidden though that irage may be! God, who used the Persian despot, Cyrus, to free Israel from captivity, can certainly use such persons too! All of this is a reminder of the ultimate triumph of good in this world. As Jesus proclaimed, “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.”

Thought for the Day: What are the important issues for Christ-filled lobbyists?

Luke 18:1-5

“Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.” vs. 1

Far too often we run into intractable situations where we have little idea about what to say or do. Solutions are elusive and we can’t even give or get good advice or direction. These are prime moments for prayer–and Jesus would have agreed! In fact he told a parable to his disciples about their need to pray and not lose heart. It’s good advice but still we wonder. What shall we do in those many instances where the dilemma remains after our prayer? Nothing has happened; nothing has changed. What shall we do then? Jesus said that we should just keep on praying. He uses the example of an unjust judge who granted a woman’s request just to keep her quiet. He reasons that if bad people will do good things, then surely God, who is good, will hear our prayers and give us what we need. His reasoning is impeccable but some of us will still wonder. We’ve had enough experience with praying to know that sometimes there’s just no answer. What then? There’s no easy answer to that good question, except to say, we need to keep praying. And so we do. Day after day we make our requests known to God, not until we get an answer, but until we don’t need to keep asking. On that day, one way or another, we will be satisfied.

Thought for the Day: What intractable situations am I facing?

2 Timothy 4:1-5

“For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires…” vs. 3

Timothy, the young pastor, is advised in this letter to proclaim the gospel with conviction in every season and to have patience in his teaching. He’s warned that there will be a time when his little flock would be tempted to wander and follow other teachers. That sort of thing did in fact happen regularly in the early church and it continues to this day. People have itching ears, and they’re susceptible to the market-driven messages they hear on radio and television, and now, on the internet. The false teachers are clever and capable and present a message that appeals to the prejudices and preferences of their listeners. Some start new congregations and ministries and use an amazing blend of music and scripture to lure folks away from their faith families. Often there’s a financial dimension to their appeal and a few have managed to use the gospel to create empires and to live like rock stars. There’s not much that can be done about such charlatans–with freedom of religion in our land, they can do as they please. Thank God for those leaders and congregations that remain rooted in the true gospel of Jesus Christ! They may not be slick and fancy but they have a connection to the truth that cannot be shaken. In their ministries, the broken are healed, the poor hear good news, and mercy abounds–in them there is hope!

Thought for the Day: When do my ears start itching?