2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15

“But his servants approached and said to him, ‘Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, “Wash, and be clean”?’” vs. 13

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a proud man. He had been told by his wife’s servant girl, a captive from Israel, that there was a man in Samaria who could cure him of his leprosy. After some diplomatic maneuvering he had gotten permission to come to the home of the prophet Elisha–but Elisha didn’t even come out to see him. He sent word through a messenger that Naaman should go wash in the Jordan seven times. Naaman was outraged at the presumed insult to a person of his standing and was ready to go back to Aram until convinced by his servants that he should give the prescribed treatment a try. Many of us are like Naaman. One of our favorite images of God has been as a supernatural interventionist who periodically acts in miraculous and spectacular ways. We’ve had a hard time beginning to understand God as one who is constantly present and who works through the ordinary to bring life and healing. But what a blessing it is to know that God is more than a Being who hangs out in heaven and who occasionally intervenes in our lives. The real God is as near as our breath and acts through ordinary washing and eating and drinking to restore and cleanse our leprous lives.

Thought for the Day: What’s an example of a miraculous healing?

Luke 17:5-10

“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’” vss. 5-6

Jesus’ response to the apostles’ demand that he increase their faith is enigmatic at best. It seems that he’s telling them that faith is not quantifiable. We can’t have variable amounts! Either we have faith, or we don’t! We’re not used to thinking that way. Like the apostles we often wish that our convictions about God were stronger so that we didn’t have to worry about stuff so much. We may even feel that our faith has eroded through the years and that it’s on the verge of disappearing altogether. But Jesus seems to be saying that what little faith we have is enough, even if it’s the size of a mustard seed. And he’s got a point! After all, what really counts in our relationship with God is the faith God has in us, and that never runs out. Over and over again God keeps coming to us with unconditional offers of mercy and forgiveness–grace upon grace is poured into our lives–and the strength of our faith is not the deciding factor. Of course it would be horrible if our faith disappeared altogether–but as long as that mustard seed sized trust remains, we’ll stay in touch with the love God has for us–and in the long run, that’s much more important than anything else.

Thought for the Day: When have I come closest to losing my faith?

Luke 17:1-4

“Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive.” vs. 3

Luke had access to many sayings of Jesus, some of which weren’t connected to any particular time and place, and he chose to group those isolated sayings in sections by themselves. Some seem to have been chosen because they related to issues that were coming up in the early faith communities. Here Jesus addresses something that many believers struggle with, namely, just how much should they say to members of the community who have committed some offense. In particular, those who have immersed themselves in the gospel of grace often have difficulty saying anything that might even remotely be considered judgmental. We may think that words, jokes, or actions are inappropriate or wrong but we tend to ignore them or pretend we didn’t see or hear. Of course that gives no credit to either grace or gospel and ultimately will undermine the witness of the community. Jesus is blunt! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender! This doesn’t mean that our congregations should embrace a spirit of legalism and begin campaigns to exclude sinners–that’s not the point. Forgiveness is at the heart of who we are. But we do have an obligation to hold one another accountable to kingdom principles, and not hold back for fear of offending.

Thought for the Day: When have I been silent instead of speaking up?

2 Timothy 1:8-14

“This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” vss. 9b-10

The message proclaimed by Paul was centered, not on the works of our hands, but on the grace and the power of God. What’s amazing is the conviction of the early church that this grace had been given to us in Christ Jesus from the very beginning. It was the very essence of God–and now had been revealed fully through the person of Jesus–the one who was now called the Christ. It’s that same grace that serves as the foundation of our lives today. It isn’t that works are not important–they are after all the fruit of the Spirit–but God’s power is revealed most completely in the unconditional love and mercy that is even more powerful than death. It’s hard for us to believe that radical message, just as hard as it was back in Timothy’s day. When the realities of life hit us between the eyes our first impulse is to lash out and believe that threats and laws will win the day. Grace seems so weak and impotent–sometimes we feel as though we’re being taken advantage of. But there really is power in grace, so much that Paul was persecuted for proclaiming it, and it continues to be the source of life and immortality for us all. 

Thought for the Day: When have I felt the power of grace?

2 Timothy 1:1-7

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.” vs. 5

Timothy was a leader in the early church and had a relationship with Paul that went back to the early missionary journeys. According to this letter Paul knew the family. Evidently it was Lois, Timothy’s grandmother, and his mother, Eunice, who first became followers of Jesus–perhaps they had met Paul on his first trip to their city. It’s a reminder that faith is regularly birthed in families and is often passed on by the strength of a mother’s testimony. Sometimes we wonder whether our children pay any attention to what we say at all–the teenage years seem to render them deaf and often it appears they can’t wait to get away from any parental influence. When left to their own devices they abandon the faith of their parents and revel in their lack of religious convictions. But we shouldn’t sell ourselves short, particularly if our children have seen the light of Christ shine in us during their time in our homes. The way we practice our faith will have a huge influence and one day they will want for themselves what they’ve seen in us. They may not practice faith in the same way, but we can be confident that the Christ-light has been passed on. And when we see the fruit of the Spirit in their lives, like Paul we will give thanks and praise to God.

Thought for the Day: How was I influenced by my mother’s faith?

Psalm 37:1-9

“Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices.” vs. 7

In these last years, some people have been caught up in what seems like a constant state of fretfulness. They wonder how friends and family can hold political positions squarely at odds with their own. They’re angry at societal trends that undermine long-standing moral and ethical positions. And then there are the usual worries about finances, children, and health. There are any number of things to fret about–the wrong people win political campaigns, gun violence threatens our schools and churches, the list goes on and on. The psalmist knew about such things and he advises quietly waiting on the Lord and not allowing ourselves to become caught up in worry or anxiety. He says that fretting only leads to evil–we end up doing and saying ugly things and losing friends. He directs his readers to be still and wait patiently for the Lord–it’s almost as though he’s recommending the practice of meditation. There are some who have taken such advice to heart. Instead of immersing themselves in the internet and social media they choose to spend time each day meditating on that which gives them joy and peace. It’s not that they’re sticking their heads in the sand, but they’re making choices about what they feed their souls. And it works! The fretting dissipates and joy abounds! 

Thought for the Day: What do I fret about the most?

Habakkuk 2:1-4

“For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.” vs. 3

Even though Habakkuk saw nothing hopeful in the injustice and the turmoil that surrounded him and cried out in complaint to the Lord, he did not give up hope. We who are his partners in lament would be advised to make his faith our own. Of course Habakkuk was speaking about Israel’s future, but it’s not too much of a stretch to extend that vision to our planet. If that’s the case, people of faith will dare to say in the face of computer modeling and dire predictions of scientists that there is a bright future for our planet. Of course our hope is not built on confidence in human effort, but on our conviction that the universe itself is full of the Divine Presence. There’ll be lots of changes as creation continues to evolve but we’re not going to be abandoned. God doesn’t have a Plan B! Admittedly there are times when that vision seems an impossible dream–often we’re tempted to lose ourselves in despair. But giving up on the vision just isn’t a viable alternative. As Proverbs puts it, “Where there is no vision the people will perish!” We can’t allow the naysayers and skeptics to have the last word–that’s just not who we are as the people of God. We don’t know now how we will survive, but we can’t ever stop believing that we will!

Thought for the Day: What is my hope for the future?

Habakkuk 1:1-4

“Why do you make me see wrong-doing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.” vs. 3

Living about the time of Jeremiah, Habakkuk was overwhelmed by the injustice and violence of Judah before the Babylonian invasion and he couldn’t understand why God didn’t do anything about it. Some of us will resonate with his observations in our confused and troubled times. Even though we enjoy relative stability in our comfortable enclaves, the media remind us daily that the world is in a precarious state. In addition to the now commonplace political shenanigans there are disconcerting reports about climate change and its potential disastrous effects. As the oceans fill with plastics and species disappear some are wondering if environmental damages are beyond repair. And if that weren’t enough, tensions are escalating among the nations–terrorism and repression abound as nations gird themselves for war. Already millions of refugees are on the move, fleeing from their homes and yearning for security in a world disinclined to welcome them or offer assistance. It’s as though forces beyond our control have been loosed and there’s no one with the will or the ability to still the storm. And all we can do is sit and watch–and, like Habakkuk, cry out to God to do something! We wonder if there is such a thing as global repentance–and if there is, can it happen before it’s too late!

Thought for the Day: What might global repentance be like? How would it begin?

Luke 16:27-31

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” vs. 31

Luke’s gospel is full of warnings from Jesus about the dangers of riches. Again and again he tells the crowds and the disciples that those who desire to be wealthy are treading on dangerous ground. Some people took his words to heart–many actually took vows of poverty and lived together in community. But most people were resistant–they hadn’t paid any attention to the same message when it was delivered through the prophets–they certainly weren’t going to listen to Jesus, even if he were to rise from the dead. We see that same resistance in the contemporary church. Many people are drawn to the gospel and love its message of unconditional love and forgiveness. But Jesus’ words about wealth and possessions are a real stumbling block. Often those teachings are twisted and distorted to take away the bluntness of his warnings. People are told that there is no danger in accumulation and that in fact riches are a sign of God’s blessings in our lives. Some pastors have given up preaching on such topics–possibly because they’re so deeply conscious of their own personal wealth. But the question remains. Why would Jesus have spoken so forcefully on this issue if it wasn’t a problem? Could it be that our preoccupation with possessions is a threat to our souls and a not-so-subtle form of idolatry? How might our lives change if we took his words to heart?

Thought for the Day: What questions do I have about wealth?

Luke 16:19-26

“But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.’” vs. 25

This familiar story paints a stark contrast between the fate of the rich and the poor after death and satisfies a basic human desire for ultimate justice. We are reminded that both the rich and the poor will die, but then comes the great reversal: the poor will go to Abraham’s bosom, a place of comfort, while the rich go to Hades to be tortured in the flames. It’s unlikely that Jesus intended this as an actual description of the afterlife–the images were familiar to the disciples and Jesus used them to tell a powerful and evocative story. The problem is that in our day few people believe the point that Jesus is making. We just don’t believe that the rich are punished and the poor rewarded when they die! The story does however point to an important truth that we can well take to heart. Lazarus in this life was not noticed–he was just a nondescript part of the landscape–but he had a name! And God loved him! Ironically the rich man had no name–he was just another anonymous guy living the good life and ignoring the needy. There’s a bunch of such folks in our congregations–maybe it’s time we open our eyes to the beloved children of God who need both a hand up and a hand out. Maybe we could even take some time to learn their names!

Thought for the Day: Why did Jesus seem to favor the poor?