Matthew 17:1-5

“Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’” vs. 4

Jesus had just told the disciples that anyone who wanted to follow him should take up the cross and be prepared to suffer. Peter hadn’t particularly liked that image–none of us do! No healthy person enjoys suffering! And Jesus was right, his Way involves pain and suffering–but not all the time! Six days after his dire prediction Jesus led three of the disciples up a high mountain and they shared an astonishing vision of his glory–and it was good. Peter suggests a building program, a way in which they could extend the moment. It’s a feeling we can identify with. On the journey with Jesus there are moments of glory, and even ecstasy, times when we catch glimpses of the resurrected Christ, and realize that we really are on the right path. We would dearly love to sustain those precious hours and make them a lasting part of our reality, and maybe even use them to erase the suffering that marks the way of the cross. Of course that’s not how life in Christ works. More often than not our days will be filled with the routine work of service, the labors of love that we have been given as part of our call. But mountaintops are never forgotten and will remain in our memories until the final day of glory when eternal peace is ours.

Thought for the Day: What moments of assurance have I been given?

2 Peter 1:19-21

“First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” vss. 20-21

Interpretation of scripture is a notoriously difficult enterprise. Some say it can only be done reliably by trained and skilled biblical scholars, men and women who understand fully the historical context of the texts and who have an extensive theological education. Others say that anyone can interpret the scripture, it’s just a matter of reading the passage and thinking about what it means–there’s no prior preparation necessary. Now it is true that many verses in the bible can be read and appreciated by most anyone who reads them. Their truths are self-evident and uncomplicated. But for the most part the bible is an enormously complicated and difficult book, and understanding the intentions of the various writers and editors will require significant study. The bible has even been used to drive wedges among believers and undermine the mission of Jesus Christ. Some people claiming to be scholars have wielded the scripture as a weapon and caused major mischief in the life of the Church with their fanciful and wrongheaded interpretations. Above all it’s important to remember that the bible is the word of human beings, and not the center of our faith as disciples of Christ. As Martin Luther said, “The bible is the cradle in which the Christ is laid.” It deserves our study, but not our worship!

Thought for the Day: Why do some call the bible God’s word?

2 Peter 1:16-18

“We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.” vs. 18

The oldest account of Jesus’ baptism indicates that his experience with the voice and the spirit was a private affair and that it happened as he was emerging from the Jordan. Here Peter indicates that on the Mount of the Transfiguration the voice from heaven was for the benefit of the disciples present. The affirmation was not for Jesus, but for those who were following him. They heard here from the highest authority that Jesus was indeed the beloved Son of God. It’s amazing how often we too need that kind of authoritative word to bolster our own convictions. Even though we want to trust our own spiritual experiences it feels good if someone else can affirm what we are feeling. We want to know we’re not wasting our time on the journey and that we are going in the right direction. We may not get a voice out of a cloud on a mountaintop, but we learn to make do with what’s available. So when a friend, or some person we respect, tells us that we’ve made the proper choices, our own resolve is magnified. The world is a confusing place and there are any number of conflicting ideas and theories floating around, and most of us don’t have the expertise to make distinctions. What a blessing it is then, to get direction that we can trust! 

Thought for the Day: Who’s my most trusted adviser about faith matters?

Psalm 2:7-12

“I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, ‘You are my son; today I have begotten you.’” vs. 7

During the days when Israel had a strong monarchy, the king was thought of as the anointed one of God; he was the messiah, and at his coronation he was reminded that he was the son of God from that day forward. Later on, when Jesus arrived at the Jordan and was baptized by John, the gospels report that he heard a voice from heaven saying, “You are my son, my beloved.” It wasn’t long after that his disciples began to think of him as the messiah, the anointed one of God. But Jesus wasn’t anything like one of those ancient kings who continually plotted the destruction of other nations. He never threatened to “break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Jesus had a different plan for the nations, one that revolved around reconciliation, peace, and restoration. He had no interest in world domination, a notion that has plagued empires from the beginning, and that has continued into the present century. Under King Jesus the broken and misfits of the world find healing and are drawn together into communities of love and mercy. And it’s working! Bit by bit differences are being set aside and the Spirit of God is bringing the world together. One day there will be harmony among the peoples of the world, and the spirit of destruction will be no more.

Thought for the Day: What are signs that the world is coming together?

Psalm 2:1-6

“He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision.” vs. 4

The psalmist was absolutely convinced that Israel was God’s chosen nation and that the king was God’s anointed. Any other nation then, that conspired against Israel or sought to overthrow the king was doomed to failure–no earthly ruler could possibly subvert the will of the Lord. Of course the psalmist was mistaken. There were any number of nations that easily overran Israel and overthrew her kings. But the psalmist is right in pointing out the arrogance that periodically infects the rulers of this world. It’s as though they have never read any history. Again and again presidents and monarchs have come to believe that their country is invincible, that their power is overwhelming, that no other nation can stand against them. They build up their armies, spend trillions on weapons, and thumb their noses at the world. And “he who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision.” Kings and nations come and go–ultimate power belongs only to God. Sometimes the arrogance of world leaders is hard to watch. We know they are bound to fail, and inevitably the innocent citizens of their countries are the ones who suffer. Their laughable escapades and ridiculous posturing are obscene, an affront to all that is good and decent in our world. Our only comfort is the sure and certain knowledge that one day the rulers of this age will be humbled and God’s kingdom will come.

Thought for the Day: What’s the relationship between arrogance and power?

Exodus 24:12-18

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.’” vs. 12

According to the Exodus tradition, the law and the commandment came directly from the Lord, with Moses as an intermediary. Those tablets of stone became the focus of community life for the Hebrew people, and subsequently for all of Israel. They became known as the “People of the Law.” It’s what distinguished them from other nations and is the major reason for the remarkable cohesiveness and longevity of the Jewish people. Sometimes we forget how important the law is for community stability–in modern times adherence to a “rule of law” is a necessary step for any nation seeking international respect and cooperation. Anytime there is a breakdown of “law and order” on any level, the result is anxiety and fear–strong laws are essential for safety and peace. But laws can only touch the externals of life–they’re ineffective in changing the human heart. They were great for setting out the ground rules for behaviors, but they didn’t teach people the ways of love. Too often rules and commandments were used to build walls and exclude; they separated the “righteous” from the “sinners,” and often marginalized the broken and the hurting. Tablets of stone ultimately produced hearts of stone, and another word was needed. As the gospel writer John puts it, “The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Thought for the Day: What changes my heart?

Matthew 5:27-37

“But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” vs. 28

Jesus doesn’t miss much in his description of kingdom living. Again, he’s not just trying to fill in the loopholes that folks were using to bypass the demands of the law. But he is interested in what goes on in our interior selves, the things that can disrupt our spiritual connections with God and one another. Here he focuses on a biggie! Everyone knows what he’s talking about–looking at a woman (or man) with lust has been around from the beginning. For millennia this was a highly imaginative enterprise, but not anymore. With the development of the internet opportunities for lustful watching have mushroomed. In fact, it is estimated that 30% of internet use is for the viewing of pornographic websites. That’s an amazing statistic, and it’s not to be doubted. Porn is a multi-billion dollar industry and it shows no sign of diminishing. Some might say, “What’s the big deal? It’s a victimless crime, and users are just curious–no one is hurt.” Of course, that’s not true! Countless people are victimized by porn, and it’s massively damaging to the intimacy of marriage relationships. Sex is not just for propagation, it’s a beautiful gift from God, one to be used and enjoyed with our marriage companions. The lust connected with porn undermines the good gift and injures our sexual connections. Its use is a sign that something has gone amiss in our lives–and it needs to be talked about!

Thought for the Day: What effect has porn had on my life?

Matthew 5:21-26

“But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.” vs. 22

Six times in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus contrasts the teachings of the law with his own comments on similar subjects. Some say that he’s plugging the loopholes in existing commandments by making them even more strict. But a closer reading shows us that this isn’t his intention at all. Jesus is concerned about relationships, about how we treat the people around us in the course of daily living. Generally, these are matters that are not covered by the law, e.g. there is no law against anger, or insults, or saying that folks are fools. We can do any of those things without worrying about whether we’re going to be thrown into prison. Politicians do these things all the time–no charges are ever brought. But if we’re at all concerned about walking in the Way of Jesus, we simply won’t act this way. We won’t be angry, or insult, or call someone a fool. Instead we will speak kindly, hold our tempers, and always guard the dignity of others. Will there be consequences if we choose not to live like this? Well, we’ll likely not go to hell, but we will destroy our most precious relationships, and they are the essence of life in the kingdom.

Thought for the Day: Words of mine that have ruined a relationship.

1 Corinthians 3:5-9

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” vss. 6-7

Ever since the first mission starts were established by the apostles in the Eastern Mediterranean area the Church has been plagued by what might be called “the cult of personality.” Paul had to deal with it in Corinth. A silver-tongued, handsome preacher from Alexandria named Apollos, had been in the congregation, and some of the people adored him. They began to say that they belonged to Apollos, while others maintained a loyalty to Paul. The result was division! We know what that’s like. People fall in love with their preachers and identify their congregation with that particular pastor. If that pastor leaves, things are never the same–some people even leave. Now it’s probably impossible to eliminate such a thing in the life of the church, but it’s never helpful. As Paul told the Corinthians, congregations don’t belong to a particular preacher or pastor–every congregation belongs to God–and it is God who gives the growth. What a blessing it is in our communities of faith when loyalties are centered on faith in Jesus, and not on personality. In such congregations worship and service are a constant, and they aren’t dependent on who’s giving the sermon! Obviously pastors have different gifts, but their common call is to proclaim the gospel, and not gather a following.

Thought for the Day: Why do people fall in love with pastors or priests?

1 Corinthians 3:1-4

“And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.” vs. 1

When Paul came to Corinth, he did not bring Christ to the people–Christ was already there, the Divine Spark that resides in every human. But he did see them as infants in Christ, a people unfamiliar with matters of the spirit and fully engaged in realizing their fleshly desires. He started slowly in feeding the Christ in them, giving them milk, and not solid food. We know what that’s like, for we do the same with our children. We start with simple meal and bedtime prayers, coupled with carefully chosen stories from the bible, and make sure they get to Sunday School. Later on we introduce them to the principles of Christlike living and gradually involve them in the rituals of worship. Our aim is for them to affirm the faith into which they were baptized; we crave for them to become mature spiritual persons, not merely religious vagabonds who chase after the latest trends in spirituality. Paul got frustrated in his work with the Corinthians. Despite his best efforts they never seemed to move beyond an elementary faith and constantly involved themselves in petty disputes over religious matters. We can’t blame him–it is disconcerting when those we love so much don’t seem to “get” the truth of the gospel. But what a blessing it is when they do “get it,” and devote their lives to simple, humble service!

Thought for the Day: A young person I know who “gets it”?