Luke 12:49-53

“From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three…” vs. 52

We’ve all become aware of the increasing divisiveness in our country as opinions have become polarized and it’s been more difficult to find common ground. In some instances life-long friendships have been threatened, family members have stopped speaking to one another, congregations have splintered…we’re finding it harder and harder to find peace in relationships. As a consequence, many have simply stopped talking about controversial issues in most circumstances. They don’t want to risk losing a friend. That sort of thing works well in political situations, but sometimes it just isn’t reasonable or prophetic to keep our mouths shut. Jesus certainly was not silent when it came to confronting injustice and evil in the course of his ministry…and he knew people would not react well to the things he said and did. Even though he was the Prince of Peace, division was constantly at hand. As his followers we’ve been called to walk in his Way and that means risking division for the sake of truth. Not everything is a matter of opinion…some of the things we’re seeing in our society are just plain wrong and we have a duty to speak, even if our words mean the loss of long-time friends and acquaintances. Someday the peaceable kingdom will become a reality, but it’s not here yet…right now the world needs our prophetic voices. Wisdom is knowing when to speak!

Thought for the Day: What keeps me from speaking my mind?

Hebrews 12:1-2

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…” vs. 1

It’s hard to overestimate the influence of those believers who have walked in the way of faith before us. Sometimes it’s fathers and mothers who have brought us to worship and lovingly taught us to pray. We see the way they live and make decisions on the direction of our lives based on their experiences. As we grow in years and our horizons expand we’re touched by the witness of prophets and teachers and often adopt their ideas our own. Through time all those influences are foundational in developing our own peculiar sets of beliefs. We are who we are because of those who have gone before us! And now we’re the ones carrying the torch in the great race of life. If we value the faith they’ve passed on we will honor them by living according to its principles. The writer of Hebrews advised his readers to lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely. While that may seem like a tall order and an impossible task, it’s not! As we use God’s gift of forgiveness, we can be daily restored and live as God desires…and be significant influencers for generations to come!

Thought for the Day: Who was the greatest influence in my life?

Hebrews 11:29-40

“Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised…” vs. 39

The writer of Hebrews was well aware of the proud history of his people…he could recount the stories of judges, prophets, and kings in great detail. And it wasn’t only the notable folks who had caught his attention…there had been countless others too who had been faithful to the Lord, even to the point of suffering and death. And none of them had seen the benefits of what had been promised. We know what that’s like! People have continued to be called by God and many have responded with lives of faithful service as they’ve walked in the way of Jesus. We know their stories of discipline and sacrifice. Some have become well known as pastors and missionaries…others have been known only by their families and friends. They’ve clung to the promises of God with all their hearts…and none have seen the realization of those dreams in this life! With that as a heritage it’s a wonder that any become believers…and yet we do. We devote our lives to Jesus, live out our days to their end, and never see the fulfillment of the resurrection promises. Oh we do catch glimpses of the Kingdom along the way…and that seems to be enough. The promises alone sustain us! It is as Hebrews tells us, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Thought for the Day: What promises of God are most dear to me?

Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19

“The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.” vs. 13

In 1520 Pope Leo X quoted from this psalm in a papal bull called “Exsurge Domine” in which he officially condemned Martin Luther and 41 of his teachings. According to Leo Luther was a wild boar from the wilderness of Germany who was ravaging the Church, the choice vineyard of the Lord. When Luther received the bull, he burned it and the Lutheran heresy continued to spread. Leo was not wrong in comparing the Church to the vineyard of the Lord. It’s a solid biblical metaphor, one that was first applied to Israel. His error was in thinking that Luther’s intention was to destroy the Church. Luther loved the Church…but he also hated the abuses that had become a part of its structure and that were threatening its foundation. We can empathize a bit with Leo X. When a person is deeply entrenched in the organization of the Church it’s hard to hear any criticism without perceiving it as a threat. That even happens in our congregations…critics are treated as enemies and are often ignored or ostracized. But sometimes those who speak most negatively about what is happening in the community of faith are those who love it the most. For some it’s their special calling from God…they’re prophets among us, and their words can be the beginning of reformation. 

Thought for the Day: How are critics treated in my congregation or church?

Isaiah 5:4-7

“For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!” vs. 7

We frequently read scripture from an individual perspective, looking for guidance and hope in our own changing circumstances, and often the verses speak directly to our hearts. Isaiah however wasn’t speaking to individuals, he was addressing the nation on behalf of the Lord, and he wasn’t offering compliments! Israel had been called to be a land of justice and righteousness, a veritable light for the world, and it had failed miserably…now it would have to face the consequences. When the United States was established many saw it as a city on a hill, a nation full of promise that would be a blessing for all people. At times in our history it has been just that, a land of freedom and opportunity, one in which the highest ideals of humanity could be realized. But our country is not perfect. Grave errors have been made. Injustices have been perpetuated. Some would say that it’s gotten turned in upon itself…violence and bloodshed have become commonplace. Ugly rhetoric has displaced compromise in our congress and legislatures. Fear and distrust are everywhere as politicians vie for power and control. As followers of Jesus we are called to be instruments of peace and love in the midst of the turmoil. By ourselves there’s little we can do…but together we are a force for righteousness and justice.

Thought for the Day: Why is politics so divisive?

Isaiah 5:1-3

“Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.” vs. 1

As Isaiah began his work in Jerusalem he took pains to remind the people of the special love relationship that existed between them and the Lord. It wasn’t just an accident that things had worked so well for them in their long history as a nation. They had done well because they were the beloved people of God…it was out of love that they now lived in this fertile and productive land. It’s important for all of us to remember that all things that God does in this universe are grounded in love…we have existence because we are loved. Good things have been showered upon us because we are loved. Hopefully we’ve gotten used to hearing this in the course of our lives…but for some reason love is one of the easiest things for us to begin to doubt. We even doubt the love of our parents! Some doubt the love of their spouses or children. But we should never question the overarching love of God…it was present in our beginnings and will be there at our endings. We hear it in the words of scripture and see it in the bounty of creation. We feel it in the hugs and kisses of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Love is all around us…and it all begins with God!

Thought for the Day: What has caused me to doubt that I am loved?

Luke 12:15-40

“But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.” vs. 39

Preparedness has been a part of the Christian life from the beginning. Jesus talked about it with his disciples and later believers took up the theme as they looked for the coming Christ. Later on, even as the expected imminent return was delayed, there continued to be a strong emphasis on being prepared for the end in both preaching and teaching. Year after year congregants were reminded that the Lord would be coming soon and that they needed to get their lives in order. Believers today may have a different understanding of Christ’s return, but that theme of preparedness has continued to be important. Two factors are at play here: First, there’s massive uncertainty about the future, and secondly, life is fragile! We really don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but we do know that one day we will die. In that context Jesus’ words continue to ring true. We don’t have unlimited time to do the things that are on our bucket lists, and one day we’ll not get another chance to say “I love you” to those we hold dear. Being prepared doesn’t mean retreating to the wilderness and wearing white robes, but it does mean using each day to the fullest and not wasting one precious moment of this incredible life we have been given purely by the grace of God.

Thought for the Day: What have I been putting off that needs to be done?

Luke 12:32-34

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” vs. 32

Whether we like it or not we are treated to hourly reports, Monday through Friday, on how the stock market is doing. There is generally no rhyme or reason for the daily fluctuations but we can’t escape knowing how it’s doing. Some folks like that! They have multiple investments and want to know exactly what’s happening…when it’s going up they rejoice, when it turns downward they turn suicidal. But it’s not only big investors who are influenced by the reports coming from the world’s stock exchanges. All of us have grown to accept economic growth as a primary marker of success. As long as the markets are trending upward all is well…when they plummet panic sets in and fears abound. In the face of all that Jesus says, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” His words point to a different understanding of wealth and riches, one that is unrelated to the market or material prosperity. In his estimation the good life comes to us as a gift from God and cannot be measured by our bank accounts or annuities. If he were to analyze our portfolios he’d have only one word of advice, “Sell!” Tuning out Wall Street isn’t easy in this world’s climate, but it can be done, and when we do, our riches are multiplied!

Thought for the Day: How do I feel when the stock market falls?

Hebrews 11:8-16

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going.” vs. 8

For the early Christians it was obvious that the community of faith included more than just those who were acquainted with Jesus and his teachings. They were happy to embrace Abraham and Sarah and all those others who had gone before them in the ongoing journey of God’s people. Those early pioneers had been touched by the Spirit of God and they had responded in faith, even though they had no sense of where they were going. That’s how it continues to be in the Christ family…we’ve been called by God and we’ve responded, and we really don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Sometimes when we reach a resting place and look back it’s stunning to see the twists and turns of the road we’ve taken. Most of us have had no idea we’d end up where we are! There are even times when faith seems pointless…the immediate benefits aren’t always apparent…and sometimes life is a grind.  But still we hang on…after all we belong to a long line of faithers, and we’re on the way to our common inheritance. It really is an exciting journey and periodically there’ll be reassuring signs that we’re on the right path. Children are born, goodness is done, and joy abounds, just when we need it the most!

Thought for the Day: How do I know I’m on the right faith track?

Hebrews 11:1-3

“By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.” vs. 3

Our faith ancestors had a strong conviction that the universe came into existence by the word of God. It wasn’t something that they could prove or even explain very well, but it was the foundation of their belief system. Through the years as we’ve gained important scientific knowledge about our origins some have concluded that there are natural explanations for existence…and a god need not be involved. Many others, however, even while accepting the findings of science, continue to trust that God is the creator. Some of these say that the universe itself is the presence of God, that the visible came out of the invisible as an explosion of light, a kind of “Big Bang.” This understanding seems rooted in the hearts of humans and perhaps accounts for the deep feelings of awe and wonder that come to us in natural settings. Perhaps it’s that observation that has sparked the worship rituals of indigenous people. Again, there’s no way that such ideas can meet the rigid demands of science. No experiment can demonstrate the existence of God! But by faith many continue to believe that all things have come into being through the word of God. In their estimation life itself makes sense only when God is added to the equation.

Thought for the Day: What’s lacking when God is not in the equation?