Luke 8:35-39

“Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.” vs. 35

Luke makes an interesting observation in recounting the story of the Gerasene demoniac. He says that when the demons departed the man was left in his “right mind.” In other words,he had become once more the person God had created him to be. We don’t know when or why the demons had taken control…if our own experience is any guide, we can get messed at any number of places on life’s journey. We do know that when our crisis occurs, it doesn’t take long for the demons to move in and mask our true being. From that point on we are restrained and bound in our interactions and relationships…it’s like being imprisoned. If we sense what has happened (not all people do) we can spend a lot of time and energy trying to break the chains. The problem is that demons are remarkably resilient But they do have a weakness! They’re helpless in the presence of the powerful grace and compassion of the Christ. Through the centuries Jesus has come again and again to bring release and healing. He speaks words of love to the light that dwells within and we are restored. The demons flee and we are set free. In our right minds once more, our light shines forth and we’re filled with joy and peace.

Thought for the Day: What demons have I had to deal with?

Luke 8:26-34

“When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me’–” vs. 28

According to our sources, whenever Jesus encountered people possessed by demons, the evil spirits recognized him instantly and saw in him a power that was greater than their own. Sometimes they called him by name, an effort to control the situation. Jesus in turn named them, the first step in bringing healing to those possessed. His tactic continues to be effective as we struggle to deal with the massive numbers of people dealing with psychological and emotional issues in our society. They’re all around us, some wandering the streets talking to themselves and asking for money, others doing their best to mask symptoms as they move through the day. Before we can do anything to help anyone, we have to name the demon. Most of the time our preference is to do nothing. We ignore the folks on the street corners with their cardboard signs. We cover up the addictions and stress disorders of those close to us, hoping they’ll just spontaneously heal. Jesus had compassion on such persons, called out the demons, and brought peace to troubled souls. We may consider ourselves too sophisticated to even believe in demons, but evidence of their existence is all around us. Keeping silent is really no solution when so many people are hurting!

Thought for the Day: What do I believe about demons?

Galatians 3:27-29

“There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”

Paul is ecstatic at the good news he has for the Galatians. They’d long been bound by restrictions and limitations…from birth they had learned to categorize people and make distinctions. There was a rigid hierarchy and not much wiggle room…once a person was labelled an outsider, that’s where they remained. Paul says, “No more! All are one in Christ Jesus!” Because his insight cuts across the grain of our human inclinations, the Church has had a dickens of a time living into the new reality that Paul describes. We’ve seen that in recent years as we’ve done battle over the issue of human sexuality in our denominations. So many absolutely refuse to acknowledge that gay persons belong to the unity that is ours in Christ Jesus. But not everyone feels that way! There are those among us who believe that we are all children of God and that the Christ does not distinguish between gay or straight. We see them speaking the truth boldly and putting their convictions into action. As a result thousands of gay persons are finding communities of faith where they can put their amazing Spiritual gifts to work. What a blessing it is to rub shoulders with all God’s children under the mantle of Christ! Those who were rejected have become the cornerstone!

Thought for the Day: What special gifts do gay people have to share?

Galatians 3:23-26

“Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith.” vs. 24

The coming of the Christ into the lives of the disciples marked a massive transition. No longer would they be controlled by the external demands of the law. Instead the Spirit of Christ dwelling in their hearts would guide them on a journey marked by love and compassion. Many of us know what that feels like. Even though we haven’t lived by the tenets of Judaism or been subject to ancient traditions we do know what it’s like to live under the law. It starts early! From the time we’re toddlers we’re told how to live and what we should and shouldn’t do. We’re warned again and again that our acceptance is dependent on our behavior. Some of us even learn that love itself is contingent on our actions, that unless we “measure up” we’re pretty much unlovable. It’s an awful way to live, almost like being in prison! But then comes the day when faith reveals the presence of the indwelling Christ and our inner selves hear the message of unconditional love and freedom that is the essence of the gospel. What a blessing that sweet story brings! The prison doors are flung open and we can celebrate freely the new life that is ours. Bit by bit the Christ light at our core begins to shine brightly and everyone around us is warmed by God’s love.

Thought for the Day: When did the prison doors open for me?

Psalm 22:24-29

“The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord. May your hearts live forever!” vs. 26

When all was said and done, the psalmist had deep and profound hope for the future. In spite of all evidence to the contrary, despite his feelings of despair and alienation, he believed that the Lord would satisfy the deepest longings of all hurting people. Even the poor, those whom the world so often ignores and marginalizes, would eat and be filled. We might wonder a bit at the psalmist’s optimism. Often it seems as though things are moving in the wrong direction for our beautiful earth. Nations war against nations and tensions are rising. There are more refugees now than ever before in human history. Leaders escalate preparations and seem to delight in the prospects of war…and no one seems to be learning from past mistakes. And the poor quite obviously aren’t prospering! What we have to remember is that the psalmist wasn’t banking on the goodness of tyrants and the benevolence of despots. His hope was based solely on his conviction that the Lord is good…and one day the Lord’s will would be done. If we open our eyes we can see signs that even now goodness is showing its face in surprising places, even when it doesn’t get top billing. The psalmist would advise us to “hang in there” in our despair…dominion after all, belongs to the Lord!

Thought for the Day: Where do I see goodness showing its face?

Psalm 22:19-23

“I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:” vs. 22

Many of us are reluctant to do much faith sharing with our friends…and we wouldn’t think of doing it with strangers. It could be our introverted personalities…or maybe we’ve been turned off by encounters with rabid evangelicals of one stripe or another. Whatever the reason we have trouble opening up our mouths and talking about Jesus on a personal level. Oh, sometimes we’ll talk about the historical Jesus…that’s pretty safe. But to talk about the Christ who dwells within seems risky. We don’t like to risk offending someone…or even worse, we don’t want to embarrass ourselves. The psalmist would be puzzled by our attitudes. He knew how important God was in his life and nothing was going to keep him from sharing his story with anyone who would listen. It really is sad how quiet we are about those things that are most important to our souls. Sometimes we don’t even share our stories with our own children! The consequences are far-reaching and long-lasting. When we keep silent, the truth that lies within every single one of us is lost forever. It’s not that we have to go door to door in our neighborhoods…but maybe sometime instead of talking about golf or the weather we could take a few minutes and share with friends those things that are closest to our hearts! The blessings would be enormous!

Thought for the Day: Who can I share my faith feelings with?

Isaiah 65:1-9

“I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that did not call on my name.” vs. 1

Long after the nobility of Judah had been hauled off into exile, the prophet recounts their complete rejection of the Lord. They had completely turned their backs on the God of their salvation. When prophets had come announcing the Lord’s presence no one had paid attention. The nation had prospered and no longer saw any need for a God-connection…they thought they could take care of themselves and spent their energies doing all the things that had been forbidden. Like foolish adolescents they wandered off on their own and laughed at those who called them back to righteousness. They deserved annihilation! But that’s not what they got! Even though they had rejected God, God did not reject them…and the prophet is amazed. Instead of destruction Judah received a blessing and the nation was preserved. These stories of our faith ancestors that have been preserved for our inspiration can seem primitive to our modern ears. But they contain at their core a remarkable insight about the nature of God. We do not have a God who is vindictive or murderous, not at all! The one who brought the Universe into existence is connected to us with a bond of love that cannot be broken. Even when we and our children wander away from the faith we continue to live within the boundaries of God’s prodigious light and life…and continue to be blessed!

Thought for the Day: Why do people continue to turn their backs on God?

John 16:15

“All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” vs. 15

According to John’s gospel Jesus told his disciples that he and the Father were one and that after Jesus left the earth, the Father would send the Spirit of Truth to be with the disciples. There is no doctrine spelled out in his words but within the next couple hundred years church leaders began to have conversations about how those three entities were related. Some of them found it helpful to use terms lifted from Greek philosophy to define what came to be known as the Trinity. That idea of a Trinitarian God now seems cumbersome and there are some who think we’d be better off with a less complex way of understanding divinity. What we’ve found however is that the Trinity has remarkable staying power, and as long as we don’t get too rigid in our definitions, it can be useful in understanding our God-experiences. We know that in the beginning the Creator used the divine Word to bring light into darkness and that the Spirit breathed life into the Universe. Those three, Creator, Word, and Spirit continue to be present with us in a never-ending dance through our entire lives. In them we experience the fullness of God even when we lack the words to describe it, and in the end, those experiences matter far more than our most theologically correct definitions!

Thought for the Day: What is the value of theological doctrines?

John 16:12-14

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” vs. 12

Some people believe that the canon of scripture is closed, that the books currently in the Testaments contain the totality of God’s Word for us. None can be taken out and none can be added. Others are not so sure. They hold that the notion of a closed canon is a human invention and was developed by religious leaders as a means of control. In their estimation any effort to stifle or limit God’s speech is pure foolishness. If they’re right God continued to speak long after the canon of scripture was established and is speaking to us in many and diverse ways even today. These words from Jesus in John’s gospel offer support to that conviction. He’s telling his disciples that the Spirit of Truth will come to them, and that through the Spirit they will hear his continued voice. New circumstances will bring new insights and wisdom from Jesus. Sometimes the words will come through books or sermons, and occasionally from deep within our own minds, that place where God chooses to dwell in every created being. It may even be that this inner voice is the most authentic word from God we will ever hear. We’ll know it’s coming from the Spirit of Truth when it resonates with Jesus’ commandment to love. Whatever passes that “Truth Test” is a new word from Jesus and deserves our careful attention.

Thought for the Day: What new word have I received from Jesus?

Romans 5:1-5

“and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” vs. 5

Paul is able to tell the Romans that people of faith can even boast in their sufferings, not because they are masochists, but because God’s love, the very presence of God, has been poured into their hearts. His insight has stood the test of time and today we know the truth of what he believed. The two things which, without fail, draw us closer to God and to one another are suffering and love. The second of these, love, is of course the most obvious. Most everyone knows that love is about connections, but suffering is less clear. Paul says it’s because suffering leads to endurance, and endurance produces hope, and hope connects us with the love of God. His argument could be seen as a bit of a stretch, but our experiences with suffering support what he says. There’s probably nothing that draws us closer to one another than shared suffering. It’s a time for the putting aside of the charade and pretense which usually govern our interactions. In our pain we allow people to come close and hugs replace words as the primary means of communication. In the embraces love abounds, God brings healing, and hope is restored. The progression from suffering to love may not be as smooth as Paul implies, but it does happen. It’s one of the major benefits of our life together in Christ!

Thought for the Day: Where have I seen the connection between suffering and love?