Colossians 1:15-20

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created…all things have been created through him and for him.” vss. 15-16a, c

These words from Colossians remind us of the prologue to the gospel of John. They paint a picture of the Christ that challenges our imagination in its breadth and mystery. Here we are reminded that in the beginning the fullness of God was poured into creation through the Christ, the one who later took on human form in Jesus of Nazareth. That means that all things material and spiritual contain the very presence of God. There is nowhere where God is not! For some that may be a scary thought, but for most it will bring great comfort. Think of it! We are never alone…the ever-loving God in whose image we are created continues to sustain and support our every breath and heartbeat. And more than that, every bird and butterfly, every maple and pine, every drop of rain and flake of snow is a sign of God’s presence. As we begin to take such knowledge to heart life itself becomes an exercise in holiness where every word and act has sacramental implications. To live with such a sacred consciousness brings amazing depth to our days and a new appreciation for every single moment. And best of all, when our eyes are opened to God’s presence in all things, boredom is replaced by excitement and our spirits sing for joy.

Thought for the Day: How do I deal with boredom?

Psalm 15:1-2

“O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart…” vss. 1,2

For better or for worse people have high expectations of those who claim to be in a loving relationship with God and who take time each week for worship. Even non-churchgoers sense that such folks should be living exemplary lives and doing what is right. In other words, walking blamelessly is just part of the job description for those who call themselves “Christian.” Of course anyone who has hung around a church for any length of time will know that this isn’t how it works. “Christians” are capable of every kind of nastiness and evil that can be found in the general population…being a believer doesn’t make a person sinless. As a result some would say that people just need to lower their expectations for Christians…and that could be true. But at the same time, is that what we really want? Shouldn’t we who walk in the way of Jesus hold ourselves to the highest standards? The psalmist certainly believed that was true for the people of Israel. Why should it be any different for those who are baptized into Christ? Some might argue that our salvation is by grace and not by works…and again that’s the truth. But why should believing in grace keep us from living lives that are beyond reproach? We should be different! That’s what it means to be the light of the world!

Thought for the Day: How have my faith convictions changed my life?

Genesis 18:6-10a

“Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.” vs. 8

The stories of Abraham that were retained in Israel’s family history were passed through many generations before they began to be written down and preserved. Our faith ancestors were particularly interested in showing the special connection that Abraham had with the Lord. This particular story recounts an appearance of the Lord at the oaks of Mamre near Hebron. Three men show up out of nowhere and Abraham lavishes attention on them by offering first class hospitality. It’s a fascinating story, one that implies that God can take on human form. In a way it’s almost a foreshadowing of what happened in Jesus. At first we’re tempted to discard such notions of divinity…they seem so very primitive. But if God is truly present in all aspects of creation why can’t God get personal with us by assuming human shape? Perhaps God does come to us in the guise of strangers with news that can transform our lives. If so, it’s not a bad idea to practice hospitality even when it seems inconvenient. It’s hard to get our heads around such a notion in this age of “stranger danger,” but Abraham and our other faith ancestors had no such difficulty. They didn’t want to miss a message from God…and neither should we!

Thought for the Day: When have I offered hospitality to strangers?

Genesis 18:1-5

“The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him.” vss. 1-2a

When Andrei Rublev, a Russian monk, painted the Holy Trinity in the earth 15th century, he probably had no idea that it would become the most prized example of Russian iconography. His intention likely had been to preserve the moment described in Genesis when the Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre. Today the painting’s symbolism opens the way to delightful conversation about the nature of God and the connections between the members of the Trinity. What we fail to grasp in the complexities of Greek philosophy we can sometimes see in the colors and imagery of Rublev’s depiction. The three figures, Creator, Christ, and Spirit, sit around the table in perfect symmetry and remind us that God always comes to us as a Threesome. We can’t know what the writer of Genesis intended by picturing the Lord as three, but we can’t deny that the images triggered by the words have revealed the depth of divinity in a powerful way. We can’t begin to know God, but we can catch glimpses, and Rublev’s masterpiece has opened our minds to delightful ponderings and occasional profound insights. In God there is peace and perfect harmony…and at the Table there’s always room for us! As long as we live, we’re always part of a foursome!

Thought for the Day: When am I most likely to catch glimpses of God?

Luke 10:29-37

“But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.” vs. 33

There are a lot of reasons for not getting involved when we encounter people in need…and none of them are acceptable when we claim to be followers of Jesus. His parable about the Samaritan who went the second mile in tending for the victim of violence needs virtually no explanation. It’s obvious who is demonstrating love of God and neighbor…and it’s not the religious folks. It’s a story that is particularly relevant as we deal with the humanitarian crisis on our southern border. There’s been a ton of finger-pointing as politicians and officials have tried to deal with the flood of refugees at border crossings. National figures from the right and the left have gone to the camps for televised visits and speeches. Many are simply trying to score political points with their constituents. In the meantime, desperate families are suffering…parents have been separated from their children, shelters are being overwhelmed. Some blame the victims…they should have never left their homes. Others blame the system…there is no comprehensive strategy. Many humanitarian groups are there too, some of them followers of Jesus. They’ve come not to score political points, but simply to help wounded, hurting people. They offer medicine, food, clothing, shelter…it’s what Good Samaritans do…it’s what anyone does who truly loves their neighbor. 

Thought for the Day: What keeps people from being Good Samaritans?

Luke 10:25-28

“And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’” vs. 28

One day, Luke writes, a man came to Jesus asking what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. It’s the kind of question that we continue to hear from time to time in our religious circles…maybe we’ve even asked it ourselves. And often someone will offer a quick answer, “Believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and you will be saved.” It’s a reply that seems correct…heads will nod in agreement. But it’s worth noting that when Jesus answered the question, that’s not what he said! Instead he refers the man to the Law and asks what is required there. When he gets the answer, “Love the Lord your God and your neighbor,” he’s then quick to say, “Yup, you got it right!” His reply is instructive! Too often we get tied up in knots about proper belief when what really counts is behavior. We can mouth platitudes about Jesus until we are blue in the face, but if we aren’t loving God and neighbor we won’t even sniff what it really means to be alive either today or tomorrow. Of course there will be debates about what it means to love God and neighbor but there should be no doubt our actions are the very best indicator of our convictions. Pious talk is no substitute for loving deeds!

Thought for the Day: Do I have eternal life? 

Colossians 1:9-14

“so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.” vs. 10

Paul’s deepest desire for the Colossians was that they would lead lives worthy of the Lord. That remains the highest aspiration for any who claim to walk in the way of Jesus. We do this out of love and not obligation. God’s love is not contingent…God loves us even when we wander. But our Creator has infused our beings with enormous potential for good. Each of us have innate talents and abilities that can be used in a variety of ways in the course of a lifetime. Our purpose is to use those gifts in ways that will enhance life for all God’s creatures by looking beyond ourselves and seeking the welfare of others. The measure of a life well-lived is not the bottom line of our financial portfolio but the number of good works selflessly done for the benefit of our neighbor. At the beginning we may not know the direction a God-pleasing life may require…there are so many choices and decisions to be made. But as we grow in grace and in faith we will also increase in our knowledge of God and better understand what is expected of us. Some of us might even change direction on the journey as new insights and greater wisdom come our way. For many the most fruitful years are the golden ones!

Thought for the Day: What motivates the way I live?

Colossians 1:1-8

“Just as (the word) is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.” vs.  6b

The number of believers grew quickly in those early Spirit-filled years. Paul hadn’t gone to Colossae but Epaphras had, and the results were stunning. We don’t know much about this Epaphras fellow, but he evidently had a good grasp of the gospel. His word, the word of truth, had been received and was bearing fruit. There was something magical about the process. As people heard the good news of Jesus their lives changed and the light of the Christ began to shine in them. Love abounded and it was visible and real. Sometimes those of us who have grown up in denominational Christianity miss that excitement. We know the words but we’ve heard them so often that they’ve become commonplace. The gospel becomes old news…and we miss the power it has to change lives. Sometimes people even quit going to worship…they find it boring and stale. But then comes the day when, perhaps in the context of a new faith community, they hear the gospel again as though for the first time. They see Jesus with new eyes and grace overwhelms their hearts. In those moments the Colossae experience is repeated and the fruit of the Spirit abounds. The light of Christ shines and joy is restored. 

Thought for the Day: What does it mean to meet Jesus again for the first time?

Psalm 25:6-10

“Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.” vs. 6

The psalmist has a close relationship with the Lord and knows very well that mercy and steadfast love have been attributes of God from the beginning. Like us however there were times when, because of external circumstances, he felt a need to remind the Lord that he needed a hug. That’s how it is when we’re in a love relationship…there’s incessant need to know that we’re loved…even when our love partner is God. That’s especially true when things have not been going well, when other relationships are threatened or when we feel discouraged and hopeless. It could even be that our intentions have gone awry and we’ve been acting contrary to our calling. Instead of caring and serving we’ve turned arrogant and rude in our interactions. Sometimes rage pops up with surprising intensity when we least expect it! There are any number of things that can happen and cause us to wonder if perhaps God has finally gotten tired of us. Those are the times when it’s perfectly permissible to remind the Lord that mercy and steadfast love have been a part of the divine make-up from of old. It isn’t that God’s nature ever changes….we don’t need to worry about that.And really, we’re the ones that need the reminder…it’s what keeps us going through the tough times that are bound to come.

Thought for the Day: When have I needed a hug from God?

Psalm 25:1-5

“Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.” vs. 5

This computer age that has come upon us without our permission or asking has done a number on our patience. Waiting for anything has gotten more and more difficult, e.g. when internet connections are slow we are driven to distraction…even a few seconds can seem like an eternity. That impatience can even show up in our spiritual journeys, though the psalmist doesn’t seem to have had that issue. In fact he tells us that he’s willing to wait all day long for divine direction and clarity. He wasn’t expecting immediate gratification. There’s good guidance in what he says. We don’t have all the answers for the tough questions of life…the truth is often many-sided and complicated. So we really do need direction from God and sometimes waiting is essential. Impetuously heading off on the path dictated by our impulses can get us in a peck of trouble. Still, it’s really, really hard to wait, particularly when everyone around us is expecting action. In the end it comes down to a matter of trust…do we have a God who cares or not? For the psalmist there was no question…God was his salvation. He was willing to wait…eventually the truth would be made clear. And so it is for us! Clarity will come…and really, the waiting will do us good. In fact, it’s the only way we’ll ever learn patience!

Thought for the Day: What am I waiting for?