Genesis 11:1-5

“Therefore it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.” vs. 9

Those who composed the story of the tower of Babel realized how confusing the multiplicity of languages was for human cooperation. They claimed that the confusion was divinely inspired, that it was done to keep humans from doing the impossible. While the imagery is ancient the point of the story rings true. It’s immensely difficult for people who speak different languages to achieve more than a superficial unity when they come together. Communication is essential for harmony and cooperation and resolving differences. Those of us who have traveled throughout the world know what a blessing it is to meet people who have taken the time to learn our language. The development of languages is a long process and takes tens of thousands of years and it’s only logical that people in different parts of the world would have different words for the same things. This Sunday we celebrate the gift of understanding that took place when the Spirit was poured out on the gathering of disciples in Jerusalem. It was the reversal of Babel and a reminder that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings us together and never separates. The language of love that is ours in Christ knows no barriers, is easily translated, and is intended to make us one.

Thought for the Day: Why doesn’t everyone learn to speak English?

John 17:24-26

“Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” vs. 24

Jesus is conscious that the love that sustains him has been present from before the foundations of the world. As John puts it in other places, Christ is the Alpha, and through the Christ all things came into existence. In fact nothing comes into existence apart from the Christ and the Christ is contained in all that exists…and that includes each one of us. That primordial Christ was made manifest in Jesus…and in him we glimpsed the glory of God, a glory that persists even in us. As Jesus prepared to leave his disciples he wanted that same sustaining eternal love to be present in them as well, and he prays that everyone of his disciples to the close of the age would know that they are loved and that God is the source of love in the universe. There is nothing in this world, no distracting power or temptation, that can separate us from that love of God. As Paul puts it in Romans 8, not even death, our greatest enemy can separate us from the love of God. Christ, who is the Alpha, is also the Omega point of existence, and one day all things, including us, will find our completion in that all-embracing love! Who could want for anything more?

Thought for the Day: What is my comfort in the face of death?

John 17:20-23

”I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us…” vss. 20-21a

As John recounts Jesus’ final prayer with his disciples his language can seem repetitious and obscure. As a result we can easily miss an amazing truth that redefines our whole relationship with God. We catch the part about unity of course…we know that Jesus intended that his followers be one as they live and work in the world. It’s a part of the Christ intention that we have an enormously difficult time putting into practice. But what we miss is the reference Jesus makes to the unity he has with the Father. Not only are Jesus and the Father one, we are also included. Think of it: we are in God and God is in us! That means we carry within us the spark of divinity. God not only became incarnate in Jesus, God becomes incarnate within us. And unless that presence is obscured by the cares of this world the Light and Love we show forth is the hope of all people. That’s why it’s so important for us to put aside the petty doctrinal differences that the enemy uses to keep us from our unified mission and purpose. Of course we’re going to have different ideas about how to do church…that’s to be expected, but never should those contrary notions keep us from our unified mission in Christ!

Thought for the Day: How does divinity show in my life?

Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.” vs. 17

At the heart of the book of Revelation, mysterious and obscure as it may be, there is a strong and consistent emphasis on grace. Christ Jesus freely offers the water of life to everyone who is thirsty and it’s a total gift. There’s nothing to earn, no minimum requirements…all that is required is a desire for something more, a yearning for a quality of life that is ever so elusive. Of course John does have some things to say about those who don’t come, those who don’t respond to the invitation. He believes that they will be shut out, that the pearly gates will be closed to them. In essence he’s saying that when hungry people get an invite to a meal, they need to show up…the food isn’t going to come to them. And of course that’s true. But the book of Revelation is plain in saying that it’s not that simple. Because it’s not just up to us to come to Jesus…John promises that Christ comes to us. Many of us pray that prayer regularly, “Come Lord Jesus, be our guest!” And every day Christ comes to us, not just at mealtime in response to our invitation, but wherever and whenever we need a drink of the water of life. He never lets us down.

Thought for the Day: What is a “come to Jesus” moment?

Acts 1:1-11

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” vs. 8

After Jesus’ death and resurrection the disciples still had the parochial notion that his mission had been simply a prelude to the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. That was as much as they could comprehend. But Luke reports that Jesus’ last words to them set the stage for an expansion of ministry beyond their imagination. Of course they still didn’t get it. They needed a dose of Holy Spirit power and a vision that took them beyond the narrow confines of Israel to the ends of the earth. We can’t blame them too much. It’s very hard to imagine where the Christ will take us and what the Christ will do through us. We live in a time when Christianity seems to have reached its zenith. In our part of the world congregations are dwindling and churches are closing. In response some people are digging trenches and building walls to save that which seems to be slipping away. They’re convinced that returning to the past is what God has in mind for us. But that’s not how it works with Jesus Christ…the ending of his mission was not the ending of his presence. Before many days his Holy Spirit washed over the disciples and they received a new vision…and we will too. The Church isn’t going away…it’s just changing in ways we can’t yet see.

Thought for the Day: What will happen if denominations die?

Psalm 97

“Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.” vs. 2

The psalmist didn’t wonder in his heart whether or not there was a god. For him such a notion was beyond question. But he also knew that God was cloaked in mystery and was often obscured by the clouds and darkness of our lives. We know that feeling too. Those of us who believe that God does exist will often struggle to find adequate descriptive words. God has a pervasive presence that is beyond understanding…often the best we can do is say what God is not. One thing beyond question for the psalmist was that righteousness and justice were the foundation of God’s being. We who are created in God’s image would agree. In a world full of ambiguity where the most egregious behaviors have been normalized, we stand firm in our conviction that there are universal values and behavioral standards. As the Light of God’s image shines through us we will stand up for justice even as we walk confidently in the paths of righteousness. Not only will we live by the highest moral standards, we will work diligently of behalf of the oppressed and the victims of injustice wherever we encounter them. And we will not rest until the kingdom of God has been fully established among us. Such is our God’s good and gracious will…of that we can be sure!

Thought for the Day: What  universal values do I live by?

Acts 16:25-34

“At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay.” vs. 33

When the Philippian jailer, in the aftermath of an earthquake, asked what he needed to do to be saved, Paul was quick with a response, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household.” Some have used Paul’s answer as a proof-text for infant baptism. Others have used it to prove that “believing in Jesus” is required for salvation. Ironically the first use points to an inclusive view of salvation while the second has paved the way for rigid exclusivity. Those who espouse “household baptism” believe that God’s grace is poured out freely and is available even to slaves and toddlers who have never heard of Jesus. In recent years the more exclusive view has dominated the Christian world. Congregations ask prospective members if they have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Only if the answer is “yes” will they be eligible for baptism into Christ. It follows in such circles that only those who have made a personal decision for Jesus can have the assurance of salvation. All non-believers face the prospect of eternal damnation. In our time many are coming to see this emphasis as a distortion of Paul’s grace centered focus on Jesus as the Christ, the incarnation of God’s universal love. In their eyes salvation is a universal gift that issues from the heart of God and not from a human decision.

Thought for the Day: What does “believing in Jesus” mean?

Acts 16:16-24

“She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour.” vs 18

At first Paul did nothing when the slave girl persisted in taunting him as he walked through the streets of Philippi. He doubtless recognized her instability but he chose not to respond…he was on his way to the place of prayer. But one day his annoyance bubbled to the surface and he ordered the unclean spirit to come out of her. We know the feeling. We don’t have to look far in our world to find things that annoy us. People with chronic mental disorders wander the streets of all our cities. A glance at newspaper headlines or television news leaves us shaking our heads. Injustice is all around. Congress is caught in gridlock. The world is once again preparing for war. Refugees are on the move. Most of the time we simply continue doing what we’ve been doing…working, playing, praying…but one day there comes a moment when we’re moved to take action in the name of Jesus Christ. A line is crossed and we get involved in addressing the hurts of our world. That response can take many shapes but it always moves us from our comfort zones. We know we can’t fix all the world’s problems, but maybe this one time, in this place, our words and actions can make a difference. And so we speak, and lives are changed!

Thought for the Day: A time when I was fed up and spoke up!

John 14:25-29

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” vs. 27

According to the world’s standards, peace is the absence of overt warfare and it comes at a cost. Lives are lost and cities and towns are destroyed as dominating forces duke it out for supremacy and control. When the bombs stop exploding and the shooting ceases, treaties are signed, winners exult, losers are humiliated, and peace is proclaimed. That’s not even close to the peace that comes from God through the Christ. What Jesus promised was the kingdom of God, a community of inclusive love with no humiliation for losers. It isn’t that the peace he offered was purely an individual matter…it was meant to be shared…but at its core it comes close to what we call serenity. Jesus wants us to live with untroubled and fearless hearts, not because our world is free of evil, but because we are in Christ, and there is nothing that can hurt or destroy us. Currently, we live in a climate of fear-mongering and threats. We’re told to be suspicious of those who are different and warned that enemies are all around. Those who are lovers of Jesus know that God dwells in them and will reject the manipulations of the powerful. Our call is plain–love of God and love of neighbor–and our reward is the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Thought for the Day: Why do politicians cultivate a climate of fear?

John 14:22-24

“Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’” vs. 23

Those who work with the public in any capacity have often noted that people can be, and often are, downright nasty and mean. They say and do hurtful things and seem to have no regard for the feelings of those who serve them. All of us have encountered such persons, and have maybe acted that way ourselves. The sad thing is that some who behave in such a fashion will consider themselves religious and pride themselves on their churchgoing habits. So what’s gone wrong? Of course that’s a question without a ready answer…there are countless factors that have powerful impact on our lives. Some blame parents while others point to societal pressures and influences. All we can say for sure is that this isn’t the way life is supposed to be. Somehow the Christ who dwells within all persons is stifled in some…and the Light has been obscured. Jesus says that the difference is love and that really seems to be true. We see it so clearly in those who take seriously his commandment to love one another as he has loved us. As they give themselves to others love explodes within them…we hear it in their voices and see it in their faces. The God of Love has come into their lives and lives in their hearts and the presence of the Christ is obvious….and life is good!

Thought for the Day: Do people choose to love or does it just happen?