Colossians 1:15-20

“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.” vss.19-20

These verses are found in the Christ Hymn, a beautiful and moving tribute to the Lord Jesus Christ, that was probably composed toward the end of the First Century. While descriptions of Jesus abound in the gospels, and people were familiar with his life and teachings, it took some time to fully comprehend who he was in relation to the invisible God. The conclusion these early believers reached is both powerful and moving. Jesus was more than human; in him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and in him all things in heaven and on earth had been created. But most importantly, through him God had become reconciled to all things on earth and in heaven, making peace through the blood of his cross. While it’s impossible to understand the “how” of this teaching, it’s crucial for us to accept its truth. This is the basis for universal salvation, the conviction that what happened in Jesus means the reconciliation of all things to God. How beautiful it is to know that everything has been taken care of in our Lord Jesus! The unity with God has been restored, and it’s all the most precious gift we could ever receive.

Thought for the Day: What if people don’t believe they are reconciled to God?

Psalm 15

“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

This psalmist believed that the Lord had strict standards for all who were a part of the Jewish faith community. This strictness has long been a principle teaching for followers of Christ as well. Some know what it’s like to have every word and deed scrutinized by elders and parents. Some congregations focused on matters of morality, especially those matters having to do with sex or pleasure. The psalmist was of course concerned about personal morality, but seems to have been more interested in how believers treated others. He enjoined his readers to speak the truth and not to slander or do evil to their friends and neighbors. He tells them to always keep their oaths and never to lend money at interest. While people who live by grace sometimes imagine that walking blamelessly isn’t important, our scriptures tell a different story. The things we do make a difference and are essential to the witness of our faith communities. While we can at times get all hot bothered about trivial things, those directives mentioned by the psalmist are not to be ignored. Lies, insults, and slander undermine our credibility and set a horrible example to those we are called to serve. And they certainly aren’t what is expected of us as citizens of the peaceable kingdom!

Thought for the Day: What could be wrong with lending money at interest?

Genesis 18:8-10a

“Then one said, ‘I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.’ And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him.” vs. 10

Once Abraham and Sarah take over the pages of Genesis her barrenness quickly becomes an issue. How could all the promises made to Abraham be fulfilled if the two of them have no son? The text implies that the problem is Sarah’s. Abraham seems to have had no difficulty with fathering a child, with Ishmael being a very public example. The promises continued to be made, but Sarah’s barrenness persisted. Under the oaks at Mamre one of the three visitors, having experienced Abraham’s extravagant hospitality, repeats the promise, this time within earshot of Sarah, who’d been eavesdropping in the tent. The text goes on to say that Sarah was amused. In fact, she had laughed out loud! Some months later, when she did in fact bear a son, her laughter was forever commemorated in his name, Isaac, which in Hebrew means “laughing boy.” Sometimes that’s how it is for the people of God. It’s almost as though the Lord plays jokes on us, and we find ourselves doing things we never dreamed possible. It has been said that when we make plans, God laughs. And that may be true–life in Christ is filled with wonderful surprises! Who can even guess what the nine months will bring?

Thought for the Day: What jokes has God played on me?

Genesis 10:1-8

“He said, ‘My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.’” vss. 3-4

The Old Testament Trinity is an icon created by the Russian painter Andrei Rublev in the early 15th century. It’s considered by many to be the most famous of all Russian icons and shows Abraham entertaining three men under the oak of Mamre, the story depicted in this passage from Genesis 18. Abraham does not know that the three visitors are the Lord, but offers them traditional Middle-Eastern hospitality. In that sun-baked region it had become the custom to welcome travelers and provide them with rest, food, and drink, and Abraham treats his guests well. This practice of hospitality was not only the norm in the culture, it was also adopted by the followers of Jesus as a way of recognizing the communal nature of life in this world. We’re not plopped down in this world as individuals whose only responsibility is to look out for themselves. We are part of a community, and are called to look to the interests of others and even minister to the needs of strangers. The book of Hebrews puts it this way, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” The writer is likely referring to Abraham, but anyone who practices hospitality will also experience its blessings.

Thought for the Day: How does my congregation practice hospitality?

Luke 10:29-37

“‘Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’” vss. 36-37

Jesus subtly expanded the world of the kingdom seeking lawyer with the short story we know as “The Parable of the Good Samaritan.” The man had asked, “Who is my neighbor?” But after telling the parable, Jesus asked, “Which of these three was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” It’s a different question, and provides a radically different answer. The neighbor is not the poor fellow lying at the side of the road needing assistance. Of course we will help such people. But the neighbor is the Samaritan, a member of the despised and hated race who the Jews avoided with a passion! So when we’re called to love our neighbors it isn’t a matter of cozying up to our good buddies down the street. Loving one’s neighbor means reaching out to the people we don’t like very much, maybe even our enemies. It means putting aside our prejudices and embracing those who we despise! Loving God and neighbor is the key to a joyful life in Christ, but it’s not nearly as easy as we think it is. Loving neighbors will  pull us out of our secure neighborhoods and into challenging encounters with the very people we try so hard to avoid. 

Thought for the Day: To whom do I find it hard to show mercy?

Luke 10:25-28

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

The lawyer’s question had been, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

And as he frequently did, Jesus answered the question with a question, “What is written in the law?” And to his credit the lawyer gives the right answer, quoting what is known as the Great Commandment of love from Deuteronomy and even adding its corollary enjoining love for neighbor from the book of Leviticus. And Jesus is pleased, the lawyer has gotten it right! It’s interesting that Jesus does not disparage the law–and he doesn’t say that the key to eternal life was believing in him. His affirmation of the lawyer’s answer seems to indicate that Jews can know the way to truth and life within their very own sacred writings. Life is all about love, loving God and loving neighbor. And while Jesus was unfamiliar with the world’s other great religions, perhaps it would be reasonable to believe that they too offer the way to truth and life!  It’s hard for devout Christians to acknowledge such a thing–some of our leaders have been making exclusive faith claims for a long time. We tend to disparage people of other religions and make little effort to understand the core of their teachings. What a blessing it would be to celebrate our common commitment to love, and begin to live together in peace and unity!

Thought for the Day: What do the world’s great religions have in common?

Colossians 1:9-13

“He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” vss. 13-14

It’s obvious that we live in a creation that is both good and broken. That’s true whether we are followers of Jesus or on the path of self-indulgence. But there are differences in the way we experience the world, with some being caught up in the powers of darkness, while others walk in the light of Christ. Paul indicates here that it’s possible, even in a world where darkness seems so pervasive, for believers to experience that light daily. In other words, we don’t have to wait until we die to ‘see the light.’ We can experience it now in the peaceable kingdom ushered in through the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. And it happens, not through our own understanding or effort, but by the invasive power of the Holy Spirit. Without even knowing that it’s happening, we are being rescued and restored, transformed from the inside out, and being made to produce the precious fruit that comes through the Spirit. There’s an incandescent quality to those fruits, and as they become apparent in our daily lives, it’s as though a light goes on, and we begin to see more clearly than ever before. And more than that, we actually become the light of the world!

Thought for the Day: How am I enlightened by the fruits that I bear?

Colossians 1:1-8

“Just as it 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. 6

We’re not sure who brought the gospel to Colossae. It was not visited by Paul during his missionary journeys, but there were many traveling preachers in those days and their labors bore fruit. A congregation had sprung up in this city in Asia Minor (present day Turkey) and Paul has heard reports of activities there–and for the most part he is impressed. He notes that once the people had comprehended the grace of God the community had begun to bear fruit, i.e. the love, joy, peace, etc. that he had outlined in his letter to the Galatians. That’s how it is with grace! Once people take it to heart their lives are changed. It’s as though a light has been turned on and they begin to see things in an entirely new way. It isn’t that they’ve been given a set of new rules to follow, but grace changes them from being takers to givers, from lording over others to serving them, and they become lovers of all people, including their enemies. It’s that gospel message that began to be proclaimed after the resurrection of Jesus that has persisted to this day. There have been many efforts to subvert it, but none have been successful, and that is worth a long and heartfelt, “Thank you, Jesus!”

Thought for the Day: How has grace changed me?

Psalm 25:6-10

“Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!” vs. 7

Even as the psalmist affirmed his trust that God was full of mercy and had been that way from the beginning, he knows that his behaviors have not always been proper or prudent. Perhaps he even fears that the record of his deeds and words is disqualifying. At any rate he launches a fervent plea that God will disregard his past altogether and remember him only on the basis of steadfast love. His words resonate with our experience too. Many believers live with the memories of a past not well lived and regular excursions that took them far from the path of righteousness. And some live with the nagging fear that God’s amazing grace hasn’t been quite enough to cleanse their record. Sometimes it is hard to believe that grace is sufficient, especially when we become aware of how exemplary the lives of our friends have been. But the psalmist was right. God’s eyes of love do see both the goodness and the brokenness in us, but in love, only the goodness is remembered. And that message was hammered home again and again by Jesus as he offered forgiveness and restoration to both the good and the broken. Our pasts do not define our futures. As is commonly said in casual conversation, just “fuggedaboutit!”

Thought for the Day: What memories continue to haunt me?

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

Humans have always had a sense that there is a way to live that is particularly pleasing to God and that will be of benefit to them. In fact the great religions of the world have been planted by those who had a sense of what such a life might be like and who made it known to their disciples. The psalmist has an awareness of the truths that had been revealed to his Hebrew ancestors, and he has a deep desire to be faithful to those ways. He believes that his obedience will be the key to his salvation. Many centuries later Jesus used that same language in offering direction to his followers, saying, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He had recognized that it’s much easier to walk in the way of truth if we have a leader that we can trust. That’s one of the reasons Christianity has spread so quickly throughout the world. According to the gospels the first thing Jesus said to his disciples was “Follow me!” Those who do walk in his footsteps absorb the wisdom of God and become familiar with the way of salvation. Since the time of Jesus many alternative ways to live have been suggested and promoted, but none have had the staying power of his message of service and love. 

Thought for the Day: What alternative ways of living have I tried?