Hebrews 10:19-25

“And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” vss. 24-25

Followers of Jesus are called to life in community…and it’s been like that since the early days of the church. We see from our scriptures that the disciples came together immediately following the resurrection, regularly meeting for prayer, teaching, and encouragement. The writer to the Hebrews knows that practice and in his words we catch a hint of discouragement…some are neglecting to come together. Two thousand years later we know what that’s about…we see it in our congregations every week. As a result millions of Christians are missing the mutual encouragement to engage in love and good deeds, and the church is weakened in its witness. God knows some folks have good reasons for their absence…there are always conflicts and sometimes we can be downright nasty to one another. But there’s seldom growth in isolation. Alone we get fixated on our own needs and desires and can easily drift away from our baptismal callings. Some of us know what that feels like. When we return to our church family after being away it feels so good to be welcomed and loved. It’s what Christ promised: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in their midst.”

Thought for the Day: Excuses I’ve used for not worshipping with others.

Hebrews 10:11-14

“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” vs. 14

Being a perfectionist can be a burden as we live in the rough and tumble of our complicated society. Those afflicted face a never-ending battle in nearly all their encounters and activities. Very seldom do they ever produce any work or do anything that matches their desires…no matter how hard they try their eagle eyes are not satisfied…there will almost always be something wrong. Even worse are the pangs of guilt perfectionists feel in dealing with the presence of sin in their lives. Even when other adjudge them to be saints they know better. They’re acutely aware of the many ways they miss the mark every single day. Even though they know that there is forgiveness in Christ Jesus they find it almost impossible to accept. They insist on beating themselves up about every real and imagined breach of conduct and almost seem to wear their guilt as a badge of honor. The writer of Hebrews would agree on the need for perfection but he’d have a hard time understanding our love affair with guilt. In his eyes the record is clear. Jesus took care of all those things once for all with his sacrifice…with his offering we have become perfect…we really are the sanctified children of God. What a gift! We can choose to lament our imperfections if we like…but it’s really a pointless enterprise. In God’s eyes we are perfect, and that should be all that counts.

Thought for the Day: Why do some insist on carrying a burden of guilt?

Psalm 16:7-11

“You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” vs. 11

The psalmist wasn’t in the habit of giving one day a week to the Lord and then using the others as he desired. His relationship was intimate…the name of the Lord was constantly on his lips, and he hourly offered praise and thanks to God for all the blessings of his life. He relied on the Lord for direction and believed that in the Lord he would experience joy and pleasure. We know people like that. We see them in our faith communities. It’s not just that they show up for worship on the weekend…their faith is deeper than that and touches every aspect of their being. They wake in the morning with prayers of thanksgiving on their lips and carry that joy with them through the day. To be in their presence is to experience unconditional love…their deepest desire is to faithfully serve and to walk in the way of Jesus. It’s an amazing way to live…one that is available to all. What’s strange is that so few are willing to try it! Most of us resist such intimacy with God and prefer making our own choices and decisions while keeping God in a backup role and then wondering why our joy is so fleeting. What a blessing it is when we learn to make the Lord our personal GPS…it’s a decision we’ll never regret!

Thought for the Day: Why do I sometimes wake up grumpy?

Psalm 16:1-6

“The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.” vs. 6

As the psalmist reflects on his relationship with the Lord he recognizes that his life is very good. He has a good family and productive land…his boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places. None of these gifts have come as a result of his own labor…he was simply born in the right place at the right time. And he has a solid faith in a God who could be trusted! Life doesn’t get any better! Some of us know what he’s talking about. We have an enviable life…a fine home, loving children and grandchildren, and a fine faith community. And we have these things because we were born in a particular place in the best of times…we know in our hearts that it’s not because we deserve such a life. It’s possible even to feel guilty sometimes about how good we have it, especially when we see the struggles that others face. We’re not any better than them…why do we have it so good? Why have we been so blessed? There are no good answers to questions like this…and we certainly shouldn’t feel bad about feeling good. Probably the best thing we can do is give thanks and praise to God…and make sure that we live in a manner that gives glory to God. Our call is to be generous and kind, willingly sharing what we have so that others in turn may be blessed!

Thought for the Day: What undeserved blessings have I received?

Daniel 12:1-3

“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” vs. 2

Christians are an Easter people…we confess our faith in resurrection in nearly every one of our worship services. We can’t even imagine what it would be like to live without a solid confidence in life beyond death. But people haven’t always felt that way. In fact the Hebrew scriptures seldom give even a hint of such a conviction. The people of God in those days spoke of death as the end…as a great sleep. That’s why this little passage from Daniel speaking of a great awakening is so startling. This writer believed that in the midst of great turmoil and anguish God would act to bring new life even to those who slept in the dust of the earth. Others expanded on the idea and by the time of Jesus most Jews did believe in a great resurrection at the end of time. Based on their experience of the Risen Christ early Christians made new life the cornerstone of their proclamation. Some, like the writer of Daniel, believed that resurrection was the prelude to a day of judgment where there would be a separation of the good from the evil. Others, more graceful in their orientation, simply focus on the promise of new life in Christ…they don’t want condemnation for anyone. Regardless of our position on judgment, it’s good to know that beyond the sleep of death there will be a new and glorious day of life.

Thought for the Day: How do I feel about a day of judgment?

Mark 12:41-44

“He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.” vss. 41-42

Even when we’re not shopping it can be fun to go to malls or other crowded public places just for the people-watching. The varieties of behaviors and appearances are both amazing and instructive…we can find ourselves feeling amused, perplexed, and sometimes even bothered…all in the space of only a few minutes. Mark tells us that Jesus did the same thing when he visited the temple in Jerusalem. Since it was festival time there were plenty of people there…but what’s most interesting is where he chose to sit. He parked himself in a spot where he could watch the crowd putting money in the treasury…the first century equivalent of an offering plate. Jesus knew that a person’s offering told more about the state of their soul than anything else…and he was not impressed by the large sums given by the rich. In his eyes it was only the widow’s gift of a penny that was the least bit remarkable. She had given all that she had! Times haven’t changed. Whether we like it or not, the way we spend our money is the very best indicator of our spiritual health. A check register will always reveal the priorities of our lives…and nothing is hidden from God.

Thought for the Day: What does my check register reveal about me?

Mark 12:38-40

“They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” vs. 40

Jesus had little regard for the scribes, the legal experts of his day. They were attentive to the details of the written law and the appearances of religion but their hearts were far from God. For them prayers and rituals were simply a way to win favor with people and reinforce their position in the community. We don’t have to go far to find their clones in our world. Our politicians and leaders often adopt an appearance of religion in an effort to win the support of constituents. In moments  of crisis they speak of prayer and faith and they love to appear on platforms with celebrity pastors and evangelists. All too often their pious talk is a cover for their own self-serving agendas. While there are undoubtedly exceptions to these fraudulent behaviors, we’ve learned from experience to take such religiosity with a grain of salt. Jesus advises skepticism in dealing with such folks. They give praises to God with their lips but that’s the extent of it…and they certainly don’t merit our trust. Of course politicians aren’t the only hypocrites on the planet…many of us are skilled at keeping up appearances and using piety to impress our peers. We need regular reminders that God is no fool…and our fraudulent behaviors will eventually be exposed.

Thought for the Day: What do I do to maintain a pious image?

Hebrews 9:24-28

“And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” vss. 27-28

Many early Christians were steeped in the imagery of the sacrificial system and used that language to describe what had happened in Jesus. As the Christ he had suffered and died as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity and had been raised to dwell with God. Soon, those Christians believed, he would appear a second time and make their salvation complete… then they too would experience the fullness of God’s presence. We’re familiar with these images…they’ve become a part of our common faith language. They describe what is known as a linear view of time…there is a beginning and an end to life. Other religions have adopted what might be called a circular or spiral view of existence. We are born and reborn in a cycle that goes on until we finally figure out the secret of divine liberation. Some find that idea of reincarnation comforting…there’s always a second chance, even for the worst of sinners. Followers of Jesus have traditionally rejected such notions. Instead we’ve clung to the good news of redemption…we don’t need second chances. Our salvation does not come from figuring out secrets…it comes by grace through faith. We’re born, we die, and then comes new life…and it’s all a gift.

Thought for the Day: Why is reincarnation such an appealing idea?

Psalm 146:6-10

“The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.” vs. 9

The psalmist expresses his convictions and those of his faith community with a bold assertion, “Happy are those…whose hope is in the Lord their God!” His words have particular relevance for us in this age of political turmoil, ambiguous faith commitments, and rampant materialism. He implies that only God can give the serenity and peace that we crave, that only God can be trusted to bring us blessings. And who is this Lord that he recommends without reservation? Again he tells us plainly. It’s the God who brought all things into existence, the Creator God who made the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. He follows this up with a description of God’s work in our world and it’s here that the faithful receive their marching orders. Our God cares not a whit for the rich and the powerful…God’s concern is with the lowly: the hungry, the prisoners, the strangers, the orphans and the widows. The implication is impossible to escape. If these are the priorities of our God, the One in whom we trust, ought not these persons also be the focus of our concerns? Experience has taught us the truth of these ancient words. Happy are those whose hope is in the Lord and who continue to do the work of the Lord on our hurting planet! As we stand with the poor we are blessed!

Thought for the Day: How have I been blessed by helping the poor?

Psalm 146:1-4

“Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.” vss. 3-4

Well, the election is over and most people are breathing a sigh of relief and hoping that there will at least be some respite from the ugly campaigning that has been fragmenting our country. Some are happy…their people and party have won some tight races. Others are sad…their candidates and party have suffered defeat. The psalmist would say, “Why get so hot and bothered about politicians? We can never put our trust in princes…they’re only mortal. On the day they die their plans perish and they’re soon forgotten.” And whether we like to admit it or not, the psalmist has a point. While it’s important for us as citizens to be knowledgeable about propositions and candidates and participate in the process, ultimately only God is worthy of our trust and commitment. As life continues there’ll be more campaigns, more elections, politicians will come and go, and all of the bombast will have minimal effect on our happiness or contentment. What really counts is the love we show to our God and to our neighbor. When we do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly in the Lord, lives are changed and goodness triumphs…and the effects of those actions will last forever.

Thought for the Day: How am I feeling about the election?