John 8:31-33

“They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, “You will be made free”?’”

When Jesus told the religious leaders that as his disciples they could be made free, their response is both understandable and laughable. They were of course proud of their heritage as children of Abraham…it gave them a stable identity and set them apart from other people. But to say they had never been slaves to anyone was ludicrous…they had been a subject people for most of their existence. They just didn’t get what Jesus was saying…and neither do we. We too are invited to become disciples and receive the gift of freedom…and like those leaders we defer. “We’re Americans,” we say, “we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.” We’re proud of our independence…and celebrate it with joy every Fourth of July. But what Jesus offers has nothing to do with our citizenship or political privilege. Jesus is talking about a deeper freedom, one that has to do with our inner inclinations. None of us is as free as we think we are. We are bound in a whole assortment of ways to our passions and desires. We’re even slaves to expectations, both of ourselves and of others! Because of that bondage we carry excruciatingly heavy burdens of failure and guilt. Our souls yearn for the freedom that Jesus offers…and his promise is truly music to our ears.

Thought for the Day: When am I most aware of my slavery?

Romans 3:26-28

“Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith.” vs. 27

Because of his conviction that salvation came through faith and not by works of the law, Paul insisted that there was no room for boasting. And he’s right! When everything is based on grace we have nothing to brag about. As he had earlier written to the Galatians, “May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” As followers of Jesus we should be known for our humility…we’re really not better than anyone else. All we are is sinners saved by grace! And what is true for us as individuals goes double for us as a community of faith. Sometimes we’re tempted to hold up our religious convictions as being superior to those of other groups. We brag about the purity of our doctrine and disparage the teachings of other world religions. How much better it is when we treat others as our equals and show respect for their traditions and customs. Of course we’ll hold fast to the relationship we have with Christ Jesus. Of course we’ll express our love for Christ in all we say and do. But even as we lift high the cross of Christ we’ll be remembering that the One we serve gave his life for all people, and not just for us! And that’s something to boost about!

Thought for the Day: What do I boast about?

Romans 3:19-25

“But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets,the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” vss. 21-22a

For most of us these words from Paul are familiar. This is the core of the gospel…we’ve heard the  message in a variety of ways for our entire lives…we know it well. For that reason it’s hard to grasp how radical this thinking must have been to Paul’s Jewish audience. They had been conditioned to believe that their whole identity as God’s people revolved around obedience to the law. And now Paul is telling them that the law was limited…it only revealed their lack of righteousness and make them aware of their sin. He goes on to say that their scriptures actually disclosed a way of salvation apart from the law. He then paints a picture of a generous God who gives righteousness as a gift through faith in Jesus Christ. This was a totally new way of thinking…one that shifted the focus of faith from a book to a person. Today it’s this truth that gives Christianity its unique position in the family of religions. We don’t link our faith to words written on the pages of a book. We are followers of a living person, Jesus of Nazareth, the one we call the Word of God, and his dynamic Spirit shapes our lives in amazing new ways. In him we broken ones are made whole…and it’s all a gift!

Thought for the Day: What’s the difference between bible-centered and Christ-centered faith?

Psalm 46:6-11

“He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.” vs. 9

Often we think of the God of the Hebrews as being a warmonger, one who brings devastation and ruin through force of arms. At the very least their God is portrayed as urging the people to do battle against their enemies and to wipe them out completely. But that’s not the picture we see here! Instead the psalmist says that God makes wars cease to the end of the earth by destroying all weapons. He clearly implies that God is not a fan of war, but instead acts powerfully to bring warfare to an end. If that’s the case it means war is a purely human endeavor and is not a part of the divine intention for our world. It really is sad to see how devastating our love of war is for our planet. Tens of millions of people live in refugee camps all over the world, forced from their homes by never-ending armed conflicts. Countries spend trillions of dollars to build devastating war machines and maintain ever vigilant armies. Weapons have become increasingly sophisticated and deadly. And none of this is the will of God! How sad it is to see followers of Jesus climbing on the bandwagon in support of bigger and better bombs. Perhaps some day this madness will come to an end! May God act quickly to make war obsolete!

Thought for the Day: Why do we love war so much?

Psalm 46:1-5

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” vs. 1

Martin Luther loved Psalm 46 and used it as the inspiration for his famous hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” For him the psalm was a source of comfort in a time of conflict and challenge…and doubtless that’s what it was for its writer too. Jerusalem was a tough place to live, constantly beset by enemies, and full of internal turmoil. In times like that people of faith find their refuge and strength in God as a very present help in trouble. That means that when darkness closes in and the enemies are at the gates God is by our side…God never deserts us. That conviction brings both peace and courage, an end to anxiety and the willingness to battle on against whatever foes might assail us. That doesn’t mean things will always go our way in the time of trouble…some battles might be lost…we could even lose our lives. But our spirits will be indomitable! We will never give up the struggle. The strength comes not because of our own superior resources or capabilities but through the very real presence of God at that time and in that moment. Some of us have experienced this strength in our own lives but all of us have seen it in the lives of others. We’ve marveled at the courage of saints in the most trying circumstance and heard their testimony. “It’s not me,” they say, “God gave me what I needed!” God was their refuge and strength.

Thought for the Day: When has God been my very present help?

Jeremiah 31:31-34

“No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.” vs. 34

This is the dream! Jeremiah expressed it well…he was an eye-witness to the fall of Jerusalem and became a refugee in the land of Egypt. In his heart of hearts, despite his pessimism about the political situation, he believed that God would continue to be faithful. One day there would be a new covenant, not one based on laws written on tablets of stone, but a covenant of forgiveness and love that would be etched on every human heart. We’re still hanging on to that dream! It still has not become a reality…and perhaps it never will. But we keep on hoping nonetheless. And sometimes we get glimpses of what that new relationship can be like…because there are some among us whose hearts have been changed. We can see in their words and actions that they know the Lord…their lives are a reflection of God’s love. It’s not that they’ve lived perfect lives…all of them freely acknowledge their sin…but they know they’re forgiven. Living by grace they reach out to others with compassion and care…and their presence helps keep our hope alive. Jeremiah’s dream could come true for all people.

Thought for the Day: What keeps Jeremiah’s dream from becoming reality?

Mark 10:41-45

“But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.” vss. 43-44

When the other disciples found out about the request of James and John for positions of power in the coming kingdom, things did not go well…and Jesus had to call a team meeting. His desires could not have been more plainly put…he’d had enough of the insider power struggle and tells them to be servants and slaves. Through the years millions of his followers have taken his words to heart…we see such souls in our congregations. The last thing they want is to be noticed or asked to be on the church council. All they want to do is serve in whatever way they can…the more humble the position the better. They don’t care about recognition or acclaim, it’s enough for them to be able to reach out in love to people in need. And it’s not a show…they honestly want to walk in the way of Jesus, giving their lives for others, as long as they live. Occasionally they’re called into the spotlight and recognized for their faithful labor. But it’s not their favorite thing and we can see them grimace in embarrassment and try to fade into the background as quickly as they can. Will they ever get the reward they deserve? Not always…but that’s okay with them. Their spiritual blessings are priceless!

Thought for the Day: What are the blessings of servanthood?

Mark 10:35-40

“James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’” vs. 35

When James and John decided to follow Jesus, leaving their father sitting in the boat, they weren’t nearly so altruistic as we sometimes think. Judging by this text, they had given up the family business for the sake of personal gain…they were hoping to get seats of power in the coming kingdom. Their story has been repeated many times over…it’s not uncommon at all for folks who follow Jesus to expect benefits from their decision. Some expect some sort of material benefit, maybe an increase in their cash flow. Others are focused more on health, honestly believing that their Jesus connection will keep them from dread disease or chronic illness. At the very least we anticipate an emotional or spiritual boost, that there will be deep and lasting serenity, a feeling of unity with the Universe. There’s certainly nothing wrong with those expectations…as long as we realize that Jesus may have some surprises for us along the way. He told James and John that they could expect some difficulties…they’d be drinking the cup of sorrow before long and likely face persecution. Signing up for service in the kingdom may indeed bring many blessings but there will also be challenges. Jesus’ road to glory went by way of Calvary…who knows what may lie in store for us?

Thought for the Day: What would I like Jesus to do for me?

Hebrews 5:1-10

“Every high priest…is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness;” vss. 1a-2

High priests were mediators between the people and God…they had responsibility for making sure offerings and sacrifices were made in an orderly way that was pleasing to God. The writer of this letter had observed that the best of the priests dealt gently with the ignorant and the wayward because they themselves were subject to weakness. Ideally we see that same gentle spirit among those that we call to be leaders in our congregations. They may not have priestly duties…more often we call them pastors and ministers…but the very best of them will have a strong sense of their own inadequacies. They’ll poke fun at themselves and freely acknowledge foibles and failures. Often they’ll admit they don’t have answers to big questions…never will they use their office or position to control or intimidate. When people get caught up in the tendrils of sin they will offer words of grace and mercy, and not of judgment or condemnation. Such servant leaders are an amazing blessing in our faith communities, for through them we experience God’s love in full measure. There is a consistency in their behaviors between faith and practice…never do we sense they’re putting on a show or seeking prestige and power. Their only desire is to be a conduit for God’s forgiveness and grace.

Thought for the Day: What pastoral weaknesses are unforgivable?

Psalm 91:13-16

“When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.” vs. 15

The psalmist is convinced that those who love the Lord will be rewarded in a big way. Their prayers will be answered and they will be rescued and honored in the time of trouble. This isn’t a matter of believing in God…that’s not what the writer is is talking about…believing in God was a given in those days. Only fools said that there was no God. What the psalmist had in mind was that special category of people who not only believe in God, they love God. We still run into such folks, even in our age of God-denyers. These are those people who love life, who give thanks for every day, and who appreciate the constant daily reminders of God’s presence. Worship is no chore…it’s what they love to do…and they devote their days to kingdom living. Their eyes are full of joy and they lift the hearts of those who encounter them. Even when times are tough they keep on loving God…and as the psalmist observed, God hears their prayers and rescues them in time of need. They emerge from their days of darkness with unyielding appreciation for the goodness of God. Those who witness their triumphant spirit in the face of tribulation are amazed at their faith…and all of us are blessed by their presence in our communities.

Thought for the Day: The difference between loving God and believing in God!