Mark 9:30-32

“But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.” vs. 32

The arrest and crucifixion of Jesus came as a jolt to his disciples. They had anticipated triumph and success, a great victory over the dominating oppressive powers. But after the resurrection, when it became apparent to them that Jesus was indeed the Christ, some of them remembered that he had talked about persecution and suffering while he was with them. Since his words hadn’t made sense and didn’t fit their expectations they had failed to question him. They had been afraid! Maybe they were intimidated by him…maybe they didn’t want to offend him…we can’t know the reason for their fear. We only know that their ignorance left them speechless. This sort of thing happens regularly on the path of discipleship. As we journey with Jesus we have some notions about direction and purpose…we know where we want to go. But then stuff happens and life can get pretty confusing…and we don’t even know what questions to ask. Besides, some of us have learned that faith and questioning are mutually exclusive, that asking questions of Jesus would imply lack of trust, that it’s better to keep our mouths shut and make believe we understand even when we don’t. The problem is that unquestioning faith quickly becomes stagnant and weak…it simply can’t grow! Strong faith asks tough questions without fear…and in the questioning becomes even stronger.

Thought for the Day: How can questioning strengthen faith?

James 4:1-3, 7-8a

“Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you?” vs. 1

James saw so clearly how life ought to be lived and he wished that all believers could live in gentleness and peace, with no partiality or hypocrisy. He was irritated that many didn’t live that way and blamed internal cravings or covetousness for the discrepancy. We don’t talk much about covetousness as a negative these days. It’s become ingrained in our economic system and it’s likely global markets would collapse if people stopped coveting what they do not have. Of course some forms of covetousness are healthy and good, e.g. it’s fine for us to covet peace of mind and crave tranquility in our lives. What James clearly saw was that those cravings were in conflict with our material desires. When our deepest hunger is for more “stuff” we’re very likely to do what it takes to get it, even at the expense of purity and goodness. In brief, we stop serving others in order to serve ourselves. If we really want to satisfy our desire for serenity it means saying “No” to our devilish desires and turning back to God in faith and repentance. By the power of the Holy Spirit we can then turn our backs on the ways of the world and embrace the joys of kingdom living. We really can live as God desires!

Thought for the Day: What is my deepest craving?

James 3:13-18

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.” vs. 17

The early Christian community embraced this definition of divine wisdom and made it the the cornerstone of their life together. It remains for us a perfect description of our highest aspirations as followers of Jesus. Some might consider its sentiments as an ideal, a way of life that is impractical in a world where bullying and demonizing have become standard practice. But when we take these words to heart we are a breath of fresh air for those we encounter. We can live this way! We really can! We can be pure, peaceable, gentle, and willing to yield in all our relationships. We can be full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. There are people who live among us who live this way every day of their lives…and they are blessed! What joy they bring to their neighbors and their opponents! The contrast between this lifestyle and that which dominates our culture and political scene is striking. Of course we can’t force people to live this way…it’s hard even to convince ourselves to live purely. Often these behaviors run contrary to our nature…but we can change! Through the power of God’s Holy Spirit we can live according to the principles of divine wisdom…and God’s blessings are magnified!

Thought for the Day: What keeps people from living according to God’s wisdom?

Psalm 34:11-22

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.” vs. 18

Occasionally we will hear reports of horrendous things that have happened in the lives of friends and acquaintances. Bad things have piled up…there has not just been one death, but multiple loved ones have died in a very short time. Cancers and heart attacks strike without warning and we wonder that these suffering folks can possibly find the resources to go on living. We ask questions of God and wonder where justice can be found…often these are good people who deserve the best from life…and instead they get the worst. All of us have heard these stories and some of us have lived them. Our age is not the first to deal with such inequities…the psalmist saw them happening 2500 years ago. His words are simple…probably the best we can come up with. ”The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.” God didn’t cause the illness or accident…God isn’t punishing. We’ll have to look elsewhere for possible causes and sometimes we won’t be able to answer the hard questions. But we do know that God has not deserted the hurting and the wounded…and we do get through the pain. And it’s not because of our stoicism or bravery! On our own we would be crushed! Only by God’s goodness and power can we endure…and for that we give God thanks!

Thought for the Day: What would crush my spirit?

Psalm 34:1-10

“O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.” vs. 8

It’s not unexpected when children balk at the sight of some new food that has been placed on their plate. They’re reluctant to even try something whose color and texture is not familiar. Parents often respond with encouragement that could have been paraphrased from this psalm, “Just taste it, and you’ll see how good it is!” Not all children are persuaded…some would rather go hungry than eat what seems strange. The psalmist would have been familiar with such a response. His purpose was not to convince a child to eat but to encourage his hearers to trust in the Lord. Sometimes words aren’t enough to convince searchers that God is good…even the best arguments can fall short. It’s only when people are willing to take that first taste of faithful living that they can be expected to want more. In that moment their eyes are opened and they come to believe that God offers refuge, direction, and hope. If we’re not even willing to try we will never know the blessings that a relationship with the Lord can bring. Often that first step is the hardest one…it requires a humility that some folks just don’t have. Their pride and their ego lead them to resist…they’d rather starve than admit need…like children they stubbornly go their own way. But God is good! The promise is never withdrawn…those who do taste and see that the Lord is good will never be disappointed.

Thought for the Day: When did I first taste God’s goodness?

Jeremiah 11:18-20

“It was the Lord who made it known to me, and I knew; then you showed me their evil deeds.” vs. 18

Jeremiah lived in turbulent times. The Jerusalem of his day was beset by powerful enemies on every side. Factions within the city fought for influence and position. Jeremiah had been called as a prophet to speak a word from the Lord in those difficult circumstances…but no one seemed to listen to him. But even worse, he had discovered that there were some in the city who wanted him dead. He had been so naive…he couldn’t believe that his own people would betray him. When he found out he offered deep and profound laments to the Lord. He even asked that his enemies be struck down…he wanted retribution. It is a surprise when we discover that people we have trusted are not acting in our best interest…that instead of doing good they are involved in evil schemes. But it happens! Sometimes it seems as though there is a cascade of ugliness in our society. Accusations are made and lies proliferate. We wonder if there’s anyone capable of telling the truth. When we discover who our enemies are there’s a natural desire to get even…we may even ask God to punish them. Jesus shows us a better way. He says that we should pray for those who do evil against us and that there will be blessings if we remain committed to goodness. It’s not easy…but the Jesus way never is!

Thought for the Day: How do I react to betrayal?

Mark 8:31-38

“He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’”

Being a follower of Jesus in the first century often meant enormous sacrifice and risk. Believers were quite literally putting their lives on the line…at the very least their commitment would mean estrangement from family and community. We live in a country where following Jesus is socially acceptable…there are churches on every corner and we are encouraged to belong to them…our offerings are even tax deductible! It’s interesting then, since it’s so easy to be a follower of Jesus, that so many are reluctant to dedicate themselves to regular worship or service. Most folks who were baptized into Christ are unwilling to do anything that might distinguish them from unbelievers. Or maybe it really is harder than it appears to be a follower of Jesus in an age of tolerance and plenty. After all, what’s the point of self-denial when Christianity doesn’t require sacrifice? In Europe during medieval times people resorted to self-flagellation and weekly fasting to show their devotion to Jesus, but such contrived acts of piety rightly hold little interest to us. Our times are different. A better strategy might simply be to look to the needs of others before taking care of ourselves. We might even discover that self-denial is a better way to live than self-indulgence!

Thought for the Day: How can I make self-denial a part of my daily life?

Mark 8:27-30

“He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’” vs. 29

Followers of Jesus in the first century had one basic answer to questions about his identity. Like Peter in Mark’s story they made the bold claim that he was the Messiah or as we more commonly say, he was the Christ. The words, one Hebrew and the other Greek, mean the same thing. Jesus was the anointed one, the one sent by God to be God’s very presence in our world. He was more than a prophet, more than a teacher or healer; he was the incarnate Word of God. Through him God’s grace and love was poured into the world and into the lives of all believers. Of course not everyone bought into the testimony of the disciples…many simply refused to believe that someone who had gotten himself captured and crucified was anyone to be admired. They continued to hold out for a more spectacular and successful leader, one who would restore greatness to Israel. Our issue is different. For many of us faith has come too easily…we’ve always believed…it’s been a part of our culture. We don’t realize how absurd it was for Peter to say, “You are the Messiah.” Declaring faith in Jesus should be a heart-wrenching decision, one that involves either risk or ridicule, or at the very least, repentance. Only then will we be able to grasp the mystery and the power of the gospel.

Thought for the Day: Why is it absurd to say that Jesus was the Christ?

James 3:6-12

“but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.” vss. 8-9

James does not have a high regard for the tongue. He calls it a restless evil and believes that it is the cause of the deep divisions that are found in the home and in the community. He wonders how it can be that the same mouth can offer up both blessings and curses and implies that more is expected of those who claim to follow Jesus. He has a point. Many of us have seen the same things…we live in a time that makes little distinction between acceptable and unacceptable speech. The same mouths that sing hymns of praise to God in worship can switch to f-bombs without missing a beat. Movies are full of curses and filthy talk…and it’s possible for our ears to become desensitized. Soon the language of the culture creeps into our daily discourse and we question if our speech really makes any difference. The answer is clear: our words do matter! They can build up or tear down. They are a major force in creating a culture for our community. Loose and careless talk is demeaning and destructive…it creates barriers and exaggerates stereotypes. If we’re serious about following in the way of Jesus we will choose words that reflect goodness and grace and enhance the lives of those who hear us.

Thought for the Day: Why has filthy talk become acceptable?

James 3:1-5

“So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!” vs. 5

Most all of us at one time or another have been sabotaged by our tongues. We’re forever saying things that should have been left unsaid and then wishing that we’d kept our mouths shut or at least chosen other words. The problem is that once thoughts have been spoken it’s impossible to call them back again. Many times even deep and sincere apologies can’t erase the damage caused by a few careless or hurtful words…the painful exchanges are remembered for decades. This is where it’s a huge advantage to be an introvert, someone who thinks through what they are going to say before the words come out of their mouth. Often they can avoid saying the ugly things that have come to mind…but not always! All of us struggle to control our tongues…it’s one of the biggest challenges we face as followers of Jesus. What a blessing it is when we learn to use our tongues to affirm and compliment our friends and enemies! There are some who have made this an art. They carefully choose words that will lift up and not tear down…even their critiques are full of loving and caring phrases. We leave their presence renewed and invigorated by what we’ve heard. Our tongues can cause great damage but they can also bring healing and joy!

Thought for the Day: How will I use my tongue today?