Ephesians 6:10-15

“For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” vs. 12

Even in the face of regular persecutions the early followers of Jesus knew that their greatest enemy was not the Roman emperor. They had a sense that beyond this world there were cosmic powers and spiritual forces battling every day for the soul of humanity. These invisible rulers and authorities were leading the struggle against the proclamation of the gospel of grace and their influences were subtle. We tend to have a different sense of cosmology, one that does not recognize the existence of such otherworldly dominions and instead embraces a scientific understanding of the universe. That doesn’t mean however that the early Christians were naive or mistaken. The wise among us still know that our most powerful enemies are not those of flesh and blood. There are forces beyond our understanding that have a powerful influence on our lives. Demonic spirits like racism and bigotry infect and influence millions. Lies and untruths sweep through the world of social media unchecked. Fear undermines convictions and distorts thinking. Greed, envy, and jealousy can capture our hearts in an instant and lead us to sacrifice decency and goodness on the altars of personal gain and narcissism. Paul was right…there’s more to this world than meets the eye…and woe to those who sell the enemy short.

Thought for the Day: What invisible forces are battling for my soul?

Psalm 34:15-22

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.” vs. 17

The psalmist was convinced that the Lord was just and would make sure that the righteous would ultimately be vindicated. He recognizes that good people will sometimes have bad things happen to them but firmly believes that God will listen to their cries for help and rescue them. We applaud such convictions and want badly to affirm them, but sometimes we wonder. Does God always come through for us when the chips are down? We’re so aware of the awful calamities that befall decent folks every single day. We’ve read the stories of atrocities that claimed the lives of millions of innocents. We’ve seen the pictures of children killed and maimed by the savageries of tyrants. Where is God in all of those horrendous events? What shall we make of scriptural assurances that seem to fly in the face of reality? The psalmist was no fool. He was very aware of the things that we wonder about. His times were no different than our own. But he chooses to believe that the Lord does care…in spite of evidence to the contrary. And so do we! It’s unthinkable to believe that ultimately evil will triumph! And so we continue to echo the assuring words of the psalmist. God does care…and is never absent in the midst of suffering. And because of God’s presence in every moment of our lives we dare to claim that goodness and life will have the last word! In the battle against evil, God wins!

Thought for the Day: When has God rescued me?

Joshua 24:16-18

“Then the people answered, ‘Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods…therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.’” vss. 16, 18b

As they entered the land of Canaan the people of Israel were positive and optimistic. In their enthusiasm they quickly endorsed Joshua’s challenge and said that they too would serve the Lord. Of course that’s not how it worked out…they didn’t realize how hard it would be to resist the alluring appeal of the Canaanite gods. Why should they continue worshipping an invisible God when the visible gods offered such pleasure and delight? Remaining faithful is never easy when immediate gratification beckons. Those challenges are a part of our life in Christ too. We live in fast-paced times and there are a myriad of powers competing for our attention. Some offer pleasure and material gain…others just suck up our time. Always there is the temptation to relax our faith practices…to cut back on worship or neglect our prayers. It’s not at all unusual for those who pledge a lifetime of commitment to the Lord Jesus in their confirmation vows to drift away…many within only a few months or years. It’s not that we are lying when our promises are made…our intentions are likely good. But following Jesus requires long-term commitment…and few are able to follow through. Those who do are blessed beyond measure, and indeed, they have become blessings for the entire world.

Thought for the Day: When has my commitment to Jesus wavered?

Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-15

“Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” vs. 15

The sequence of events in Israel’s early history is not particularly clear, but we do know that sometime after their time in the wilderness, they crossed over the Jordan and began to settle in an already occupied land. They had been wandering tribal people…now they were living in proximity to many cities and towns. Their biggest challenge was theological. Would they remain faithful to the Lord or would they adopt the gods of the land as their own? Joshua tells them his choice is clear: he and his household will serve the Lord. Those same kinds of decisions face the people of God in every age including our own. There are plenty of gods in our land too and many of them are deceptively attractive…and so we wonder about our own households. Will our children and grandchildren remain faithful to the Lord Jesus or will their loyalties wander? Perhaps they will become a part of that ever increasing group of “nones,” those who profess no particular faith. We’d like to be more in control but we aren’t. All we can do is keep on loving…that’s what Jesus did, and that’s what worked for us!

Thought for the Day: Who does my household serve?

John 6:54-58

“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.” vs. 56

It’s no wonder that our favorite name for the Sacrament of the Altar is Holy Communion.John’s graphic description of eating and drinking flesh and blood makes it abundantly clear that in this meal Jesus becomes incarnate in us. As the bread and wine are absorbed into the flesh of our body, Christ himself come to abide in us and we become his Body. Just as we were once baptized into Christ by water and the word, in Holy Communion the faith connection is strengthened and maintained by our repeated eating and drinking. And it’s not just an individual thing! Not only does communion connect us with Jesus, it makes us one with our fellow believers. There is no better way to celebrate our unity with God and one another than to join together in the eating and the drinking. That’s why we need to take seriously this matter of inclusion in communion…to exclude is to destroy the unity of the Body! How wonderful it has been in recent years to see those old barriers being broken down…it is now commonplace in many of our congregations to hear the words, “All are welcome at the Lord’s Table.” When Jesus fed the 5000 none were excluded…all ate as much as they wanted and were satisfied. In Christ we are all one…he with us and we with him…no exceptions!

Thought for the Day: How does Holy Communion strengthen my faith?

John 6:51-53

“The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’” vs. 52

As John tells this story it’s pretty obvious that he has Holy Communion in mind…for him the story of the feeding of the 5000 was a prelude to the meal that would later become crucial for the life of believers. Even early on there were questions about what was happening as the bread and the wine were consumed in communion. For John the answer was easy, the bread was the flesh of Jesus, a radical notion that caused enormous confusion for outsiders. Often the early Christians were accused of cannibalism. To avoid such misunderstanding some believers adopted alternative language and began to refer to Christ’s presence in more spiritual terms. In their understanding John’s words are not to be taken literally…for them the bread represents the body of Christ and shouldn’t be thought of as actual flesh. This debate has never really been settled and continues among believers today. Perhaps the best solution is to see the meal as a great mystery and simply celebrate Christ’s real presence without trying to understand it. This keeps it from being a stumbling block to faith and gives us the opportunity to regularly feast on the Bread of Life. In our eating and our drinking we receive assurance of forgiveness and find strength for purposeful living…and that’s really all we need to know!

Thought for the Day: Why is it important to affirm Christ’s real presence in Holy Communion?

Ephesians 5:18-20

“Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts…” vss. 18-19

Passages like this provide a window into the life of an early Christian community and give a glimpse of those practices that brought strength and joy to believers. Evidently their culture, like ours, offered options for those who wanted to get high. Wine seems to have been a popular alternative…it has long been a way to escape the drudgeries of boredom and routine. We do the same…and have even a greater variety of mind-altering chemicals and drinks. Paul suggests a healthier alternative, one that will not lead to decline and debauchery. Instead of drinking the Ephesians are advised to be filled with the Spirit, a feeling that comes as the community lifts its voices in songs of praise and thanksgiving. People of faith know how that works…week after week it’s the music of worship that brings God close…and we love it. And for some it doesn’t end at church…they carry the melodies in their hearts through the week…it’s their daily high…fueled not by alcohol but by the Spirit. And there are no wretched hangovers or headaches! Instead there’s an ongoing feeling of joy that lights our faces and brings the love of Christ to all we encounter.

Thought for the Day: What melody am I making to the Lord in my heart?

Ephesians 5:15-17

“Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.” vs. 15-16

We regularly see and hear television and radio pundits talking about our dangerous times and implying that profound evil is at hand. Paul had the same perspective about the city of Ephesus over 2000 years ago. He advised that followers of Jesus should live with care, not as unwise people but as wise…and make the most out of their time. Of course not everyone agrees that the days we live in are evil…that argument can sometimes seem like a political tactic, one designed to perpetuate a climate of fear. But there is little doubt that making decisions in today’s world requires an ample supply of wisdom. There are so many choices out there…and it’s hard to know which options are best. Some can lead to profound blessings, but others can lead us into dark spirals of despair. People are looking for easy money and scams abound…some days we hardly dare answer our phones for fear of being sucked in. And then there are the disrupters, people without conscience who take delight in crashing systems and creating mayhem. Their victims are legion! It truly is a time for avoiding foolish thinking and gravitating toward that which is tried and true. Jesus advised his followers to pay attention to his words and the wise will do exactly that. It’s like building a house on a rock foundation!

Thought for the Day: What’s the wisest thing I’ve ever done?

Psalm 34:12-14

“Which of you desires life, and covets many days to enjoy good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” vss. 12-14

Evidently those who were living in Jerusalem 2500 years ago had the same dreams and desires as people have today. They loved life and wanted to enjoy it as long as they could. Like us they looked for advice and did all they could to wring out a few more quality years. The psalmist was willing to share his wisdom. In his estimation long life was not complicated and didn’t require changes in diet or medicine. The first step was learning to curb the tongue. As we learn how to speak kind and gracious words and stay away from deceitful ugly talk there will be abundant blessings. His second recommendation was equally plain: stop doing evil and start doing good; seek peace in all interactions. Do these things, the psalmist implies, and you will know many days of joy. It seems so very simple…yet often we claim such changes are impossible. Somehow we’ve gotten the idea that sinners can’t stop sinning and there’s no point in even trying. Of course that’s a bunch of malarkey. Jesus calls us to repentance…he wants us to change. And we can! We can harness our tongues and use them kindly. We can seek peace and do what is good. And the benefits will always be life-giving…for ourselves and for others!

Thought for the Day: Who will I affect with my deeds and speech today?

Psalm 34:9-11

“O fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have no want.” vs. 9

Sometimes parents will ask their children to distinguish between wants and needs in making purchasing decisions. It not an easy thing for a young person to figure out, particularly when they’ve been bombarded by clever marketing appeals on television and social media. They’re regularly tricked into believing that because they want something they actually need it. Of course it’s not only the young who are confused about wants and needs…most all of us end up wanting more than we need…that’s just how it is in world that is driven by consumption. But the psalmist has an interesting take on that debate…he says that those who fear the Lord have no want! It seems a simple statement but its truth is overwhelming. In essence he’s telling us that if we trust God we have everything we need…we will be well provided for…God will take care of us…we will want for nothing! On the surface that seems hard to believe…in fact, some would call it a radical thought, one that would be disaster for a consumer economy. But wouldn’t that be a great way to live? Not grasping for more and being content with what we have? Many people of faith have discovered the joy that comes with simple living. For them such living is the gateway to the kingdom of heaven.

Thought for the Day: How do my wants affect the way I live?