2 Corinthians 5:6-10

“For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.” vs. 10

As followers of Jesus pick and choose their favorite passages of scripture they often skip over verses like this one from Paul. Those who bask in the grace freely offered by God are troubled by intimations that there might one day be a time of judgment. The notion that there will be recompense for our good and evil actions seems to fly in the face of our trust in unconditional forgiveness. And yet in our hearts there lingers a suspicion that Paul just might be right. After all, Jesus regularly spoke of accountability in his parables, and nowhere are we told that forgiveness wipes out the consequences of our words and deeds. What is notable here is that Paul encourages the Corinthians to approach their appearance before Christ with confidence…in fact he says that they should look forward to their homecoming. His point is clear: it does make a difference how we behave on our journey! And that’s true regardless of what happens in the life to come. We can’t know what that day or reckoning will be like…it’s beyond what we can even imagine. But what we can do is use our time in the flesh for Spirit-powered goodness and bring joy to all we encounter.

Thought for the Day: What do I imagine my judgment will be like?

Psalm 92:12-15

“In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap, showing that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” vss. 14-15

The psalmist has noticed that the righteous will often seem to live forever. He compares them to a cedar or palm tree planted in the courts of God. They live on and on as faithful servants and continue to bear fruit even in old age. This does not seem extraordinary to the psalmist…it’s because God is our rock and the Lord makes sure the faithful are strengthened and renewed. Of course we can always find exceptions to his observation. It is often said among us that the good die young and we all have had friends and family taken from us far too early. But it’s also true that there are a remarkable number of saints who seem to live particularly long lives. We seem them in our congregations, always present for worship and always showing interest and enthusiasm for ministry. They’re not content to simply fade away and their greying heads are a welcome sight in our communities…we’re glad that they haven’t wandered off to retirement homes or reconciled themselves to gradual decline. We suspect that they’re still full of sap and young ideas and they tell all who will listen that they’re just not done living yet. What a blessing they are for us all!

Thought for the Day: Who’s my favorite aging saint?

Psalm 92:1-4

“For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.” vs. 4

There are some days that seem better than others. We wake in the morning with a smile on our faces and through the day we are alert to the blessings of our lives and the pure wonder of being alive in this spectacular spot in the universe. The psalmist was having one of those days and he gives all the credit to God. The thanksgivings flow from his mouth and he doesn’t care who knows that God is his hero. It all seems so natural as we read his words of praise…we might wonder why more of us don’t explode with such expressions of pure joy. It could be that we live in a place where every day is wonderful and we’ve just gotten used to living in paradise. It’s more likely though that we’ve been overburdened with the cares of this world and can’t focus beyond our immediate needs and wants, and even the wonders of our world can’t lift our spirits. That’s a sad way to live and is perhaps a sign that we’ve gotten our priorities all confused. Perhaps what we need to do is give ourselves a “timeout” and sit for a few moments in an outdoor place of solitude, a place where we simply relax…no books, no ear buds…and breathe in the works of God’s hands. It won’t take long…and there’s bound to be a grateful response!

Thought for the Day: How often do I love being alive?

 Ezekiel 17:22-24

“Thus says the Lord God: I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar; I will set it out. I will break off a tender one from the topmost of its young twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.” vs. 22

Ezekiel writes from Babylon at a time of crisis and turmoil in Jerusalem. The expected military help from Egypt had not arrived and the last Davidic king had been hauled off into captivity. Politically Israel and Judah had been wiped out…there was no longer any reason for the people to be hopeful. But Ezekiel has not given up and uses an allegory to describe what the Lord God will do. The sprig of a cedar will be planted…and become a mighty tree and give shelter for every living thing. The people of Israel will not only survive, they will prosper. Those words of hope from Ezekiel were remembered and savored in times of great difficulty. Even though Israel never attained the status imagined, they did survive as a people, sustained not by powerful armies but by the healing presence of God. It’s a lesson that we should all tuck in the backs of our minds. Too often we believe that political alliances and treaties are the keys to the peaceable kingdom and consequently put our eggs in the basket of diplomacy or military might. Ezekiel reminds us that when all those plans go awry, as they most certainly will, it is the Lord God who will be our refuge and strength.

Thought for the Day: What is the key to world peace?

Mark 3:31-35

“And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” vss. 34-35

We get mixed messages from scripture about Jesus’ relationship with his family. John and Luke indicate that by the end of his life Mary and his brother, James, were on board with his mission, but Mark tells us there was a disconnect early on. Evidently Jesus felt opposition from them and made his followers his surrogate family. Some of us know what that feels like. It’s not unusual for there to be tension in our relationships with parents and siblings…and sometimes there can even be estrangement. At the very least most of us live at a distance from our family of origin and can easily drift away emotionally. When that happens it’s such a blessing to have connections within our faith community. Often it’s here that we can get the love and support that we need for everyday living. These are the brothers and sisters in Christ who will pray for us regularly and lift us up when times get tough. We crave our weekly reunions and look forward to checking in…even when pastors drone on we can count on friends who can lift us with a smile and a hug. That’s why large congregations are eager to develop vibrant small group ministries. Exciting corporate worship is important but the small group connections are vital. It’s here that we find our family!

Thought for the Day: Where do I find family?

Mark 3:20=30

“When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, ‘He has gone out of his mind.’” vs. 21

It’s disheartening sometimes to realize how many naysayers there are among us. As soon as someone attains some measure of notoriety background investigations are launched and inevitably dirt begins to appear in the news. We hear all the old stories of past indiscretions and unsubstantiated accusations…and some of us love it. We get a thrill from seeing people diminished and brought down to our level. Mark tells us that this is exactly what happened when Jesus became popular in Galilee. He was teaching and healing and gathering crowds wherever he went. And stories circulated. Religious leaders said that he was possessed by Satan…even his own family believed the stories and took steps to try to restrain him. People were saying that he had lost his mind! But Jesus was not intimidated…he kept on doing what he’d been called to do and challenged the religious leaders to get on board. We might like to think that times have changed and good deeds always be appreciated, but that’s not how life works. Jealousy runs deep in the human soul and it’s amazing what accusations can be made against us. It could even be that our own families will be most resistant to what God is doing in our lives. If it happened to Jesus it could happen to us.

Thought for the Day: How does my family feel about my mission?

2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1

“So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.” vs. 16

Our situation is very different from that of the Thessalonians yet our concerns are similar. Paul had assured them that the Day of Lord was at hand, that Jesus would be returning soon, but nothing had happened…instead they were getting older and some of them had died. So he writes words of comfort and tells them not to lose heart. There is more to life than meets the eye…there is hope even in the face of death. We know something of what the Thessalonians were experiencing…in spite of our plans for healthy and long living, our bodies just don’t hold up very well. Fitness and workout programs can’t stand up to the ravages of time forever. If we live long enough we begin to notice the loss of stamina and strength and maybe even become confused. We start thinking about long-term care and wonder how good those insurance policies we bought so long ago really are. It’s in those moments that faith can be a comfort…it’s the one thing that can’t be taken away…and sometimes it even grows stronger with the passing of the years. Some actually find that their spirit is renewed as the physical body declines. Faith truly is a gift for all the seasons of life!

Thought for the Day: How do signs of aging affect my spirit?

2 Corinthians 4:13-15

“But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—’I believed, and so I spoke’ —we also believe, and so we speak,…” vs. 13

It’s hard to know exactly what has generated faith in any believer. With some it seems to have been there since childhood…they can’t remember any particular moment in which they first believed. With Paul it was an encounter with the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus. With the disciples the moment of believing came with similar experiences after the discovery of the empty tomb. Contemporary followers of Jesus are all over the map…some are long-time believers but others point to a particular occasion or moment, a time when faith was birthed. Whatever our experience Paul tells us that believing is followed by speaking. Faith is not something to keep quiet about. And why is that such a big deal? Well, Paul says that’s the way more and more people will become acquainted with the gospel. As we tell our grace stories others are impressed…many have never heard the word of forgiveness and hope that is the center of what we believe. And there’s no way they will ever begin to believe unless they first hear the message. Who knows what the trigger will be? It might be a casual conversation with a friend or maybe an invitation to worship. We never know when we might be the prime channel of the Spirit!

Thought for the Day: Why do some believe but never speak?

Psalm 130

“If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.” vss. 3-4

There are those who believe that God keeps a detailed record of our entire lives, and has therefore taken note of all our sins and indiscretions from the times of our youth until the present. The psalmist notes that if that were indeed the case all of us would be doomed. There would be no hope! In the face of that dismal prospect the psalmist claims that God’s natural disposition is one of forgiveness, and that’s what makes God great! It is true that we can find all kinds of references in scripture to a God of judgment…after all the bible teaches accountability and its writers certainly believed there were consequences for sin. But we already know that…we know what it’s like to pay for our misdeeds. We’re well acquainted with justice. And God certainly is a just God! But God is so much more than that! As scripture says again and again, the Lord is slow to anger and abounding with steadfast love. We could even say that forgiveness is God’s middle name. That’s what Jesus underlined in his ministry as he reached out to those beset by guilt and deserving punishment. “Your sins are forgiven,” he said to them and to us. We know that we are sinners…but we’re forgiven, not so we can sin some more, but so that we can imitate God in our loving and our caring.

Thought for the Day: How can God be just and forgiving at the same time?

Genesis 3:11-15

“The man said, ’The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.’” vs. 12

This story’s truth nails us. Oh, how we love to blame others for our sins! The man manages to blame both God and the woman for his disobedience. “She did it, God! And if you hadn’t made her…things would be just fine. So it’s really all your fault, God!” Over and over we use the same tactic…blame others, and in the end put all the responsibility on God. It seems we crawl out of the womb fully equipped to engage in blaming…it’s one of the first things we try to do when there’s conflict or trouble. What a blessing it is when we learn the way of confession and forgiveness! How much easier it is to live in this world when we can simply say, “My bad, and I’m really sorry.” Relationships are healed, and even our connections with God can be restored. Sadly some people never seem to figure this out and spend their lifetimes evading responsibility and guilt. They’re quick to point fingers and reluctant to admit wrong…and ultimately God gets blamed for everything. In the end of course their burdens are enormous and they never can even get a taste of the peace that comes through absolution…and grace will be unknown.

Thought for the Day: What’s so hard about confession?