Genesis 3:8-10

“They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” vs. 8

These stories from the Genesis 2 and 3 are amazing for the breadth of their understanding of human nature. In them we see a down-to-earth God who forms and shapes the man from clay and the woman from a rib and who then pays them an evening visit in their garden home. And because they’ve been caught up in sin  they’re terrified and try to hide in the trees. The notion of course is foolish…and yet, because this is our story, it’s what we do regularly. We don’t measure up to God’s expectations and so we do our best to avoid God. Occasionally we even try to think God out of existence, reasoning that if there is no God, our problems with sin will go away. Talk about foolish notions! Naturally, because God is, God will find us out…there is no place to hide…and we’re forced to confess our sin, but not without some blaming first. Ultimately we have to have admit that disharmony has taken over our lives…and we’ve no one to blame but ourselves. God always intends goodness for us…and we mess things up. It’s a sorry story no matter how it’s told. In fact it’s more than a story, it’s the truth.

Thought for the Day: How do I try to hide from God?

Mark 3:1-6

“He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.” vs. 5

When Jesus had asked the religious leaders if it was lawful to do good on the sabbath they were silent. Even though the answer would have been obvious even to a child, they were tongue-tied…and Jesus was furious. Was this what the proud faith of Judaism had become? A rule-bound religion that honored tradition over human life? He went ahead with the healing, a violation of the sabbath law, and the man’s hand was restored. The Pharisees were not impressed…in fact they were infuriated and stalked out of the synagogue in a rage. Oh how we people of faith love our rules and traditions! Periodically we hear about compassionate folks who reach out to the illegal immigrants trying to cross our borders to seek a better life for their families. They want to provide water and assistance…and some have been arrested and even imprisoned. Their accusers hold that the law is being threatened by their efforts…and obedience to the rules is more important than anything else, even humanitarian outreach. And some Christians agree. If refugees don’t follow the rules they don’t deserve any help, even if they’re dying in the desert. One wonders what Jesus might say to that?

Thought for the Day: Why did law-abiding folks make Jesus so mad?

Mark 2:23-28

“Then he said to them, ‘The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath;’” vs. 27

The sabbath had been a great gift for the people of God, a commandment that actually mandated rest, and it was one that they were glad to keep and observe. But through the years great debates had arisen among them about the types of activities that were permitted on that day. By Jesus’ day the rules regarding sabbath observance left nothing to chance…there were no loopholes. And Jesus thought it was ridiculous…and allowed his disciples to do things that the rules did not permit. Of course, as time passed, those same followers of Jesus fell into the same pharisaic trap. Some of them fell in love with rules and began to put more emphasis on codes of conduct than on the gospel of grace. It’s so easy to move in that direction. We naturally want to practice piety in the course of our lives but our emphasis on holiness can easily turn rigid and judgmental. It’s no accident that Christianity is associated with hypocrisy in much of popular culture. Too often we’re quick to judge and slow to forgive and the compassion that belongs at the center of our faith can easily be obscured. In some circles we’ve actually become known for discrimination and exclusion, and not for our kindness and healing. Sometimes it’s hard to understand how we could wander so far from grace!

Thought for the Day: Why are rules so appealing?

2 Corinthians 4:8-12

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;” vss. 8-9

If Paul had ever thought that Jesus had called him to a life of privilege and prosperity, he had quickly been disabused of that notion. On nearly every step of his journey he had faced opposition and adversity…and sometimes had been forced to endure significant physical and emotional pain. But nothing had been able to keep him from proclaiming the good news. No amount of suffering and affliction could wipe the smile from his face! We know people like that! We’ve met them on our walk of faith and it’s amazing to be in their company. They’ve been beset by illness, despair, death…every kind of brokenness, and still they exhibit joy and peace in daily living. What’s their secret? Well, it’s not that they are tougher than anyone else, and they certainly haven’t endured through their own efforts. Rather they will almost always point to the strength that they have received from God. It’s a power that comes from beyond themselves and that’s hard to understand. But it happens regularly among people of faith and it’s their testimony that gives the rest of us hope. Because of their witness we too can know that there is nothing in all creation that can separate us from the love of God.

Thought for the Day: Someone who has amazed me with their endurance.

2 Corinthians 4:5-7

“But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” vs. 7

Paul described the good news of Jesus Christ as a great treasure and he gladly proclaimed it in every circumstance and in every setting. In his estimation it was more valuable than silver or gold and provided healing for the deepest human hurts. He also took care to let people know that he himself was deeply flawed, and that developing a personal attachment to him was of no particular value. He didn’t want them to see him as their Savior…that role could only be filled by Jesus. We’re reminded of his insight every time we hear news of a preacher or pastor who has violated sexual boundaries or been accused of some crime. Such persons get a lot of attention and are a huge embarrassment for believers…but it really shouldn’t surprise us. All of us are flawed and liable to stumble and fall…and some of us do it spectacularly. But God is greater than human weakness and the power of God is not diminished by our sin. That doesn’t mean we are let off the hook as far as our behaviors are concerned. The way we speak and behave does make a difference in our witness…and observers are influenced by our words and action. Still it is good to know that God uses us in spite of our foibles…and because God is in charge it’s not possible for us to completely screw things up!

Thought for the Day: What are my flaws?

Psalm 81:6-10

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.” vs. 10

According to the book of Deuteronomy the purpose of the sabbath commandment was to continually remind the people of Israel that God had led them up from the land of Egypt. The psalmist knew that and believed that as that exodus story was remembered and retold the Lord would continue to nurture and sustain the people. We see the wisdom of that insight in our own sabbath worship remembering. As we gather to sing praises and offer thanks the old stories are proclaimed once more. We hear how Jesus took the bread, blessed it, and offered it to his followers, and the same with the wine. And then the words and actions are repeated…and at the Table we open our mouths wide and are filled. And what happened in Jesus happens again, and forgiveness is felt and hope renewed. And the next week we come again to worship…and it happens once more! Over and over, week after week, we feast at the Table of the Lord, hear the liberating words, and receive all that we need to sustain our souls. For people of faith what many call “going to church on Sunday” is an encounter with the living God, a wrinkle in time that allows them touch the past, taste redemption and be strengthened for uncertain tomorrows.

Thought for the Day: How are people who don’t worship spiritually filled?

Psalm 81:1-5

“Raise a song, sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our festal day.” vss. 2-3

The psalmist gives us a glimpse of worship as it was practiced in the days of the Temple. It wasn’t all about bloody sacrifice and fiery altar offerings. A whole cadre of Levites were on hand to assist in making festival days times of joyful thanksgiving. Hymns were sung, psalms chanted, tambourines sounded, harps strummed, and trumpets blown. There were proper liturgical garments and almost theatrical presentations. It must have been quite a scene…and maybe not much time for quiet meditation. There were almost certainly not any droning sermons! And no one would have fallen asleep! There has always been a sense of theatre as people of faith come together in worship. Among us there will most often be plenty of music…sometimes the bold sounds of piano and organ combined with trumpets and reeds…and occasionally the vibrant tones of stringed instruments. People will sing their hearts out as hymns old and new are offered in praise and thanks to God. Liturgists each have their well-scripted parts and the movements are carefully planned. There’ll be baptisms and communion, prayers and sermons, and maybe even a special time for the kids. What a blessing it is to worship! It’s exactly the spiritual food we need for getting through the week! How drab our lives would be without worshiping on the sabbath! And how quickly our faith would disappear!

Thought for the Day: What’s a good reason not to worship?

Deuteronomy 5:12-15

“Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.” vs. 12

Most folks are familiar with the concept of a sabbatical, a time of rest from regular labors or a time away from our job or profession…in some corporations a sabbatical is considered one of the perks of employment. But many don’t know that this practice has deep roots in the Hebrew scriptures, that it stems from the conviction that one day of the week should be considered holy. Way back in the very beginning, when communities were being formed, there was a strong sense that daily living required a rhythm. More particularly people of faith realized that it was essential to have time for rest, a time to pray and to reflect on their relationship with the Lord of the Universe. More recently the whole notion of sabbath has been threatened by cultural trends…many people who would gladly take sabbaticals wouldn’t dream of keeping the sabbath. Oh they like the idea of vacation, but setting aside one day a week as holy or sacred is a complete foreign notion. As a result Sunday or sabbath  has become just another day…but not for everyone. People of faith continue to use their sabbaths as refueling stops in the course of busy lives. It is for them the most precious day of the week and they’re grateful to be able to come together in community for the breaking of bread and for prayers. It’s the very best way for them to feed their souls.

Thought for the Day: What keeps me from sabbath observance?

John 3:11-17

“If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?” vs. 12

There are times when we would like to share the good news of Jesus the Christ with our neighbors or even family members, and they have a dickens of a time trying to figure out what we’re talking about. Oh they may know the story and be familiar with the scriptures…they may even be able to quote John 3:16. But they just don’t get what we’re trying to say…or have any sense that the gospel might be for them too. There’s a reason for their difficulty. It’s not that the message is complicated or hard to understand…it’s just that it is born of the Holy Spirit and addresses the heart rather than the mind. As John puts it, it comes straight out of heaven, it comes from the realm of God and not that of humans. It’s not a message about love; it is love. The gospel is the incarnation of the love of God…it happened in Jesus, and it has continued to happen in the lives of believers ever since. This gift of love has transformed the world and is intended for all people. It can melt the hardest heart and break down every divisive barrier. As Paul describes it, love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Who knows, it may even ooze into the lives of our unbelieving brothers and sisters!

Thought for the Day: What’s the best way to communicate love?

John 3:1-10

“The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” vs. 8

Nicodemus was a seeker and he sought out Jesus by night to get insights about the Kingdom of God. He was hoping for some clarifying word of wisdom but instead hears confusing words about being born of water and the Spirit. Modern seekers have that same desire…they’d like to hear some theological perspective that would help them make sense of the universe, maybe some system of belief that wraps all knowledge up into some tidy package. But the life that Jesus offers isn’t something that can be codified or even rationally understood. It only comes from above, an experience with God that touches our hearts and souls. This Christ encounter comes when we least expect it, a gift from the Holy Spirit that defies expectations and expands consciousness. It’s not a set of rules or commandments, but a radical reimagining of our lives as we’re pushed and prodded by the Spirit to open our hearts and minds to new ways of thinking and believing. It’s what happened to Paul on the road to Damascus, an unexpected meeting with the Risen Jesus that completely changed his life. From that point on he was guided by the Spirit from one adventure to another, and never quite knew how it was all going to turn out. Life in the Spirit is resurrection life at its best!

Thought for the Day: What happens when we reimagine our lives?