John 15:16-17

“You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.” vs. 16

Sometimes we’ll hear folks offering up prayers that end with the phrase, “in Jesus’ name. Amen.” It’s a reminder of their attachment to Jesus, a recognition that he is the vine and they are the branches…and that’s a good thing. Sadly, for some these words have become formulaic, and they only attach them to their prayers to get what they want. It’s as though Jesus has given his followers a blank check and if they remember to sign his name on it, their prayer will be answered and they’ll be rewarded. Of course that notion is miles from his intention. Jesus wants us to know that we’ve been chosen by him and that our appointment has one purpose: we are to bear lasting fruit so that this whole world might be transformed. It’s not so we can become wealthy or get a bigger house…that’s not the point at all. Rather as God empowers us through our Jesus connection we will produce more fruit…we’ll do more loving than we ever thought possible. Followers of Jesus are called to be single-minded in our outreach, not in our accumulation. Our prayers will be aimed at the success of our loving-mission and not in getting more for ourselves. Those who think otherwise have completely missed his point!

Thought for the Day: What do I ask for in the name of Jesus?

John 15:12-15

“I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.” vs. 15

The song, “What a Friend We Have In Jesus,” isn’t sung much anymore…probably because it doesn’t have a catchy tune. But many Jesus people still regard it as a favorite, primarily because of verses like this: “Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer.” In this passage Jesus assures his disciples that as his friends they know everything they need to know about their mission…because he’s told them all he knows. Now some of us might be disappointed in that…we’d love to know more about God. But Jesus is right. We really don’t need to know everything to be whizzes at what we do. All that is necessary is that we be faithful in our loving, and that alone will bring contentment. And of course, since Jesus saw himself as a servant, we never will grow out of that serving role. He made that plain as he washed his disciples’ feet the night before his death. Being a friend of Jesus doesn’t elevate our status in the world…it only confirms our role as servants to all who are in need. The good news is that as our friend he will share every twist and turn of our serving adventures.

Thought for the Day: In what ways do I experience Jesus as my friend?

John 15:9-11

“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.” vs. 9

Living as a follower of Jesus is remarkably uncomplicated! Jesus had known from the day of his baptism that God loved him and throughout his ministry he had passed that love on to the hurting people that he encountered. Later he told those who had become his disciples to abide in that love…they are to revel in it, bask even, and enjoy peace for as long as they live and beyond. It really is a gift to be loved, to be in relationships that are non-judgmental and caring, where you know people are praying for you, and hoping for good things to happen. But the love Jesus describes is more than being a passive receptor…it’s an active love, one that will spur us to faithful obedience, to loving God with our heart, soul, and mind, and our neighbors as ourselves. As we grow in maturity and understanding, with the purpose of life becoming more apparent, it’s such a blessing to be able to relax into that love. What we do with our time isn’t the point, it’s how we treat the people we encounter on our daily walk. Every person we meet is someone to love…and through us the love of God is at work. Each smile touches a heart and has the potential to change a life. What a magnificent calling belongs to us…and what a difference we make in the world!

Thought for the Day: How will I love every person I meet today?

1 John 5:1-6

“Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” vs. 5

To believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, was a huge step for those early Christians. And then, once they had come to faith, they went on to make the audacious claim that they were going to conquer the world. Think of it! They had nothing going for them. At most they were a few hundred persons scattered in various cities around the eastern Mediterranean. They had no influence in government or military affairs. In fact, no one was paying much attention to them. Yet they truly were convinced that Jesus the Christ was the Savior of the world and one day his love would unite all people. Until that day they would continue to obey the commandment of love and proclaim the good news of resurrection and life to any who would listen. In our time we can see the effects of their determination and zeal…there are now hundreds of millions of people who share the faith of those early believers. Their message and influence has reached the ends of the earth. But we also see that many have lost that early fervor…in our age of relativism there is a sense that it really doesn’t make any difference what anyone believes. So we mostly keep our mouths shut and our faith undercover. What a sad day it will be for the church if one day we simply abandon the proclamation of the gospel! John would be dismayed!

Thought for the Day: Why has the church lost its zeal for proclamation?  

Psalm 98:4-9

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.” vs. 4

For many believers congregational singing is a highlight of worship. They love to come together and lift up their voices with songs of praise and thanksgiving. For many it’s their one opportunity to actually sing out loud in public, and, since they don’t have to worry about hitting a wrong note, they can let loose! After all, as many a monotone has said, “All the Lord requires is making a joyful noise!” It really is wonderful to be able to sing together without fear…joining our voices as one makes us all sound better. Sadly though, fewer folks are getting that experience from contemporary worship and its tendency to use unfamiliar tunes in worship. Often worship leaders with amplified voices do the singing while ordinary folks have their voices drowned out and their ears assaulted. There’s certainly noise in the sanctuary, but often it’s not at all joyful! If it weren’t for the screens up front no one would even be able to determine what words were being sung. What a blessing it is to be a part of a congregation where we can lift up our voices and sing for joy! Of course skilled leaders will always be a gift, particularly when they’re there to assist and enhance rather than perform. Most pastors have even figured out that well chosen, singable hymns (even new ones) can make up for their occasional sorry sermons! Believers love to sing!

Thought for the Day: What hymn do I love to sing?

Psalm 98:1-4

“O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.” vs. 1

Periodically, in the context of sharing news about the latest happenings in their lives, people will say “God is good.” By that they generally mean that life is going well, that there has been healing or reconciliation. Maybe they’ve gotten a good job or gotten an unexpected financial windfall. The implication is that God has smiled on them and perhaps answered their prayers. That’s a natural reaction for believers. By faith we know God is involved in all aspects of every day and when good stuff happens, we’re should be glad to give God the credit. Certainly that’s how the psalmist was feeling as he composed this song of praise…we don’t know the circumstances, it could very well have been in response to a victory over Israel’s enemies. In any case his mood is ebullient…it’s been a happy day. His admonition is a reminder to us that it’s okay to be joyful as we move through the seasons of life. Obviously not every day will bring joy…there are many times when feelings of sadness are perfectly appropriate. But when the tide turns our way and benefits accrue there’s no point in holding back on the exuberance. It’s an honest way to live, and when we can remember to give God the glory, the blessings will even seem to multiply.

Thought for the Day: When am I likely to say, “God is good!”?

Acts 10:44-48

“The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles,” vs. 45

From the beginning followers of Jesus have been plagued by spiritual myopia. We imagine that what we believe and experience is all that matters and that God couldn’t possibly have a larger plan. Initially believers thought the Spirit could only work through the circumcised and were astounded when Gentiles were able to speak in tongues. Since those times many have been able to open their hearts and minds to new possibilities of Spirit expression but often we’ve tended to cling to the old and make tradition our god. We can’t seem to get it through our head that the Spirit can’t be contained. As the gospel of John puts it, “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.” Of course, once we can get our minds around this great truth life can get pretty exciting. We never know where God is going to pop up or where we’ll see the fruit of the Spirit being produced. It could easily happen among people of other faiths or even no faith at all. Anyone can be an instrument of peace, love, kindness, faithfulness, or joy! God has a massive orchestra and there truly are no limits!

Thought for the Day: Where has God’s presence astounded me?

John 15:6-8

“Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” vs. 6

Some verses of our scripture bring amazing comfort and peace. Others are wielded like clubs to manipulate and exclude. Jesus’ words about the vine can be used in both ways. Today’s verse has been used for centuries as a warning. People are told that if they don’t abide in Jesus and believe in him they will be tossed aside and ultimately gathered and burned. In other words, they will be thrown into the eternal fires of hell. Some folks are just fine with such interpretations. They believe that fear of punishment is a powerful motivator and that this is what some people need to remain obedient. It is true that in a vineyard the detached branches of the vine are collected and burned. But there’s a problem with using that metaphor when it’s applied to people. In fact it violates everything we read in the gospel about Jesus’ ministry to the lost and the broken. He never goes around trying to scare people into righteousness…that’s not his model. Instead we’re told that he loves all people, even those who rejected him. He offers heaven to the withered and the impoverished, all those who are suffering in the hell of human abuse and pain. As they attach themselves to him and abide in him they experience inclusion and serenity, exactly what their broken hearts have desired. And that’s the gospel truth!

Thought for the Day: What do I believe about hell?

John 15:1-5

“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.” vs. 4

While faith is a great gift for followers of Jesus, there is nothing more important in their lives than bearing fruit. Over and over Jesus hammered this home in his teaching. We can have proper theologies and know all the creeds but if we don’t show love in our relationships with others we are useless. We’re like dead branches, good only for kindling fires. And the key to being productive, to bearing good fruit, is staying connected to Jesus, by abiding in the vine. This isn’t to say that non-Christians, people of other faiths, can’t bear fruit. They can and do…but that only happens when they’re connected to the power of the Spirit, by whatever name they might want to call it. It’s that power beyond ourselves, we call it Christ power, that gives us the energy and the raw materials for fruit production. We just can’t do it on our own. For us that power flows in regularly in our worship, prayer, and meditation, as we take a break from stress and anxiety to fill up our empty tanks with the good news of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. As we’re fueled by the gospel and empowered by the Spirit we discover avenues for loving service every single day, and the Christ who abides in us brings healing and peace to the needy. What a blessing it is to be connected to the vine!

Thought for the Day: How do I maintain my connections to the vine?

1 John 4:17-21

“Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.” vs. 20

John sets a high bar for believers! In his estimation loving God isn’t as easy as it might seem. Not only do we have to figure out how to be generous with what we call possessions, we also have to love the people with whom we have the closest associations. So many Christians don’t get that. We see them regularly in our congregations, critical frowns on their faces, tart comments on their tongues, every manner of prejudice in their hearts. They’re quick to judge and slow to forgive…and yet they claim to love God and will join in singing God’s praises…provided they approve of the song! Admittedly, it’s not easy to love our brothers and sisters. Their flaws and disagreeable habits are so apparent and sometimes it’s hard to get by their irritating behaviors. But John says that unless we love them we can’t love God. Does that mean we have to have warm feelings toward our neighbors? No, but it does mean speaking well of them, acting kindly toward them, and deciding to treat them as we would like to be treated. The highest form of love is a decision and is not dependent on the vacillating inclinations of our hearts. But the miracle is that when we do decide to love someone and set our mind to it, the heart will be sure to follow. Love is that powerful!

Thought for the Day: Someone that I find hard to love.