Mark 1:21-24

“They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” vs. 22

The scribes were the guardians of the Jewish law and for centuries had dedicated themselves to preserving and passing on the ancient texts. We might call them legal experts or lawyers, important leaders whose opinions mattered and who could be trusted to teach with integrity. Many of them were Pharisees and adhered to a strict observance of the law. There’s a good chance that they taught regularly in the synagogue in Capernaum. But when Jesus came to town and was invited to teach, the people noticed a marked difference. Jesus didn’t present the usual interpretations of the law, what they heard from him was something different. The difference was more a matter of style as opposed to content. Jesus wasn’t advocating the abandonment of Moses, but he spoke in the manner of the prophets, those who had brought a direct word from God to the people. When he spoke it was as though they were hearing the voice of the Lord! It’s no wonder then that the congregation was astounded. Some of us know the experience. We’ve heard such speakers, preachers who don’t just interpret texts or present personal opinions, but who proclaim the gospel with conviction and authority. We may not always agree with what has been said…but we don’t forget the experience. The words are not boring, but bore into our hearts…and may even change our minds.

Thought for the Day: Who has taught me with authority?

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

“But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” vs. 9

Some of us grew up in rather legalistic faith communities with many restrictions with regard to Christian behavior. In such environments failure to comply with the rules meant quick censure and sometimes severe punishment. Believers learn quickly to be careful about what they say and do. Many times those who have grown up in a rule-based church find great relief in discovering the gospel of grace. It really does feel good to do the things our pastors had told us were wrong. Freedom in Christ is a wonderful thing! But sometimes we can carry it too far. That’s what had happened in Corinth. There was an issue about meat that had been offered to idols. Many, quite properly, thought that since idols didn’t exist it was fine to buy and eat the meat at the pagan temples. Paul agreed…but he cautioned the Corinthians to be careful about flaunting their liberty. Some could be led astray by their example and be drawn to idolatry. Since that could happen Paul says it would be better not to eat meat at all. The question is not whether something is okay for us to do. What matters is how others will react when they see what we’re doing. If it could lead them astray we shouldn’t do it. Their relationship to Jesus is more important than our freedom!

Thought for the Day: What might be okay for me but not okay for others?

Psalm 111:6-10

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.” vs. 10

There is at the core of our DNA a strong desire for wisdom. As a consequence we’ve developed amazing systems of education so our children can grow up to be savvy, well-formed, and lovers of knowledge. In our schools young boys and girls are encouraged to learn to the limits of their abilities…and millions do! Our intellects seem to have no boundaries. Recent scientific and technological advancements have changed our lives…but sometimes it would seem that wisdom is still lacking! We continually act in foolish and cruel ways no matter what the consequences to ourselves or to society. Sometimes it seems as though we’ve learned nothing in our thousands of years of existence. The psalmist would say that we’ve missed the starting point in our search for wisdom. He says that those who seek understanding or knowledge should start with the fear of the Lord. Of course that doesn’t mean being afraid of God or thinking that God will get us if we don’t shape up. Fearing the Lord means having an awe or reverence for the One who brought us into existence. It means knowing that we’re not the center of the universe and having a sense of humility as we move through life. We’re not number one…and the sooner we figure that out the wiser we will be.

Thought for the Day: What’s the difference between wisdom and knowledge?

Psalm 111:1-5

“Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.” vs. 1

With the exception of a few hermits through the centuries, the people of God have always enjoyed coming together for worship. While it’s possible to serve God in isolation, being part of a congregation provides a huge benefit for the faithful. Often we don’t notice how precious those times together really are, but to join our voices in song with others probably doesn’t happen for us anywhere else. Even saying the words of a litany together can be a powerful experience. And of course every worship service will provide an opportunity to offer thanks to the Lord with our whole hearts. It’s not so much listening to polished choirs or gifted soloists that is the heart of our time together…it’s when we join our voices together in singing or chanting. These “one voice moments” lift our hearts and touch our spirits. And it doesn’t have to be a massive congregation either…so much emphasis is put on numbers in worship…there’s never a word mentioned about that sort of thing in any scripture. Whether it’s a dozen or 500 doesn’t make any difference. For many of us this coming together is the highlight of our week…a break from our usual busy lives and a chance to refresh our souls. It truly is a wonderful habit with enormous benefits that is remarkably hard to break.

Thought for the Day: How important is congregational worship for me?

Deuteronomy 18:17-20

“But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.” vs. 20

When the Israelites began to review their history and write it down they recognized how important it was have leaders who brought them genuine words from the Lord. They needed prophets with integrity, not charlatans who spoke to enrich themselves or to ingratiate themselves with the powerful. As a result their writings about prophets are replete with death threats for pretenders. Of course their law didn’t work! Most of the time the only prophets who died were the genuine ones…and often their deaths came as a result of false accusations from the fake ones. It still remains difficult for truth-telling prophets to capture the ears of more than a few. Some try. They speaks words of truth with conviction and passion to those in power and are casually dismissed as purveyors of “fake news.” Other religious folks, “wanna-be prophets,” love the company of political leaders and, to preserve their positions, tickle the ears of the powerful with platitudes of support. The resulting back and forth name-calling has brought both confusion and apathy. Lying dominates public discourse…people say whatever is expedient…and have little regard for whether they’re speaking the truth or lies. In such a time it’s a blessing to return to the words of Jesus…our one reliable source of both truth and light.

Thought for the Day: Why can’t politicians just tell the truth?

Deuteronomy 18:15-16

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet.” vs. 15

The people of Israel remembered Moses with fondness. According to their tradition it was he who had given them the Deuteronomic laws that had cemented their identity. And he was the one who had promised that God would raise up prophets like himself to bring them new marching orders in times of crisis. When Jesus came on the scene in Galilee some thought that he might be the prophet mentioned in Deuteronomy. As they listened to him they were puzzled…because he really didn’t bring them any new laws…and he had a lot more to say about love and forgiveness! Such puzzlement is not unusual though…prophets are notoriously hard to figure out. And if they’re bringing an authentic word from the Lord they’ll jar our ears and jolt us out of our comfort zones. Frequently listeners will reject the words of prophets and try to find ways to silence them. Jesus warned his followers that this could happen to them saying, “Prophets are not without honor except in their hometowns.” Ultimately the opposition rose up against Jesus and his prophetic words and killed him…but they couldn’t shut him up. His liberating words were remembered and continue to challenge the comfortable and the complacent.

Thought for the Day: What word from Jesus makes me uncomfortable?

Mark 1:17-20

“And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him.” vss. 17-18

Jesus doesn’t seem to have done any background check before calling his first disciples…and they didn’t ask for a job description before they responded. There’s a sense of urgency in Mark’s account, both in the invitation and in the response. The kingdom of God is at hand and Jesus needs help in announcing its presence…and he seems to pick whoever is at hand. Consultants might have advised him to pick folks with a more sophisticated background…though many fisherfolk would probably say that he went for the cream of the crop. Whatever the reasons behind the call of the first disciples, a pattern was set that has lasted until the present. Calls to discipleship are still being made and unlikely candidates still seem to be the preferred targets. We don’t know when we’ll be called or who will issue the invitation but when the call comes there will be a response…and if it’s a “yes” our lives are changed. Whatever gifts we have will be channeled into loving service and the announcement of good news. What an adventure awaited those disciples laboring away along the shores of Galilee! And what an adventure awaits us when we leave our nets and start following Jesus! It won’t be a pleasure cruise and there will always be challenges, but the purposeful joy will be beyond measure.

Thought for the Day: What credentials does a disciple need?

Mark 1:14-16

“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’” vss. 14-15

It’s almost as though John’s arrest was a signal for Jesus, a sign that it was time for his ministry to begin, and he comes back from the Jordan to his home territory to begin preaching in earnest. The core of his message is plain, “The kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” What he was saying wasn’t so different from what John had proclaiming…it’s just that the scene had shifted and it doesn’t appear Jesus did any baptizing. Like John he attracted big crowds…people were hungry for change and everyone was looking for God’s rule to be established. It was incredibly good news…and Jesus preached with conviction. And as people drew near, listened, and believed they sensed that what he said was true. In Jesus God’s gracious rule was becoming real. It’s what happens when we repent and turn away from old destructive patterns of living! Repentance carries with it the seeds of hope. As we change we begin to see that things can be different and we actually catch glimpses of the Kingdom of God. It was true for those crowds huddled along that ancient Galilean shore and it’s true for us too…and it all begins with a desire to repent.

Thought for the Day: If I were told to repent, what would I do?

1 Corinthians 7:29-31

“I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none,” vs. 29

Paul probably never dreamed that he’d be getting questions about sex from the congregation in Corinth…but that’s what had happened and now he struggles to answer. We have to give him credit…at least he tries, even though in our context his advice seems hopelessly outdated. We can only pity those who have tried to make a law out of what he says…that avenue leads quickly to confusion and contradiction. What we do have to understand is that Paul honestly believed Christ would be returning soon and that people really didn’t need to be thinking about such things…he even advises married people to give up on sex so that they can be ready for Jesus. As a result of Paul’s ramblings church leaders have frequently made some pretty bizarre judgments about human sexuality. Some have even concluded that sex and sin are inextricably connected. As a consequence guilt and shame have proliferated in the area of our sexuality…and real intimacy has been a challenge. Paul is right in one respect: there are times when for one reason or another abstinence is best. Sex is an amazing gift of God but it can easily be misused…and when sexual boundaries are not clearly established and respected there will pain for all involved.

Thought for the Day: When is sexual abstinence a blessing?

Psalm 62:9-12

“Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” vs. 10

Today’s psalm provides a window into the Judean culture of 2500 years ago and it’s amazing to see that folks then were driven by the same passions that inflame us. There was a common desire for riches and some used extortion and robbery as a means to wealth…not much different from 21st century America. Most of us yearn to be rich and some will use any means possible to achieve that goal. The psalmist doesn’t say money is bad…he seems to recognize that riches will increase for some. He simply tells his readers not to expect that their hearts will be satisfied by material accumulation. Of course we hear that message from Jesus too as he advises against “laying up treasure on earth.” For one reason or another though we have a tough time believing either Jesus or the psalmist. Year after year we fall for the old lie that money can bring happiness and new get-rich-quick schemes are always at hand. We love it when the stock market soars and enjoy double digit returns on investment. But those are the most dangerous times for people of faith. Wealth is a powerful god and it can take over lives. The psalmist is right: those who set their heart on increased riches are playing with fire. As scripture tells us in 1 Timothy, “The love of money is the root of all evil.”

Thought for the Day: How much income do I need to have a satisfying life?