2 Peter 3:8-15a

“But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.” vs. 13

Peter’s vision of the future includes devastating fire and total destruction of the present world, very much like we might expect from a series of atomic explosions or what people have experienced recently in California. But after the fiery disaster he also sees a new beginning, a re-creation so to speak, in which there will be new heavens and a new earth. It’s as though God has a plan to reboot the creation by getting rid of sin and evil and just starting all over again. Whatever we might think of Peter’s vision, he does a great job of describing the desire we have for fresh starts in the kingdom of grace. It’s what we want for ourselves and for our world…and we know that before the newness comes, there’s plenty of old stuff that needs to die. The problem is that we have a hard time letting go of those comfortable habits and desires that have become our identity. Having the impurities and dross of our sinful selves burned away by God’s loving judgment is never easy and usually painful. But beyond the pain, as our new selves emerge, we get a sense of what God intended the first time around…and we actually become the persons we were created to be.

Thought for the Day: What happens after a fire?

2 Peter 3:8-10

“But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.” vs. 8

Like other New Testament writers Peter believed that Christ would be returning soon, and he too encourages his readers to be patient in their waiting. He tells them that time is mysterious and the Lord operates beyond its influence. It can crawl along so slowly that it seems to have come to a halt…and then it speeds up without warning, and months and even years move by in the twinkling of an eye. Children report that these weeks before Christmas are of the slow variety and their patience is frequently tested. Of course all this is a matter of perception…in reality time moves with atomic precision and there is no variation in its speed. It’s one of the constants of the universe. Peter wants us to know that it’s also a great gift and we are advised to use it wisely and carefully. As the writer of Ecclesiastes puts it, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven, a time to be born and a time to die…” Each of us has a span of hours and days to use and blessed are those who use their allotment to bring love and glorify God. For the child of God boredom is not an option…each moment is precious and is not intended to be frittered away. Blessed are those who are ever ready to meet the Christ!

Thought for the Day: What’s the best antidote for boredom?

Psalm 85:10-13

“Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.” vs. 10

So what is it that we’re looking forward to as we move through Advent toward Christmas? For some it might be a holiday party or maybe a family gathering full of celebratory rituals. Or maybe it’s simply an indefinable “something more”! That’s what the psalmist was searching for in those days before Jesus…he was looking for toward the salvation of God, and not just a feast and celebration. He describes his desire with words that touch our hearts and imagination. “Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.” Wow! In those few phrases he anticipates our deepest longing, the total transformation of society, the coming of the Kingdom of God. In this new age God’s love and faithfulness merges with our own and we begin to live out our creative potential. There will justice for all, particularly the poor, and peace of every kind will fill the land. There’ll be an end to bigotry and every kind of “ism” and harmony will define our relationships. Some might dismiss this kind of talk as unrealistic and only a pipe dream…and some even look forward to war and mutual destruction. But the people of God, and that’s who we are, have always been hopefully optimistic…and the psalmist’s dream is what pulls us through the shadows and into the light. Pessimism has no place in our Advent ruminations!

Thought for the Day: What is the by-product of pessimistic thinking?

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-9

“Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.” vs. 9

As we move into Advent we see neighborhoods being transformed for the season. Most houses have at least some strings of lights along the eaves and some front yards are packed with every gaudy holiday display imaginable. It would appear that our land is deeply religious and that our citizens are totally committed to showing forth the glory of God. Of course we know that isn’t true…most of what we’re seeing along our streets is purely cultural and driven by market forces. This is the time of the year for making businesses profitable, and if religious themes can be used to boost sales, that’s exactly what happens. But some pay little attention to these externals…for them this is a time to strengthen their spiritual connections. They have a deep and profound fear of the Lord and show it with a centering respect and reverence. They truly do fear and love God and all that they do is colored by those complex and profound convictions. For these each day begins with a commitment to walk in the way of Jesus as completely as they can. They may join in the holiday lighting and participate in the cultural Christmas…they’re not puritanical. But for true believers this is a time for prayerful waiting…they know that the salvation of God has drawn near…and they don’t want to miss it!

Thought for the Day: What’s a cultural Christian? Am I one?

Isaiah 40:1-5

“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” vs. 2

From a purely historical perspective we can’t help but be amazed at the dogged determination of the Jewish people to maintain their connection to the Lord. Even though they thought of themselves as the elect, as God’s chosen ones, they were certainly never pampered. At times, awash in prosperity, they forgot about Yahweh and chased after other gods. The consequences of their idolatry were always harsh:  adversity, defeat by powerful enemies, and captivity. Naturally the people thought of their exile as a just penalty for their sins, but those tough times also proved to be their salvation. Alone in Babylon they reconnected with their ancient faith and when by grace they were returned to Jerusalem they rejoiced in their redemption and offered praise and thanks to the Lord. As their faith descendants we regularly find their story repeated among us. Often, tempted by cultural gods, the baals of our day, we too wander away and in so doing, regularly reap the consequences of our sinful behavior. But always there will be a day of redemption, a moment when we come to our senses, and our gracious God speaks tenderly to us. Advent abounds with such words of comfort and we are daily reassured that our penalty has been paid. As inheritors of the promise we are have been freed to enjoy the bountiful blessings of the Kingdom.

Thought for the Day: When have I needed words of comfort?

Mark 13:32-37

“Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.” vs. 32

When we hear of those who make bold predictions for the return of Jesus, sometimes even naming the day and the year, we are right to be skeptical. Our scripture is very clear in saying that no one, not even the Son, knows the time or the season. But sometimes those who laugh at the misguided prophets forget that the main point of apocalyptic passages is to advise believers to keep alert. Jesus wants his followers to live with a sense of preparedness, confidently planning for a long life while at the same time being ready for it to end tomorrow. It’s that kind of alertness that makes us appreciative of the constant blessings that each day can bring. Advent is a season that gives an opportunity to practice that kind of living. Some have found that Advent calendars are a wonderful tool for focusing our attention on the delights and opportunities that come our way. By living one day at a time we can anticipate the coming of Christmas and yet be alert to the constant presence of the Spirit. Today as we light the first candle of our Advent wreaths we can’t possibly know what tomorrow will bring…no one can predict the future. But we do know that Christ Jesus will be fully present in the challenges and opportunities of today…and those who are alert will see him clearly.

Thought for the Day: What happens when we’re not alert?

Mark 13:24-31

“So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.’ vs. 29

Early Christians were firmly convinced that Jesus would return to gather believers to himself and free them from the tribulations and evil of this world. Naturally there was great speculation about when this would take place, and many believed that there would be signs in the heavens that his coming was imminent. In the centuries that have followed those early years of expectation some have continued to keep track of what can be seen in the skies. Comets and eclipses have regularly been interpreted as indicators that Jesus would be coming soon and preachers have been moved to proclaim far and wide that the end was near. Since nothing ever has happened following those bold predictions, many have concluded that it’s pointless to keep on waiting. They abandon apocalyptic thinking and reinterpret the many passages in scripture related to the Second Coming. The problem with such conclusions is that faith without anticipation can lead to apathy and resignation. Advent reminds us that there is hope for our world and that evil will not always have its way. One day the kingdom of God will be established on earth…and woe to us if we ever give up looking for signs of its coming!

Thought for the Day: Why is apocalyptic imagery a blessing?

1 Corinthians 1:8-9

“God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” vs. 9

It’s not uncommon for followers of Jesus to have questions about faith. For one thing it seems to ebb and flow with the changing circumstances of life. One day it will be strong and certain and the next, well, it could be nearly gone, and we might even be considering atheism as an option. For some those are disconcerting thoughts, and when those ideas come on the threshold of our culture’s annual Christmas frenzy, the lack of faith can be particularly disturbing. And even when our own faith is strong we worry about the seeming faithlessness of others…particularly when they’re members of our families. It’s not always guaranteed that our children and grandchildren will walk in our own faith footsteps. In these moments of reflection it’s good to be reminded that our own faith is not the most important consideration in the whole scheme of things. As Paul tells the Corinthians, what really counts is that God is faithful…and God’s faithfulness is complete and unconditional. Even when we stop believing in God, God continues to believe in us. God can even produce the fruits of the Spirit in unbelievers! That doesn’t mean that our faith is unimportant…indeed it’s a key to our own serenity and well-being…and we pray that this Advent the Spirit will strengthen our trust and increase our devotion to the Lord Jesus.

Thought for the Day: How robust is my faith these days?

1 Corinthians 1:3-7

“so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” vs. 7

The early Christians lived with a sense of expectation because they believed that the Lord Jesus would return and reign within their lifetimes. As time passed and he did not appear they became anxious and began to question whether he would return at all. When Paul heard that people in the congregations he had started were having those concerns he wrote to offer encouragement. In his letter to the Corinthians he gives thanks for the spiritual gifts he has seen among them, and then says that these gifts will be a blessing as they continue to wait. Since those early days of the Church, waiting has become a regular feature of our life together as followers of Jesus. In fact it’s the principle theme of Advent. Year after year we take time during these days to remember that we’re still waiting for the kingdom of God to be established on the earth. God became flesh in the birth of Jesus…but there’s still more to come. The good news is that the Holy Spirit of Jesus hangs with us in our waiting for the revealing of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the gifts of the Spirit we can even experience the Christ for whom we wait, a delicious foretaste of the blessings yet to come. We rejoice in the present…and know that the best is yet to come!

Thought for the Day: What are my spiritual gifts?

Psalm 80:17-19

“Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” vs. 19

Soon we’ll be starting the season of Advent, the time of preparation for celebrating the birth of Jesus. Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do with these four weeks…obviously it’s about more than parties and singing Christmas carols and making sure our holiday shopping is done. In some ways it’s a kind of a mini-Lent, a time for reflection and repentance, a time to focus on the state of our lives. The psalmist is concerned about restoration, and maybe that could be something for us to think about too. We’re all deeply aware of ways in which we don’t live up to God’s expectations and sometimes we seem to be drifting away from our God connections. The psalmist thought God was angry with him…we might not feel that way, but sometimes God does seem distant. It could be that the cares of this world have intruded and we feel our faith is threatened. In those moments, like the psalmist, we crave assurance of salvation, a bit of a smile from God, and maybe a glimpse of God’s shining face. That’s why it’s important for us to be intentional about our Advent observance. We’ll need to set aside precious time in the midst of busyness for spiritual focus…but when we do we will be refreshed and restored.

Thought for the Day: What’s my plan for Advent?