Matthew 18:15-17

“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one.” vs. 15

From the beginning of the church broken relationships have been a part of life in community. Harsh words are spoken, feelings are hurt, and before long members are at odds with one another…and sometimes it can get pretty ugly. It’s not surprising then that disciples called to mind words that Jesus had to say about these kinds of situations. For him forgiveness and reconciliation were paramount and he wanted his followers to take particular steps to bring about healing and restore wholeness. Step number one was obvious! We are to go to the person we’re having a difficulty with and talk to that person directly and honestly. It’s amazing how hard it is for us to take this simple step. Often we will do anything to avoid direct communication and resort to what can be called “triangulation.” Instead of talking to the person with whom we have the issue we’ll bring in a third party…or even a fourth or fifth. It seems we’d much rather talk about another person than to actually talk to that person. The result is predictable…gossiping runs rampant through the congregation and soon the whole situation is out of control. How much better it is to do as Jesus advises. Direct conversation is one of the hallmarks of healthy faith communities, and is always a key to reconciliation in any context.

Thought for the Day: When has direct conversation paid off for me?

Romans 13:11-14

“the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light;” vs. 12

Paul had the strong sense that the Lord was going to return in a very short time, probably within the next few years. He wasn’t alone in thinking this; many Christians of that early period shared his hope. Because he believed the time was short he advised his readers to get ready by getting their lives in order. They should put aside the works of darkness…drunkenness, licentiousness, and the like…and put on the armor of light…kindness, love, all the things he’d been talking about. Now it may be that we don’t share Paul’s belief in the imminent return of Jesus, but that doesn’t mean we should be careless about how we live. We know perfectly well what he meant by the “works of darkness” and as followers of Jesus we have no business conducting our lives in such a fashion. It’s not good for our souls and it certainly does nothing for our witness. All of us are well advised to put on the “armor of light” and live in a way that breeds gentleness and peace in our faith communities. We’re not talking petty legalism here, the sort of piety that sucks the joy out of life and robs us of happiness. To live in the light is to conduct ourselves with purity and integrity in every aspect of our relationships and interactions. When we live in such a fashion blessings will abound for all.

Thought for the Day: What are the works of darkness?

Romans 13:8-10

“Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” vs. 8

Paul echoes the words of Jesus as he recommends that the Roman community fulfill the law by loving one another. It’s obvious from the context that he is speaking of the way members of the church should treat each other within the largely pagan culture, and some have questioned whether that same injunction can be applied to loving those outside the circle of believers. Some even argue that there is no such requirement for Christians, that there is no need to treat outsiders with love and respect, and that we can therefore freely malign anyone who doesn’t share our faith. And so some of us do! The problem with such thinking is that it cuts across the grain of Jesus’ plain teaching in his parable of the Good Samaritan. There we learn that true neighborly love cuts across racial and religious boundaries and extends even to our enemies. It is likely that Paul shared that conviction, particularly since he spent his life on extended missionary journeys to reach out to the Other with the good news. And if that is how we are to treat others we are most certainly called to shower one another with unyielding and unconditional love. Where Christians manage to pull that off it becomes our greatest marketing advantage. As was said of the early community of believers in Jerusalem, “See how much they love each other!” Outsiders not only need love, they are impressed where they see genuine love at work.

Thought for the Day: How is love expressed in my faith community?

Psalm 119:33-40

“Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain. Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways.” vss. 36-37

There is a way to live that is pleasing to God and that gives life to the community of faith. The contour of that way is no mystery and has been made plain to believers for thousands of years. It was summarized in the Ten Commandments and clarified in the teachings of Jesus. We know what is expected of us in our relationships with God and with one another…but we are easily distracted! Instead of living as we ought we choose to wander off in pursuit of other ideals, things like wealth, pleasure, and power. Instead of turning to scripture as our guide we check out the lifestyles of the rich and famous and choose celebrities as our models for healthy living. And some people do “succeed!” They are blessed by beauty and skilled in the manipulation of money for selfish gain. They build massive houses and boast of homes in many lands. And we are jealous! We read their “success” stories and imagine how we will spend the money when we finally win the lottery. It’s in the context of that cultural noise that the psalmist speaks. And mostly his words are ignored. But some listen, turning their hearts and eyes away from the distractions and back to the ways of the Lord…and in place of headlines they receive the incredible peace of God…and they are satisfied!

Thought for the Day: What does it mean “to look at vanities”?

Ezekiel 33:10-11

“Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?” vs. 11

Ezekiel had a word from the Lord for the house of Israel, a declaration of tough love that would require turning away from their evil ways. Modern self-styled prophets use verses like these as a basis for their dire predictions for our country’s future if we don’t turn and repent. The difficulty is that it’s hard to pinpoint  what counts as wickedness…it’s just not an objective exercise. Some point to lapses in individual morality and they have in mind the decline of sexual standards and the fragmentation of the family, many times coupled with the growing acceptance of the LGBT community. Other so called prophets frame the issue politically and say our decline in greatness can only be stopped by asserting our military and economic dominance. It seems obvious that too often such prophecies are merely a reflection of personal opinion and not a true word from the Lord. So how do we know when the Lord does have a word for us? Here those prophets of old can give us a clue. Never do they say we need to make things easier for the rich! Always they are advocates for justice, particularly for societal outcasts and for those who are poor. If we’re interested, our scriptures do provide a blueprint for God-pleasing national behaviors…it’s really not that much of a mystery.

Thought for the Day: In what areas do I think this country needs to repent?

Ezekiel 33:7-9

“So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.” vs. 7

Ezekiel, prophet to the exiles in Babylon, believed that he had been made a sentinel for the house of Israel, and understood rightly that his calling was crucial. It would be his responsibility to issue a warning from the Lord if the people engaged in wicked behavior. If he saw the wickedness and said nothing, the resulting punishment would be on him. If he spoke, and they persisted in their behaviors, it was on their shoulders. The role Ezekiel described, that of a sentinel, is an important one. Without sentinels people are generally oblivious to the consequences of risky behaviors and tend to go blithely on their way even in the face of impending disasters. Contemporary prophets speaking as sentinels have an obligation to offer warnings when they see danger lurking, even if people pay no attention to them. Some of them have spoken out about what they perceive as an imminent environmental crisis…and warn that it may even now be too late. Others warn of threats in other areas…and the dire consequences awaiting our risky behaviors. Through the years we have learned that sentinels may not always be right…but they always deserve our attention. We ignore them at our peril.

Thought for the Day: Which sentinels have a word from God for me?

Matthew 16:24-28

“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.” vs. 27

Those who love the regular assurances of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness in scripture can become a bit uncomfortable with verses indicating that one day there will be payback for all that we have done. The problem is that the verses are there…if we just ignore them we’re missing a part of the message. In context these verses are meant to provide comfort and hope for followers of Jesus who have lost their lives for his sake. He’s assuring us that any perceived loss is nothing when compared to the ultimate gain. In Matthew that promise is fleshed out more completely in chapter 25 when Jesus says that the final judgment is based on how we have responded to the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the strangers, the sick and those in prison. This final teaching in the gospel promises that “just as you do it to one of the least of these…you do it to me.” It’s hard to misinterpret Jesus’ point, and he means for us to take it seriously! However much we relish the gospel of grace and ultimately depend on it for salvation, there is no doubt how Jesus intends for his followers to live in this world. And when we do live this way, he also wants us to know there will be blessings. We have his promise on that!

Thought for the Day: How am I being repaid for what I’ve done?

Matthew 16:21-23

“But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’” vs. 23

From a human perspective Peter was right. The scenario laid out for the disciples by Jesus was preposterous. Oh, they knew that these awful things could certainly happen; they were aware of the fate suffered by prophets who had run up against the religious establishment. But they had believed that Jesus would be different, that his campaign would be victorious and he would restore the kingdom to Israel. So when Peter heard the nonsense from the lips of Jesus, like a good leader, he spoke up. And Jesus turned on him, accusing him of speaking for Satan and calling him a stumbling block. We have to feel a little sorry for Peter; he was only being a good campaign manager. Of course he was setting his mind on human things, divine things were out of his league. As they are for most all of us! Sometimes we might be able to figure out a plan for the future that makes some sense on a human level, but to talk about God’s plan for our lives, well, that’s another story. And if God’s plan involves suffering on any level, most of us wouldn’t want to have anything to do with it. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if some of those disciples, having heard what God’s things involved, didn’t suddenly remember that they had something else to do that day! It’s a very human thing to do!

Thought for the Day: What’s my plan for the future? Is suffering included?

Romans 12:16-21

“Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” vss. 16, 18

Paul continues his description of life in the Body of Christ with a plea to the Romans to live in harmony with one another. “If it is possible,” he says, “so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” He seems to know that sometimes there are difficult people in our communities of faith and that it’s really a stretch to have good relationships with everyone. But we can still live peaceably with all…the key is humility. When we put aside haughtiness and associate with the lowly we build bridges of connection and establish a culture of peace and tranquility. The eccentrics among us appreciate kind words and smiles and they love it when we spend time with them and aren’t put off by their quirkiness. Of course they may say and do inappropriate things…don’t we all? But they too are loved by God and redeemed in Christ…they are our brothers and sisters in the faith…and they deserve our love and affection. Time spent with them in caring conversation, while it may not be stimulating to us, makes them feel loved and included, and serves to build up the entire body.

Thought for the Day: How do I treat difficult people?

I’m pleased that so many have registered for the trip to Israel and Palestine. Initially I had worried that no one would want to go with me. Now that the number of open slots has shrunk to a handful or so I’m worried that some who have wanted to go and who have delayed registering will find themselves shut out. So I’m trying to get the word out…if you’re planning to come along, you have only a short time to get your name on the list. And don’t just tell me! The folks at Group Travel are the ones to contact…that’s http://www.gtd.org….group number 180209.