I Kings 3:5-12

“Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?” vs. 9

Those who made the final edition of our scriptures didn’t bother to whitewash the heroes of faith. For instance we know that King Solomon in his glory years raised taxes on the poor and accumulated great wealth for himself, along with a massive harem of wives and mistresses. But scriptures also say that he assumed the throne with humility, and in a dream, asked God to grant him an understanding heart and great wisdom. In other words, he made a good start! Some read these accounts and wonder what he was really like. Such persons seem to believe leaders can only be good or bad, and don’t seem to consider that Solomon could be both wise and foolish. The truth is that many times we just don’t know how leaders are going to turn out. Often, like Solomon, they begin with good intentions…but it’s not easy to govern, especially with all the temptations that come with wealth and power. Thank God for those leaders who do govern with integrity through the entirely of their time in power, and who are not swayed by the desire for wealth or riches. Solomon’s kingdom fell into civil war after his death…and the rupture was never healed. May God grant us an abundance of discerning and wise leaders…only then will our future be secure!

Thought for the Day: Why do powerful leaders often have feet of clay?

Matthew 13:36-43

“Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.’” vs. 36

One way to deal with the mystery of a parable (a story with one main point), is to turn it into an allegory (a story with many hidden meanings.) That’s what Jesus does here, and he does a fine job. The allegorized parable explains why there are good and bad folks in the kingdom and says that ultimately justice will be done. All sin and evildoers will be destroyed…which may or may not be a word of comfort for hearers. But behind the allegory there lurks yet another truth…followers of Jesus simply don’t need to worry about all the weeds! They’ll be taken care of in due time by God. In the meantime we shouldn’t get obsessed about who’s good and who’s bad…most of the time we’re going to get it wrong. That’s a powerful word of grace for us in our kingdom living. We don’t have to judge anyone! If any judging is going to be done, God will take care of it. Our job is to live side by side with our various neighbors and do our best to love them all. The kingdom at at its best is an exercise in inclusive living and blessings will come to us from the most surprising places. We’ll catch glimpses of God’s presence even among those we could have sworn were nothing more than a patch of weeds.

Thought for the Day: Why is it hard to tell weeds from wheat?

Matthew 13:24-30

“He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away.” vss. 24-25

Jesus began his ministry by announcing the coming of the kingdom of heaven, and then continued to speak of it as he addressed the crowds who gathered to hear his teaching. The kingdom wasn’t a thing or a place and it was largely invisible, which made it hard to describe. Jesus mostly used parables to talk about it, and even those parables are difficult to understand…and this one, about the weeds in the field, is no exception. It addresses a question that was readily apparent to his early followers, and is common among believers today. If God’s kingdom is present in our world, if signs of that kingdom can be regularly glimpsed, then how come there are so many rotten people around? In other words,how do we account for the jerks among us…and more than that, what about the really evil folks? Jesus says that’s the same question a farmer might ask who ends up with a field full of weeds after planting only good seed. It is a legitimate question and Jesus gives an answer, but the important question is the one which follows. Given the presence of weeds, what should be done about it? Here Jesus has a surprising answer. Basically he advises that nothing be done! Fixing the problem will only damage our experience of the kingdom. And his listeners scratched their heads!

Thought for the Day: When can trying to fix a problem make it worse?

Romans 8:19-25

“For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” vss. 24-25

Hope is such a precious commodity. Really, it’s what keeps us going through tough times. Without it we’re tempted to throw in the towel and give up. Without it some even give up on living…they see no point in going on. As Paul describes hope in the letter to the Romans we are reminded that it has much in common with faith, which the book of Hebrews defines as “the conviction of things not seen.” That means that hoping for the coming kingdom is not the same as certainty. When we are certain of things there is no need to hope for them. And so we hope for God’s redemption of creation, but we don’t know for sure that it’s going to happen. Still followers of Jesus walk hopefully into the future, always trusting in God, but with no proof that what we’re hoping for will ever happen. And what’s even more amazing, we make this journey  with patient confidence, trusting that what Jesus promised is the truth. It’s Jesus’ promise that makes this more than mere speculation. In other words, our trust in the future is more than a “I sure hope so.” Not at all! Our hope is built on what Jesus has said and done. It’s anchored on the good news of resurrection. We don’t see it yet, but as Paul says, “we wait for it with patience.”

Thought for the Day: How much uncertainty is there in my faith?

Romans 8:12-18

“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.” vs. 18

Folks who have remained followers of Jesus for a lifetime are often admired for their faithfulness, for their steady commitment to a life of worship and service. There’s a kindness about them…and a gentleness that is enviable and somewhat contagious. In conversation they express gratitude for the blessings they have received from the hand of God. Of course this doesn’t mean that they will not also have stories of suffering…indeed, some of these faithful ones can tell tales of horrendous pain and loss in the course of their lifetimes. But amazingly, the suffering has never trumped the blessings! Like Paul they have known that walking in the way of Jesus never makes one immune to agony and betrayal. In fact for some the suffering comes as an affirmation of their chosen path…they’ve expected to be treated as Jesus was. And this isn’t some psychotic form of masochism…they don’t seek out rejection. In fact they’re happy when it doesn’t come and life brings affirmation and recognition. But suffering just isn’t their enemy. When it comes they see it as an opportunity to share the wounds of Jesus…some would even call it another of God’s blessings for them. With Paul they know that all the sufferings of this age will be swallowed up in the victory to come.

Thought for the Day: What’s my story of suffering like?

Psalm 86:14-17

“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” vs. 15

Again and again scripture reminds us that God is merciful and gracious…abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. It’s a constant theme, and one that we regularly need to hear. But often we crave even more assurance. It’s just not enough to hear that God loves us! Sometimes those words “God loves you” can sound like a pious platitude, a feeble attempt by friends to lift us from a dark mood. We smile a bit and say, “I know,” and then go on feeling sad and alone. What we really need from our friends is an authentic “I love you, and I think you are wonderful.” These are the words that can lift us and bring light to our inner darkness. It’s in this fashion that the ineffable love of God becomes incarnate for us and can actually be felt in our lives. Without the human connection the sublime descriptions of God’s goodness remain only words and fail to penetrate our hearts. When we’re feeling alone and isolated there’s nothing better than a hug or a touch from a dear friend. In that moment we are assured that we are not alone…and that God’s love is real. Without those intimate assurances this world remains a pretty lonely place, something the psalmist likely knew quite well!

Thought for the Day: What lifts me in my loneliness?

Psalm 86:11-13

“Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.” vs. 11

As the years roll by our changing bodies remind us that we are not immortal and that our time on this sweet sphere is limited. Of course we try to fight these changes with diets and exercise but birthdays keep coming…time moves inexorably on. In response some of us make “bucket lists” and, as old age draws near, do our best to start crossing things off. We travel the globe, seek adventure, start projects, take up new hobbies, make resolutions…always conscious that we’re on the clock and we don’t have time to waste. The psalmist too had a dream for the future, one that we would do well to put at the top of our lists. He wanted to walk in the way of the Lord…indeed, that was his highest aspiration, to have a single-hearted devotion to the truth of God. His plea resonates with us in our aging, especially when we realize that we’ve wasted a ton of time chasing ephemeral material goals, ones that we sadly discover have no lasting value. What better way is there to use our “golden” years than to deepen our spiritual connections with our Creator? We may not ever be able to get everything checked off our bucket lists, but we can learn to walk more completely in the way of Jesus. As we follow in his footsteps we discover truth and life…and our focused hearts are filled with love.

Thought for the Day: What’s on my bucket list?

Isaiah 44:6-8

“Do not fear, or be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? You are my witnesses! Is there any god besides me? There is no other rock; I know not one.” vs. 8

The people of Israel were captive in Babylon and the Babylonian gods were beginning to look pretty good. It seems that some Israelites were thinking about switching their loyalty to the winning team…like beaten down sports fans they were tired of losing! The prophet speaks to their fears as he declares once again that the God of Israel is the one and only god. The Lord who led them out of slavery in Egypt has not deserted them. In his words, “There is no other rock.” Of course that’s wasn’t the first time the people of God had wondered about such things…and as we see clearly in our time, it wasn’t the last. We look at crumbling cathedrals, ancient creeds, and dwindling denominations, and many wonder if maybe there isn’t some new god to worship…and there are certainly plenty to choose among. The cultural gods, those that promise wealth and health, are particularly attractive, while others are drawn to the American god, the one who promises to restore our nation to greatness. As we read Isaiah’s words we are reminded that there really is only one God, the God who was revealed most fully in Jesus, and that our one God, the one who was our help in ages past, is still the rock, and will be our hope for years to come.

Thought for the Day: When have I been tempted to switch gods?

Matthew 13:18-23

“But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” vs. 23

While we often call this the “Parable of the Sower” a good case can be made for calling it the “Parable of the Soils,” since that’s really the focus of Jesus’ interpretation. He implies that only about twenty-five per cent of those who hear the word really “get” it, an observation that is likely shared by most pastors. Indeed if we were to take a good look at most congregations, that twenty-five per cent figure might even seem high. And if we were to include in our reckoning all the baptized, those lower numbers are probably right on. The truth is that the church has a lot more drop-outs than committed followers of Jesus. But this doesn’t even seem to be discouraging to Jesus…and he doesn’t tell his disciples that they have to work harder to save people from the birds, rocks, or thorns. Instead he tells them that the minority who do “get” it will produce abundantly, far more than could even be imagined. We see that truth lived out every day. Those who hear the word and understand it bring light and life and love to everyone around them. They work for justice and peace, lift up the lowly, and provide assistance for the poor. They are the yeast that provides leaven for the whole earth.

Thought for the Day: Which of the four soil categories describes me?

Matthew 13:1-9

“And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up.” vss. 3-4

Jesus often used parables in his teaching ministry, mainly as a way to unpack the mysteries of the kingdom of God by using examples from everyday life. His intention was to clarify, but often people found his stories confusing and difficult. Many times even his disciples missed the point. We have the same problem, sometimes because we’re not familiar with the practices of rural Galilee. In this text there is an element of carelessness in the sowing that strikes us as strange. We can’t even imagine wasting seed by throwing it on a sidewalk or among rocks. In our experience seed planting is painstaking and precise. Modern farmers use their tractors’ computers to gauge the proper depth for their sowing. But those times were different and they didn’t have modern machinery. The sower simply cast the seeds on the surface of the ground and quite naturally some fell where it couldn’t grow or produce a crop. And perhaps that’s Jesus’ point! We simply don’t know where the message of the gospel is going to take root and bear fruit. Therefore its proclamation has to be wildly extravagant or even profligate. As a result we are often disheartened in our evangelizing…particularly when it seems our energies are wasted. But sometimes the word we love bears fruit…and in those moments we are overjoyed.

Thought for the Day: Times my witness has seemingly been futile.