Romans 8:7-11

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.” vs. 11

Some years ago a movie called “Dead Man Walking” portrayed the last days of a condemned killer as he appealed his conviction. The term has since been applied in any number of instances to describe the state of humans who have lost hope for the future as they continue to live in the present. Sadly, there are many who fall into that category. They live with a dead core even as they present smiling faces to those around them. There is no vitality…no energy…no hope…no life. Such persons can be contrasted with those who struggle with incurable diseases but who do so with a sense of joy and a zest for living that belies their physical condition. We’re uplifted by their presence and marvel at their spirit. What’s the difference? Often the answer is unmistakable and is related to their faith. Such persons have put their trust in God and it’s the Spirit of God dwelling within them that gives hope and vitality. They know that there is nothing in all creation, not even death, that can separate them from the love of God, and that conviction gives them the courage to live each day with spirit and dignity…and we marvel at their witness.

Thought for the Day: When have I felt like a “dead man walking”?  

Romans 8:1-6

“To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” vs. 6

The fleshly part of life can never be escaped…it’s a part of our environment and a big part of who we are. It’s necessary and important…and can be a deadly distraction! The flesh offers instant gratification through material gain and satisfaction of desires, but it never can give the satisfaction that our souls crave and desire. It can never bring lasting peace. But that’s not the message we hear from the world. Day after day our senses are bombarded with invitations to indulge; to dress in a particular way, live in a bigger home, eat tasty foods, satisfy sexual desires, and drink away our sadness. We’re told that fitness is the answer, that being thin can win friends, that winning a lottery will make life easy, and that if all else fails, there are drugs to take away the pain. And millions and millions of people drink the kool-aid! Those who are in Christ know better! They know their fleshly selves but they also know that the road to peace comes through the Spirit. As they live in this world with all of its delights they will focus on their relationship with God through Jesus. In him they learn to deal with imperfections and to reject the idolatries of culture. In him they know there will be no condemnation for falling short, that forgiveness and fresh starts are the order of the day. And most important of all, in him they are truly alive.

Thought for the Day: Where have I set my mind?

Psalm 65:9-13

“You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it.” vs. 9

It’s possible to look at the earth and use science to explain how it has gradually evolved into the beautiful productive planet that we call home. And it’s true…there is an explanation for every change and development in our environment, a natural cause for everything that brings us such delight. And because this is true, some have then logically concluded that there is no need for God in our reasoning or our thinking. Still, there are countless others, including scientists, who say that this is only part of the story, and that much more remains to be said. They point to the interdependence of all things on earth and beyond, the subtle connections that bind every plant and animal together, the amazing provision for the mind-boggling proliferation of species. This is what the psalmist saw as he described the world more than two thousand years ago. He didn’t know all the scientific stuff, but he believed beyond any doubt that the providing hand of God lay behind the abundance that we enjoy. Such knowledge provides the impetus for careful, mindful living on the part of humanity. Delicate balances can easily be upset and the environment badly damaged. And even though we know the earth will certainly survive anything that humans do to it, it would be nice if we could continue to enjoy it.

Thought for the Day: Why is earth such an amazing place?  

Isaiah 55:12-13

“Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” vs. 13

Day by day as the water of the life-giving word of God seeps into our lives we are being transformed by the re-creative power of the Holy Spirit. The effects may be minimal at first…a tiny blossom of goodness at an unexpected time, an outburst of love that goes beyond the flesh…but over time we actually become for others the presence of the living Christ. We abandon competition in relationships and discontinue our efforts to dominate in favor of a powerful gentleness that warms hearts and changes minds. Isaiah describes this change in natural terms: instead of the thorn comes up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle. Of course the change in us is never so complete as we might like…we remain sinners even as we are transformed. Perhaps the best we can hope for is to be a “Myrtle Brier,” a combination of saint and sinner, but a delightful inspiration nonetheless, and maybe even an everlasting sign of God’s mercy and grace. Some of us have been privileged to know “Myrtle Briers” and they have become for us fountains of wisdom and love. They bless us with their presence…and it’s a blessing that comes straight from the heart of God.

Thought for the Day: Who might be a “Myrtle Brier” in my life?

Isaiah 55:10-11

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;” vss. 10-11a

All of us would probably agree that there is power in words. We see them hurled back and forth on the national scene, tweeted and published in a never-ending stream. We use them to belittle our enemies and lift up our friends. Often these words are quick hitting and shallow, chosen for shock value and immediate effect, with little concern for long-term consequences. The prophet Isaiah focuses on the power of a particular word, the one that issues forth from the mouth of God, and he describes it by comparing it to rain and snow. This word, which we also know as the word of grace that became incarnate in Jesus, has creative and fruitful power. It seeps gently and deeply into the core of our being and daily provides the nourishment for our fruitful and productive living. Without this loving word our lives remain a barren and unproductive landscape. With it our lives become lush plantations filled with all the fruits of the Spirit. We hear this word from the mouths of preachers and friends, see it in the lives of saints, and read it in our scriptures. Ultimately we learn to speak it, and can even become for others a source of Living Water.

Thought for the Day:  What word has produced the most fruit in me?

Matthew 11:25-30

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” vs. 28

What an amazing invitation from Jesus! “Come to me, all of you that are weary…, and I will give you rest.” Through the centuries sinners have heard hope in these words, hope that can calm their anxious hearts and wipe away their burdens of guilt. And it works! It really does! His voice is so gentle, and he offers rest, not condemnation. It’s such a contrast to the way of the world. Some of us have heard nothing but loud, demeaning, and discounting words all of our lives, even from our families. We end up with crushed spirits, low self esteem, and a sense that we have little worth or value. And even when we try to climb out of that pit of despair there always seems to be someone or something that pushes us back down. We know that sin dwells in our innermost beings and sometimes that’s the only part of us that seems real. Even when friends try to cheer us up by offering words of affirmation we only laugh and say, “You don’t know what I’m really like.” And then we hear Jesus’ voice. He knows our secrets and loves us anyway. He knows our guilt and offers unconditional forgiveness. He hugs us close. Our tears stream down our faces and he wipes them away. “Come to me,” he whispers. “Stay with me, and you will find peace.” Oh, what a friend we have in Jesus!

Thought for the Day: Where have I heard the inviting voice of Jesus?

Matthew 11:16-19

“the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” vs. 19

Jesus wasn’t at all like John the Baptist in his habits or lifestyle. He didn’t live in the wilderness or worry about dietary restrictions, and he certainly wasn’t picky about his companions. He called tax-collectors and sinners his friends and he even hung with wealthy folks. And he got criticized for it…just as people criticized John for his abstinence. We live in that same kind of hypercritical environment. A goodly number of people are always looking for flaws and love to pick away at what they perceive to be weak spots in others. Those who become involved in ministry can expect to be scrutinized, and not always in the most favorable ways. Quickly they learn that not everyone will be happy with them, and sometimes the critiques are particularly cruel. It’s a cliche, but always the truth, “We can’t please everyone.” And since we can’t, we should be content with following the way of Jesus and eat and drink what we wish, and be a friend to sinners. And if people are uncomfortable with our choices we can always remind them that Jesus was killed by the religious folks and it was the sinners who mourned him. What a blessing it is to be a sinner…and know that Jesus is our best friend!

Thought for the Day: Why do people love to criticize?

Romans 7:18-25a

“Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” vss. 24-25a

As a faithful Jew Paul was fully aware of God’s commandments as contained in the law…and he believed these commandments to be holy and just and true. He was determined to live in obedience to them…but he couldn’t do all the good that he wanted to do. Simply put, his spirit was willing but his flesh was weak. And ultimately his efforts to overcome evil with good wore him out and left him depressed and discouraged. He felt like a failure, a real wretch of a person! Most of us know that feeling well! We’re plagued by fleshly desires and are frustrated by our inability to do the good that we want so badly to do. Paul found his consolation in faith…and so do we. Our hope is built on the righteousness of Jesus and not our own. We remain sinners…that is a part of our identity…but we are also redeemed and righteous children of God, and it’s in that identity that we find our hope and salvation. As we daily die to our sin we are daily raised up to be wonderfully free and beautiful saints. And as saints we are capable of the most sacrificial and loving behavior imaginable. And so we live on, always conscious of the sin at our core, but always rejoicing at the surprising goodness that is the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Thought for the Day: When can I expect to be free of sin?

Romans 7:12-17

“I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” vs. 15

Of all the things written by Paul, these words probably resonate most completely with our own experience. We see their truth in every area of our experience, whether it be in sport or in our personal relationships. For example, every serious golfer knows the elusiveness of the perfect swing, even when we know exactly what it is that we want to do. “Don’t leave this putt short,” we whisper to ourselves, and then proceed to do exactly that. And it’s not just once! It happens again and again through an entire lifetime of golfing. And think of the times we said or done things that have hurt our beloved companions! We don’t mean to do it. On the contrary a loving spouse wants nothing more than to speak words of affirmation…and what do we do? Over and over we discount and annoy our partners. In every aspect of daily living we do exactly the wrong thing. Dieters eat too much. Alcoholics drink. Again and again we seem intent on sabotaging our actions and relationships. And what’s the problem? Paul says it’s all because of sin, that cancerous presence that lies embedded in our flesh. Because of sin we are unable to understand our own actions or even do anything to correct them. Whether we want to or not we keep on doing the very things we hate…and that’s just the way it is with us!

Thought for the Day: What’s the most maddening thing I do?

Psalm 145:11-14

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.” vs. 13

It’s easy to get discouraged with the never-ending shenanigans of Washington and the never-realized promises of politicians. Somehow things never turn out the way they’re supposed to and justice seems only a dream. Right now it seems we’re at an impasse and governments struggle to function at all. Seemingly implacable differences have divided us and it’s almost impossible to see resolution in the future. In these times, when our trust of leaders is minimal and the truth is hard to discern, the psalmist reminds us that God’s kingdom is among us and will remain for all generations. It’s that kingdom that Jesus announced as he began his ministry and it’s in that kingdom we can experience the community that the world cannot give, and know the peace that transcends human understanding. In that kingdom we are bound together by love and nourished by the Spirit of God. It’s here that the Risen Christ reigns and grace abounds. We wish sometimes that this kingdom were well established and more visible, and so we regularly pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Praise God for the many times this prayer is answered and we see signs of God’s faithful rule and presence in our own lives and in the lives of those around us!

Thought for the Day: Where did I experience the Kingdom today?