2 Thessalonians 2:1-5

“As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed…to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.” vss. 1-2

When Paul first wrote to the Thessalonians he was confident that the Lord would return quickly, and that all believers would be gathered to him. Because this was a common teaching in the early congregations, believers began to actively prepare themselves for that Day. And when the return seemed to be delayed many became concerned. It seems that everyone had an opinion, and many folks had become shaken or alarmed. (If they had been around, even the late night talk show hosts would have been talking about it and doing their best to stir up controversy.) Because a sizable contingent was saying that the Day of the Lord had already arrived, Paul had to write another letter to curb the enthusiasm. He tells them that a few things had to happen first, and since the Lawless One had not yet arrived, it would be a while before Jesus returned. It’s interesting how such speculation has hung on in the Church. Even though 2000 years have passed the subject of the Second Coming still sparks controversy, and even now some people are looking for the Lawless One. While it’s tempting to join the fray, it’s probably best for believers to focus on being the presence of the living Christ and not worry about the future.

Thought for the Day: What is the Second Coming?

Psalm 17:6-9

“Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me.” vss. 8-9

Many of us are very aware of the brokenness of our world, and in these latter days some  have even begun to believe that we’re living in dangerous times. One of the symptoms of that fear has been the increasing sale of guns in our country, with 72 percent of gun owners saying they need their weapons for protection. Evidently they’re anticipating a breakdown in civil society and a corresponding need for personal defense. The psalmist obviously didn’t have access to a Smith & Wesson but instead relied upon God. His words have a poetic quality to them, “Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,” and they sound beautiful to our ears. But we still wonder whether God is a reliable defense when times get really tough. Some doubt that God can protect us from attackers or predators, and even followers of Jesus are thinking of getting their AK-47’s. Such are the times we live in! But there are still those who cast their lot with the psalmist. In their minds guns can never heal the brokenness of humanity or bring in Jesus’ promised Peaceable Kingdom, so they continue to trust God as their refuge and strength. May their number be multiplied!

Thought for the Day: Under what conditions would you shoot someone?

Psalm 17:1-5

“If you try my heart, if you visit me by night, if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me;   my mouth does not transgress.” vs. 3

This psalmist is asking God for protection against enemies and prefaces his request with a claim of complete personal righteousness. Evidently he believed that his purity would enhance his chances for vindication and victory. His request reflects his belief in the doctrine of rewards, the conviction that those who live good and decent lives will receive God’s favor and blessings. That’s not only an ancient belief, one that is found throughout our scriptures, it also resonates with our contemporary convictions about justice. Many of us are also convinced that there is a direct relationship between sowing and reaping, and we can certainly find bible verses to back our reasoning. The problem is that life is more complicated than this and doesn’t always reflect what we would like it to be. Sometimes, many times in fact, we do not get what we deserve and our heartfelt prayers go unanswered even when we’ve lived impeccable lives. Because we are broken people living in a broken world, we will very likely experience undeserved pain and suffering. That’s just the way it is! But that does not mean that we have been abandoned or are being punished. God is always with us in our unpredictable world, and we will receive strength and comfort in every circumstance, not because we deserve it, but purely because God is good!

Thought for the Day: What does God find in your heart?

Job 19:23-27a

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God…” vss. 25-26

The major portion of the book of Job consists of a series of dialogues between Job and three “friends.” In these conversations Job steadfastly defends himself against the accusations of his visitors, always insisting that he has done nothing wrong, and challenging what is known as the “doctrine of rewards,” the popular belief that humans always get what they deserve. Periodically Job expresses a desire for an “umpire,” someone who will stand with him in his defense before God. These few verses express that yearning in a way that seems to anticipate Jesus and that offers hope for the future. We know what that desire is like! We live in a world in which the innocent suffer and the wicked prosper. People regularly experience injustice as they put in their time on earth, and many look forward to renewal and restoration. People of faith have come to understand that God is a very present source of hope and healing in times of suffering, and that every day can offer a fresh start, not because we are so good, but because God is good, and Jesus really is our living Redeemer. Our brokenness is not a death sentence and will not endure forever!

Thought for the Day: Why do some people believe that they deserve whatever happens to them?

Luke 6:22-31

“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” vss. 27-28

After proclaiming a series of blessings and woes to the crowd on the plain, Jesus goes on in his role as a wisdom teacher to give some instruction on how his followers should live from day to day. As we might expect his directions depart from what the rabbis usually taught. He doesn’t just spout the usual proverbs about doing good and avoiding foolish behavior. In fact, what he told his disciples has been routinely dismissed as being the height of foolishness. We know very well that he said these things, but we can’t believe that he really meant them. We live in a dualistic culture where we’re encouraged to single out the “bad guys” and do all we can to destroy them. In fact that’s one of the primary messages of those involved in the current “war on crime.” We’re being taught daily to hate those who oppose us and to abuse those who disagree with us. It’s a popular message because it feeds our basest instincts–but it’s certainly not what Jesus lived and taught. He said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” And believe it or not, through the centuries many of his followers have done exactly that. It’s a radical, life-changing way to live, and  its practitioners are changing the world! 

Thought for the Day: How sincere am I as I pray for my enemies?

Luke 6:20-23

“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” vs. 21

We’re used to hearing Matthew’s beatitudes as the gospel for All Saints’ Sunday, but this year we get Luke’s version–and there are some differences. For one thing Luke doesn’t bother spiritualizing Jesus’ words. He doesn’t mention the “poor in spirit” or those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” For Luke it’s the poor and the hungry who are blessed, and one day they will be fed, and even better the weeping will laugh! Sometimes we forget that according to the gospels, suffering is not something to be avoided, but rather a blessing to be embraced. For people like us who will move mountains to keep from experiencing any kind of pain or suffering this is a strange notion. But Jesus knew that suffering draws us into the community of saints better than anything else. One of the great truths of human existence is that we are not alone in our suffering. Poverty, hunger, and weeping can draw us together. Of course God does not intend that we remain in pain, that’s why Jesus attaches a promise to the blessing. We will live in the kingdom of God, we will feast with all the saints, and we’ll lose ourselves in joy and celebration. Our loved ones are experiencing that new life now, and as we remember them, we rejoice at the peace that is theirs.

Thought for the Day: For what do I hunger?

Psalm 149

“Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples…” vss.6-7

Some passages of scripture speak of God’s people engaging in holy war. We see that most clearly in the many stories of the occupation and conquest of Canaan. The armies of Israel are said to have brutally slaughtered the people who were already living in the land. Later on, even after Judah had been defeated in battle, the religious leaders remembered the glorious battles of the past and songs of triumph were composed imagining future victories by Cod’s chosen ones. It’s always tricky for followers of Jesus to interpret the violent imagery of our scriptures, and there are some who use these passages to encourage the new militancy of our country. It’s important for us to remember that the earliest Christians, the ones most familiar with the teachings of Jesus, embraced pacifism, and questioned whether it was fitting for them to serve in the army. While it’s become obvious that there is a need for military forces in a broken world, we make a huge mistake if we believe that Jesus would encourage his followers to take up two-edged swords to punish the nations. In their fallenness humans may glorify killing, but such behaviors have nothing to do with the Peaceable Kingdom of Jesus Christ. In that Kingdom God is praised and glorified, not by power and might, but by unconditional love and sacrificial service.

Thought for the Day: What is Holy War?

Ephesians 1:15-23

“And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” vss, 22-23

From early on the Church has identified itself as the Body of Christ, and has understood this not just metaphorically, but literally. We are actually the living presence of Christ in the world, and it is through us that the ministry of Jesus Christ continues. In recent years this teaching has gained momentum and the slogan “God’s Work, Our Hands” has become a regular feature of the annual mission plan in many congregations. But Paul not only talks of the Church as the Body of Christ, he also says that Christ is its head, an idea that adds a new dimension to the equation. In fact, to think of Christ as our head is to bring the things that we do into line with what Jesus sees. And what does Jesus see? Well, with scripture as our guide we know pretty clearly that he had a passion for the “least of these,” a phrase that sums up our mission better than anything else. The hungry, the naked, the prisoners, the strangers, and the sick are still present, and Jesus is still seeing them, and our call as his hands and feet is to continue caring for their needs. It’s not glamorous work, and some days it’s a grind, but the results are life-changing, both for us and those we serve.

Thought for the Day: To whom will I be Chirst today?

Ephesians 1:11-23

“In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit;” vs. 13

“You have been sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” We hear these words regularly in the baptism rituals of our congregations. They are said following the washing with water and are a precious reminder of the grace that has been poured out upon us through our Lord Jesus. The cross then, etched on our foreheads in that baptism, is an indelible mark of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives. It can’t be rubbed off or washed away and remains until the close of our days. Some people make the sign of the cross many times each day. More than a habit for most, it’s a sign of faith and a connection to God’s sustaining grace. Because the cross has become ubiquitous in our culture it has been adopted by many as a piece of jewelry. Often such use is tasteful and a testimony to faith, but when the cross is encrusted with diamonds and hanging on a massive chain, the connection to Jesus is less obvious. We can be grateful that the very best reminder of our baptismal cross comes in the retracing that takes place on Ash Wednesday. We carry the mark of the cross every day, but on that day the invisible becomes visible.

Thought for the Day: When do I make the sign of the cross? 

Daniel 7:15-18

“But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom for ever—for ever and ever.” vs. 18

Daniel reported that his spirit had been troubled and that his dreams had terrified him. In other words he had tossed and turned in bed much like we do after an evening of watching the events of the day recounted in all their gory detail. And if you have the nerve to take a deep dive into Youtube videos and Instagram posts it’s possible to get a dose of sleep inhibiting garbage that would have horrified even Daniel. Oh what pains we impose on our serenity-seeking spirits! But Daniel got good news from his dream psychologist. Not only was the weirdness explained, he got amazing assurance for the future. The saints of God will inherit a kingdom that will last for ever and ever. We may not have the same world view as did Daniel, but a similar promise has been given to all who live in Christ. As Paul wrote so beautifully in Romans 8, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Those comforting words may not be much, but for people of faith, they are our best hope when dreams get really bad.

Thought for the Day: How do I deal with bad dreams?