Isaiah 11:6-10

“The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.” vs. 6

Isaiah’s picture of the peaceable kingdom captures our hearts with its powerful and pointed imagery. Imagine a world, he says, where these unlikely pairings can live in peace and harmony. That’s how it could be, he claims. No, more than that, that’s how it will be! Scoffers are quick to say such a world is an impossibility; lions and wolves will never become vegetarians and leopards can never change their spots. But that’s not Isaiah’s point! He’s simply saying in the most picturesque way that some day things are going to be different. The rancor and vitriolic hatred that divide humans will pass out of mind and we will have a world dominated by mercy and love. The key to the change is in the phrase, “a little child shall lead them.” Jesus implied the same thing when he took the child in his arms and told his disciples, “unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” We have become so jaundiced with our constant bickering and beastly behaviors. Perhaps it really is time to look to children as our guides to new ways of relating. We’ll be seeing many examples of their hopeful innocence as Christmas approaches. They really are the true believers…and in their world wolves and lambs can be best buddies.

Thought for the Day: What can I learn from watching children?

Isaiah 11:1-5

“The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” vs. 2

Isaiah had great hopes for the coming child, the shoot from the stump of Jesse, the one who restore the glory of Israel. This child would bear the stamp of God and transform the world. “The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him…” he wrote, and we echo these words as we bring children to the baptismal font. Following the confession of faith and the pouring of the water, hands are laid on the child’s head with a prayer for the coming of the Spirit. “Pour out your Holy Spirit, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” This is indeed our fervent prayer, that every baptized child would bear the stamp of God and be an agent of transformation in our world. This is our calling as followers of Jesus. We’ve not just joined a religious club, we’ve been touched by the spirit of the Lord, and through us the world is being changed for good. Advent gives daily opportunities for reflection on that precious and crucial commissioning. It may be that we’ve drifted away from the faith into which we were baptized. Self-examination can give us our bearings and guide our return…and that’s precisely the reason for this season!

Thought for the Day: What do I see when I examine my life?

 Matthew 24:42-44

“Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” vs. 42

It’s hard to believe that Advent is already here and that today’s worship will include the lighting of the first candle on the wreath. Before we know it Christmas will be upon us…if it hasn’t already invaded our homes and neighborhoods! For followers of Jesus this is a meditative time of the year, some weeks to reflect and think about our need for change…and maybe even come up with a concrete plan to walk more completely in the Way. As the season begins we are encouraged to keep awake as we move into the future. There are going to be so many distractions in the days ahead. There’s shopping and baking and decorating and parties…the list goes on and on. It will be hard to keep our focus on the coming Lord. Yet he is on the way! He came once to Bethlehem and he comes again and again to our lives…and he always manages to surprise. If we truly want to experience him we’ll need to stay alert. It could be a good question for our evening prayers: “Where did I see the face of Jesus today?” And if we missed him today, he’ll be sure to come tomorrow! The coming Lord never misses a day! It’s only when we’re sleeping that we fail to make a connection.

Thought for the Day: Where did I connect with the coming Lord today?

Matthew 24:36-41

“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” vs. 36

Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do what the apocalyptic passages that are a part of our community’s scripture. It’s obvious that they arise out of difficult times and are an attempt to give direction to disciples who are wondering about their survival as the last days approach. They paint a picture of a tumultuous future and give warnings to those who might be led astray by false teachers. Many Christians debate endlessly about the predictions hidden in the symbolic images and some even claim that world-wide catastrophes are right around the corner. The truth is that no one knows when any future events are going to happen…Jesus is pretty clear about that in his apocalyptic sayings. The only thing we can know for sure is that endings are going to come. There are global disasters out there waiting and we all know that one day each of us is going to have our own personal ending. Again, we don’t know when that’s going to be. The big question is, “How are we going to live in the meantime?” One feature of apocalyptic is the word of hope that is always present. One day, no matter what tribulation comes our way, God will gain the ultimate victory over all enemies, including death. Our future is secure.

Thought for the Day: What lies ahead for humanity in this century?

Romans 13:11-14

“Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” vs. 14

Today is Black Friday and we are being urged and encouraged to spend as though there is no tomorrow. Indeed it is implied that the well-being of our entire national economy depends on our profligate behavior, on our gratifying the desires of the flesh. It’s more than ironic then, that in just two days we’ll be lighting the first candle on our Advent wreaths and thinking about the importance of repentance and restraint as we prepare for the coming of the Lord. The juxtaposition of these days with their contrary themes is a vivid reminder of the everyday challenges faced by people of faith. To put it simply, how is possible for followers of Jesus to live in the world, but not of the world? Does that mean our purchases today should be limited to blue and pink candles for our wreaths? Or if we participate in the cultural orgy of spending, can we cancel that out with sincere repentance on Sunday? While those questions may seem silly, they do represent a real dilemma. With our culture’s fixation on excess how can we strike a balance with the scriptural admonitions to live simply and frugally? There are no easy answers and certainly no rules to follow, but certainly it’s a matter for meditation…and we’ll have plenty of time for that during Advent!

Thought for the Day: What do I need to do to get ready for Advent?

John 6:25-35

“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” vs. 35

While the fourth Thursday of November was established by Congress as the national day of Thanksgiving in 1941, the American roots of the holiday are most often traced to the pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation, who celebrated their survival with a feast in the autumn of 1620. All these years later families will gather today for traditional food and drink and perhaps offer prayers of thanksgiving. We do have much to be thankful for! We enjoy an amazing standard of living and material blessings abound, as evidenced by the creeping influence and allure of Black Friday. And even with its faults and many inequalities our country offers freedoms and opportunities that are envied around the world. And for followers of Jesus there are still more reasons to give thanks. He says to us, “I am the bread of life,” and from his hand comes spiritual food and drink that satisfy our famished and thirsty souls. The meal we get from him is better than our grandmother’s feast of turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy, better even than her finest pecan pie. In him we will never be hungry or thirsty again…and thanksgiving will be our daily prayer.

Thought for the Day: For what am I giving thanks today?

Psalm 122:6-9

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.’” vss. 6-7

We have grown accustomed to hearing stories of terror and division coming from Jerusalem, tales of riots, shooting, and suicide bombings. With that as a backdrop it’s more than ironic that the word, “Jerusalem” means “city of peace.” The pilgrims of ancient days knew that and fervently offered prayers that the city would live up to its name, that there would be peace within her walls and security for all who came to worship. Given the current situation it is more than appropriate to continue those prayers. Three great world religions have strong connections within the towers of Jerusalem’s walls. For Jews it is the site of their ancient temple, the holiest place on earth, the navel of the universe. For Muslims it has the Dome of the Rock, perhaps their most ancient shrine, the spot from which Mohammed ascended during his night journey into heaven. For Christians it contains the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the place where Jesus died and was buried. For centuries pilgrims from all over the world have flocked to those holy places to offer prayers and seek inspiration. During the best of times those believers have treated one another with dignity and respect, but there have also been horrible clashes and countless murders. These days there is much uncertainty and prayers for peace have never been needed more.

Thought for the Day: What is the best hope for peace in Jerusalem?

Psalm 122:1-5

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” vs. 1

The Hebrew scriptures describe three annual pilgrimage festivals during which the faithful walked or rode to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the temple. As these crowds of pilgrims ascended to the city, singing psalms of praise to the Lord, their hearts would be light and full of joy. They were fulfilling the demands of the law and they were thrilled by the experience. The practice of traveling to Jerusalem for the festivals came to an end with the destruction of the temple, but early Christians continued to come together weekly for singing, prayers, and teaching, a tradition that has persisted to the present. For many the communal worship experience is a highlight of the week. People take delight in seeing one another and offering praise and thanksgiving to God…and sometimes they’re even happy to hear the sermons! This is a time to confess sins, feast together at the table of the Lord, and hear once again the glorious good news of forgiveness. For followers of Jesus worship is a glad and reverent occasion, and we come, not to be entertained, but to give public testimony to our faith…and to be spiritually recharged for our full-time ministry in the world. It truly is the central feature of our life together.

Thought for the Day: How glad am I when I hear the words, “Let’s go to church!”?

Isaiah 2:1-5

“He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” vs. 4

What a vision Isaiah had for his people! His words have resonated in the hearts of God-fearing people for thousands of years and capture the deepest desires of every follower of Jesus. This is the world we dream of, a time when Veteran’s Days will be a distant memory and military academies will stand empty, an age without terrorism, suicide bombings, or drone strikes. True, it’s hard to conceive of such a possibility, indeed many will call this fanciful or even unpatriotic thinking, an idea to be resisted when our country’s economy depends on massive military spending. There are even many who believe that war is a blessing, an opportunity for young men and women to sacrifice their lives for a greater good. But how sad it would be for our world if Isaiah’s vision were lost! It would mean the victory of darkness, the abandonment of hope, and the ultimate annihilation of humanity. We have been created for goodness’ sake, to live together in harmony and savor God’s bountiful blessings. If our better selves are ever going to triumph, the vision of “swords into plowshares” must be kept alive!

Thought for the Day: Why can’t nations seem to live at peace with each other?

Luke 23:39-43

“He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’” vs. 43

Followers of Jesus trust that death is not the end and that their journey of discipleship extends beyond the space and time bound existence of this world. Since words do not exist to adequately describe that new life, each person will likely use one of the many metaphors available from scripture to provide an image for their yearning. For some death is like a sleep from which they will be awakened by trumpets on the last day to greet their returning Lord. While there is a strong appeal to the credal orthodoxy of such a view, many others prefer the immediacy promised in Luke’s words, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” The comfort of this promise is undeniable. Death is such a cold and relentless enemy and to claim immediate victory in its presence brings enormous peace and blessed relief. And surely we are not wrong in our assertion! Our loved ones are with Jesus! We can’t explain that in rational, scientific terms but we know in our hearts and in our minds that it’s true. There is no more pain, no more tears, no more stress or anxiety, no more depression….only peace! Beautiful sweet peace! We can debate about what happens when we die…it’s natural to try to understand. But when words fail us, the truth remains! There is rest and peace with King Jesus, now and forever!

Thought for the Day: What is my favorite image of heaven?