Luke 23:33-38

“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing.” vs. 34

Once Jesus had been arrested there wasn’t much doubt about what would happen. There would be a trial of sorts but Jesus would have no defense attorney and he certainly showed no inclination to speak on his own behalf. Religious leaders brought the charges and trusted informers testified against the defendant. Put simply, the system was rigged! There could be only one outcome, a slow and tortuous death at the hands of the Roman occupiers. As Jesus hung on that cross, Luke records that he was thinking of only one thing, he wanted forgiveness for those who were torturing him, because, “they do not know what they are doing.” Those are amazing words, so different from the “get even” attitude of so many who claim to be his followers. Occasionally we’ll hear stories of those who have taken the words of Jesus to heart, and who offer forgiveness to the murderers of their loved ones. Often such persons are regarded as anomalies, and sometimes their generosity in forgiving is mocked. In reality, their act of forgiveness is exactly what should be expected of Christians. It’s what makes our faith different…and is the only hope for our vengeance seeking world. Indeed, it’s the only hope for us, because we really don’t know what we’re doing either.!

Thought for the Day: What does the Lord’s Prayer say about forgiveness?

Colossians 1:15-20

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;” vs. 15

During his life here on earth Jesus was known as the carpenter’s son from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. During the time of his ministry there were some who began to think that he might be the Christ, the long-awaited messiah. After his death and resurrection it didn’t take long for that idea to become well established and he was most often referred to as Jesus Christ. One way of describing what happened is to say that “the Jesus of history became the Christ of faith.” In the last couple of centuries many biblical scholars have attempted to reverse that process and get back to the authentic historical Jesus. Their work has been interesting and informative…and we’ve been drawn closer to Jesus of Nazareth. But it would be tragic if such efforts caused us to neglect the Christ of faith as described in the “Christ Hymn” of Colossians. Jesus wasn’t only the man from Galilee, he was the Word become flesh, the “image of the invisible God.” No one has ever seen God! By faith we affirm that in Jesus God was revealed. We study scripture, not just to discover an historical figure, but to encounter God. In fact, if it weren’t for the birth of the Christ of faith, we would never even have heard of Jesus of Nazareth.

Thought for the Day:  Who am I more drawn to, Jesus or the Christ?

Colossians 1:11-14

“May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience…” vs. 11

In the greeting of his letter to the congregation in Colossae the apostle prayed that they would have both strength and patience, two qualities that have been important for followers of Jesus in every time and place…and are now crucial in our own. All of us are plagued by a sense of impotence in different stages of our lives. Challenges come at us from every direction; each day seems to bring unwelcome surprises. As we struggle to cope, our inadequacies and weaknesses are exposed and we ultimately realize that on our own we cannot overcome. In those moments the gospel reminds us that we are not alone, that there is ever-present strength in the power of God. There is, of course, no way that we can understand this, and to a skeptic these are only words.. but it really is the truth. There is power in the universe beyond our own will…and that power can sustain us in our weakness. And more than this, that same power brings enduring patience for the future. The same God who has given us the strength for this day will be present for us tomorrow…and for all the tomorrows beyond. No matter how bad we may feel, no matter how weak…we are going to be okay.

Thought for the Day: What is giving me joy today?

Psalm 46:8-11

“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” vs. 10

The psalmist advises stillness in the midst of turmoil and confusion, but not mindless silence. The quiet time he has in mind might be considered mindful meditation, those precious moments of rest that come when we reaffirm our full confidence in God. For some it’s helpful to find an environment where they can be free of distractions and can focus fully on the Divine Presence. The Desert Fathers found such places out in the wilderness away from cities and crowds. Some of them lived in caves with bare necessities and spent years in their interior contemplations. In our time it’s possible to go away for weekend silent retreats or spend time in monasteries or convents. When that can’t happen most of us count ourselves lucky to find even a few minutes in a day for serious reflection and prayer. We need those reflective moments most during those times when we feel as though we’re running out of hope and there seems to be no plan or purpose to the chaos we see all around. In the intense helplessness of that struggle, at the moment of greatest discouragement, perhaps the best direction we can get is what psalmist offers, “Be still, and know that I am God!” Others might put it this way, “Take a deep breath, count slowly to four, and let God be God.”

Thought for the Day: When has God reassured me during silence?

Psalm 46:1-7

“Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.” vss. 2-3

In recent years we’ve seen the country of Haiti devastated first by an earthquake, and then more recently, by a hurricane. Thousands of people have died and countless more have lost their homes. Calamities like this touch our hearts and there is always an outpouring of support and relief from around the world. And the disasters keep coming! Every year there are earthquakes in diverse places; and hurricanes, tornadoes, epidemics, fires, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, floods, and blizzards seem to come with increasing regularity. Since insurance companies label many such awful events as “acts of God” we can even begin to see them as punishments and wonder if God has it in for us. The psalmist seems to understand that our planet is alive and not dead and that because it’s a living organism there is bound to be tumult on the land and in the sea. In the midst of that turmoil, because God is our refuge and strength, we are advised not to be afraid. God is not out to get us but stands with us in every time of need. We see signs of that divine presence in the awesome work of the rescue workers who invariably show up in moments of crisis to assist and serve. God is indeed a very present help in our time of trouble.

Thought for the Day: What is “compassion fatigue”?

Jeremiah 23:1-6

“I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.” vs. 4

Jeremiah believed that the kings of Israel and Judah had been hopelessly corrupt and that their malfeasance had resulted in the destruction and the scattering of the population. He looked forward to new kings who would bring back the exiles and execute justice and righteousness among them. He obviously believed that strong and faithful leaders were essential to the well-being of any group of people…and we would have to agree. After all, we’ve spent the better part of the last two years, and billions of dollars, trying to find such leaders for our country…and we still don’t know what kind of shepherds they will be. Will they guide us with wisdom and compassion…or will they be more interested in fleecing us? What a blessing it is when leaders on any level offer their followers green pastures and still waters. It’s especially what we want from our pastors and bishops, from all who lead in our communities of faith. The wildernesses of our world can be scary and foreboding places, and our journeys fraught with danger. It’s so easy to wander and go astray. Thank God for shepherds who have learned their craft from the Good Shepherd and who are willing even to lay down their lives for their sheep.

Thought for the Day: Who do I look to as my earthly shepherd?

Luke 21:12-19

“But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.” vss. 18-19

As Luke recounts the apocalyptic words of Jesus his vivid descriptions were not imaginary. These scenes of betrayal and arrest were no prediction; this is what the first century readers of his gospel were actually experiencing. And through all the persecution they took the remembered reassurances to heart…and they endured, trusting that not a hair of their heads would perish, even if they were martyred. As we read these verses we’re likely to wonder about our willingness to continue in faith in the face of persecution. Even today, in parts of our world, followers of Jesus are being put to death for what th34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing.ey believe. What if we faced that degree of opposition? Would we be known for our endurance? Or would our opponents not even know that we are Christian? And if we were arrested, would there be evidence to convict us? Of course, in the absence of persecution we can only speculate about how we would respond. Undoubtedly, some would quickly renounce faith…it wouldn’t even be a big deal for them. But others would hang in there and even use the opposition as an opportunity for testimony. Not even threats of death would be enough to divert them from the Way of Jesus. And with their endurance will come salvation!

Thought for the Day: What might cause me to renounce my faith?

Luke 21:5-11

“They asked him, ‘Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?’” vs. 7

Futurists can make a good living by writing books about coming calamities and the likelihood of their occurrence…and they don’t even have to be right! No one ever seems to do any fact-checking and in a decade or so they can just write another book. They’ve figured out that history is boring to most folks and what really sells are prophecies and apocalyptic visions. Some disciples had the notion that Jesus was a futurist and kept asking him when the end times were going to show up…to top it off they also requested a sign that those times were near. In 2016 Jesus doesn’t have to put up with questions like this anymore…but people are still asking. And they love it when imaginative religious writers give answers in their often best-selling books. Jesus told the questioners not to believe the stuff they were hearing about the future, that they should trust God and not be afraid…in spite of all the ugly things that would be happening. Today he would tell people to ignore the doomsayers and concentrate on living in the present without fear. Everything we need to know has already been revealed. There will be endings…we can count on that…but when the endings come, there’ll be new beginnings, and all will be okay!

Thought for the Day: What calamities await in our future?

2 Thessalonians 3:9-13

“For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.” vs. 10

From the beginning grace-centered communities have been attractive to freeloaders. In Thessalonica believers eagerly awaiting the return of Christ decided they didn’t need to work anymore, but they still wanted to eat at all the potlucks…and they didn’t even see any reason to bring food. That really got on the nerves of leaders like Paul, and those leaders gave a simple directive: if you don’t work, you shouldn’t expect to eat! We don’t know what effect that command had on those freeloading believers, but it has become a popular maxim ever since. It’s even quoted regularly by politicians in debates about welfare programs. In congregations this verse comes to mind every time there is frustration about lack of participation. When members don’t worship, volunteer or give they’re perceived to be freeloaders and leaders often recommend rules or laws to get them to fall in line. While such a reaction is understandable, and rules can be a blessing, we should also recognize that commands can easily obliterate the spirit of grace that is foundational in a Christ-centered church. Grace is often naturally confused with license, the notion that anything is permissible, but offering law as a corrective only leads to graver errors.

Thought for the Day: What are the basic obligations of discipleship?

2 Thessalonians 3:6-8

“Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us.” vs. 6

Way back at the beginning of our faith community’s life together, in the face of relentless persecution, most believers eagerly anticipated the return of the Lord. They could not imagine that it would be delayed much longer. Some of them even stopped working! When the problem of idleness became widespread, leaders like Paul addressed the issue forcefully. Believers who were slackards were to be shunned! Stories like this from our history remind us that direct communication is necessary in our congregations. Sometimes behaviors get out of line and corrective measures need to be taken, even to the point of causing divisions. That’s hard for some to hear…they’ve experienced the pain of separation. But the alternative is to say that anything goes…and that doesn’t work very well either. There are times when lines need to be drawn and parameters for behavior and belief established. When the basic unity of a congregation is threatened by false teachings and improper actions, strong leaders will speak a corrective word to those they love so much. These are hard times for a community…and we pray that the occasions for such tough talk would be rare!