John 12:4-8

“You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” vs. 8

Jesus was of course right. We always have the poor with us, and as even Judas understood, we have a responsibility to use our resources to lift them out of poverty and enable them to experience the material blessings of life in this world. Many believers have been faithful to that ministry of caring and are currently supporting relief and charity work all around the world. Whenever there are disasters people of faith respond generously–these are the times when humans are at their best. Love flourishes in times of need. Right now, many of those relief organizations are facing a huge challenge. Most of them have been the recipients of grants from our government that enabled them to provide the best care possible. Now those funds are being discontinued and those caring ministries are being threatened. Healing outreach programs have been eliminated with medical assistance rapidly coming to an end. Some are thrilled by this change–they believe tax dollars are best spent for defense and to support the wealthy. The challenge is obvious for those who are the hands and feet of Christ in the world. It is more important now than ever to support the work of those helping the poor. In fact, as Jesus has said clearly, what we do for the least of these, we are really doing for him!

Thought for the Day: What motivates the desire to neglect the poor?

John 12:1-3

“Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” vs. 3

John, after telling how Lazarus received new life at the hands of Jesus, goes on to share a story about Mary and Martha that reminds us of Luke’s story of the sisters. Again, Martha is the one given to serving, and she takes charge of the celebratory dinner. But this time Mary isn’t content with just listening to Jesus. She also takes action, anointing Jesus’ feet with a pound of costly nard, and then wiping them with her hair. It was an extravagant gesture of love and did not go unnoticed. In fact the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Love frequently has this effect in our lives, especially when we’re in the throes of a romantic attachment. In those moments even normally frugal folks will max out their credit cards in some attempt to win the hearts of their beloved. But that’s not what Mary was up to. Her love for Jesus was of an entirely different kind. It was a spiritual connection, and her loving gesture was done purely to give him thanks and praise. Many believers continue to express such generosity in their relationship to Jesus, and have come to regularly give enormous gifts on a weekly basis in support of his mission. They do it not to get special standing in his kingdom but as an unmistakable act of love.

Thought for the Day: How do I show my love for Jesus?

Philippians 3:4 b-14

“Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” vss. 13-14

Paul knew that the best was yet to come and he was determined to press forward in the Way of Christ Jesus. He uses some sports talk to illustrate what he had in mind, knowing that the Greeks were very familiar with the games of Mt. Olympus. We like that kind of talk too, and preachers trying to connect with their audience will often use metaphors drawn from the world of golf and even some lesser sports. And there is a sense in which life is like a race and it’s obviously more of a marathon than a dash. And we often do have some sort of an ending in mind as we run, almost like a goal line. So we get Paul here–he’s talking in terms we understand. The danger comes when we start thinking that the race is like a competition and there are going to be winners and losers. For people of faith the laurel wreath is not a sign of achievement but a holy gift that comes to all who cross the goal. Of course it will be a delight to receive it but all the thanks and glory will go to God, the Author and Giver of all life, including the life to come.

Thought for the Day: What’s the best sports metaphor for life in Christ?

Philippians 3:4b-8

“Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” vss. 7-8a

Sometimes it’s interesting to look back at our lives from time to time, and if we look way back most of us can point to some achievements along the way. There may have been academic excellence or athletic awards, maybe even a trophy or two. Or it could be that we’re most proud of our families: a good marriage, wonderful children and grandchildren really are priceless. And then there are the successes that can come with corporate achievement or owning our own business. If we list everything we’re proud of, some of us would have to use a second sheet of paper!  As Paul was killing time in prison one day, he made such a list, and it was pretty impressive. But then when he’d written it all down he told the Philippians that he regarded all his gains to have been loss. Why? Because his relationship to Christ Jesus was worth more than everything else! Some of the faithful know now what Paul meant. They know that any achievement of any kind pales in significance when compared to being in Christ Jesus. It’s helpful to find this out early in life. When contentment in Christ comes before we get sucked into the rat race of corporate achievement and amassing wealth it’s an amazing gift. 

Thought for the Day: What have been my greatest achievements?

Psalm 126

“Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.” vs. 6

We don’t know what was going on for the people of Israel, but the psalmist tells us that tears were flowing freely. It might have been some personal illness or tragedy or more likely some communal disaster, but prayers were being offered for restoration. The Lord had heard their pleas in the past and there were high hopes for the present. It would be like they experienced every year in their fields. Seeds would be planted, rain would fall, and the harvest would be good–it was a reassuring rhythm that brought hope in times of pain. It’s the same feeling that people of faith have always had when disaster strikes. There are always tears–we can’t help but allow them to flow freely–and there’s an almost endless supply. But our sadness is also a time for planting the seeds of hope, and as our tears fall into the fertile soil of faith, hope germinates and begins to grow, and as that green blade rises, restoration and resurrection come, and the bountiful harvest fills our hearts with joy. That’s the rhythm of life that has been around from the beginning, and it’s repeated again and again in every season, in every time of sorrow. Our God is good and gracious, and full of compassion, and no tear falls to the ground without bearing fruit.

Thought for the Day: When have I cried the most?

Isaiah 43:19b-21

“The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people…” vs. 20

The Israelites lived in a land where the seasonal rains were crucial for their survival. Twice a year the heavens would open and the land would be watered and crops could be planted and harvested. But it wasn’t only the people who needed the rains–animals too depended on the rainfall and the accumulation of the water in the springs and pools. Naturally this dependency was reflected in the prayers offered in the temple, and we see many references to God’s gracious providence in the psalms. Water has continued to be a big deal for the people of God through the years. Sometimes too much comes at one time and we’re forced to take refuge from the floods. Often it seems as though the clouds have dried up and drought depletes our harvest–in these latter days we’ve been especially conscious of our drying forestlands and the resulting massive fires. We’ve been forced to take a hard look at our water use and be attentive to the damage being done to our environment through careless consumption. From the beginning humans have been charged with the stewardship of the natural world, and when we are negligent in our caretaking, all creatures suffer, even the jackals and the ostriches.

Thought for the Day: How can I be a better water conservationist?

Isaiah 43:16-19a

“Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” vss. 18-19a

Isaiah knew that Israel’s past did not define its future. What had happened in the wilderness and in their captivity was simply a part of history. Obviously their God-connection would continue but from now on everything was going to be new. In fact, if they opened their eyes, it would be possible for them to catch a glimpse of what God was up to. As we think about Isaiah’s words and apply them in the present, we can trust that what he said to Israel is also true for us. Some are worried about what has happened both in the Church and in the nation, and they’re right to be worried. Sometimes things can get downright scary! But if Isaiah is right God is always about to do a new thing, and it’s possible for us to perceive it. That’s particularly true in the Church, which should always be the center of our attention as believers. Old things are passing away, but new things are coming to pass. All around the world the faithful are looking for innovative ways to do ministry, and some of those experiments are taking root and producing fruit. We’re seeing changes in worship and in outreach, and while sometimes we would like to retain the old, it’s impossible to miss the freshness of the new. And sometimes even the dinosaurs can find new life!

Thought for the Day: Why can’t things always stay the same?

Luke 15:11b-36

“But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” vs. 30

The parable of the prodigal son is one of Jesus’ best known and most loved stories. In it God is compared to a generous, long-suffering, and compassionate father, one who welcomes his wayward son with a kiss and a hug even before the boy has a chance to speak. And to celebrate the son’s return, the father throws an extravagant party, complete with a feast and a dance. We love the parable because of its description of God’s unconditional love and mercy, but the Pharisees and the scribes hated it. Jesus had crafted the story to expose their “elder brother syndrome,” and it was impossible for them to miss his point. It’s hard for any of us to deal with God’s steadfast love and mercy, especially when we sense that it’s directed at those who we believe don’t deserve it. We believe in what we call “tough love” and in our version of the parable the son would need to get a job before receiving benefits. We really hate it when our tax dollars are distributed to so-called welfare queens, or SNAP benefits are used to buy soft drinks. We’re quick to judge and slow to forgive, and are reluctant to give those we label as undeserving any breaks at all. But as the prophet Isaiah said so clearly, “God’s ways are not our ways, nor are God’s thoughts, our thoughts.” And thank God for that!

Thought for the Day: When do I feel like the elder brother?

Luke 15:1-3

“Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’” vss. 1-2

It wasn’t that Jesus was ghosting the Pharisees and the scribes. He appreciated their devotion to the law, and periodically he’d join them for meals in their homes. We can imagine that there were some fine conversations over the fine points of scriptural interpretation. They may even have approved of his calls for repentance, though they likely thought he wasn’t talking to them. But they couldn’t get over his regular associations with sinners, the kind of persons that no ordinary law-abiding rabbi would be caught dead with. That same sort of separation between the sinners and the righteous is played out every Sunday in most of our congregations. The people who show up for worship are generally pretty decent folks. Sins are carefully concealed under artfully crafted facades of piety. As we look around the sanctuary we smile at our friends and give a little wave to acquaintances, we’re not likely to see ourselves as sinners hungering for a word of grace. What a contrast we have in the 12 Step groups that often use our buildings. In them, mere participation is a cry for help and an admission of addiction, and it’s there that Jesus finds his friends.

Thought for the Day: How does my culture distinguish between saints and sinners?

2 Corinthians 5:18-21

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;’ vs. 18

It gave Paul great joy to announce the good news of the new life in Christ to the Corinthians, and he delights to write about the salvation that is ours by grace. But he then moves quickly to remind his readers that this great gift of grace is also an invitation and a call to mission. To put it plainly, those who are in Christ have been entrusted with a ministry of reconciliation. Where there is brokenness we are to bring healing and restoration. Paul doesn’t give us a guidebook to this ministry–we are expected and equipped to figure it out on our own. Obviously the opportunities are endless. We see the need in our families and among our friends, and often in our congregations. And anyone with half a brain has seen the turmoil in our communities and in our country. There is enormous anger and hatred on every level and division is everywhere. Of course we’ll find the mission daunting–it seems impossible that people with such deep differences will even want to be reconciled. But we can make a beginning by simply adopting a reconciling attitude toward others, beginning with those who are closest. That means leading with affirmation and grace instead of judgment and law, and when others sense in us the presence of unconditional love they will be moved. After all, that’s how the Spirit works!

Thought for the Day: With whom am I seeking reconciliation?