1 Peter 1:21-23

“Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart.” vs. 22

When the Christian community was established in Jerusalem after the resurrection of Jesus they were known for the deep love that they had for one another. And when missionaries like Paul brought the good news of Jesus to distant lands, that same characteristic was observed. Peter refers to that observation in his letter to those who were exiled by the Dispersion, the scattering of Jews to the ends of the Empire in response to the destruction of Jerusalem by Roman armies. Allegiance to the gospel always results in mutual love among believers, and Peter encouraged them to keep on loving one another deeply from the heart.

We know what that looks like. Many of us came to faith in congregations that were exactly like this, and now seekers are looking for communities where they can experience that same love. Broken humans need one another, not for correction or admonition, but for deep and abiding love, and that’s the primary gift believers have to offer the lonely and alienated.

It’s wonderful for a congregation to have a mission plan, and marketing strategies can often be effective, but if we’re not loving one another from the heart, even clever slogans fall on deaf ears. Saying “All Are Welcome” on our signage means nothing if visitors can’t sense love in what we say and do!

Thought for the Day: How can congregations demonstrate deep mutual love?

1 Peter 1:17-20

“If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile.” vs. 17

From Peter’s perspective the people to whom he was writing were like exiles, people living in a land that was not their own who had been united by their invocation of God as Father. Here he also implies that one day their God will judge all people impartially according to their deeds. Because they have such a God he implores them to live in reverent fear during the time of their exile.

For those who have come to trust in God’s compassion and mercy these words can spark a feeling of discomfort. The broken can even begin to wonder if there really is unconditional forgiveness for all of their sins–they wonder if grace is enough. That feeling is not uncommon among people of  faith and even long-time believers can  have a sense of foreboding about impending judgment.

Sadly there are pastors and religious leaders who take advantage of that uneasiness in their attempt to encourage morality within their assigned flock. They reason that a reverent fear will keep people on the straight and narrow path that will bring them to salvation. Now it’s certainly true that we are called to fear and love God above all else. That’s a given! But Peter never intended that fear to undermine our reliance on God’s unconditional love. He had learned from experience that even denying Jesus three times was covered by Amazing Grace.

Thought for the Day: When have I worried about judgment day?

Psalm 116:12-19

“What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.” vss. 12-14

The psalmist knew that he had been blessed by his Loving Lord and felt that it was his duty and delight to respond with a thanksgiving offering. Many are doing that today in our country. We know that the continued prosperity of our land depends on our faithful payment of taxes, and most of us gladly send them in when they are due. It’s a fitting response to the benefits we have received, even if our checks are not offered in a spirit of thanksgiving and gratitude.

But there are still opportunities for us to make significant offerings with thanksgiving and those who understand the extent of God’s blessings in their lives will do exactly that. It’s a part of the relationship we have with God in Christ Jesus. God’s love and gracious provision sparks a loving response, both in our regular offerings and our daily actions.

It’s good that our celebration of Easter extends into the month of May. Every Sunday offers an opportunity to sing praises and raise songs of joy for the magnificent gift of life that is ours in Christ. He is alive, and in him we are alive, now and forever. Thanks be to God.

Thought for the Day: Why do I make offerings?

Psalm 116:1-4

“I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.” vss. 1-2

As was typical among the psalmists, we don’t know the particulars of this writer’s situation. He’d come close to death, cried out to the Lord, and had been restored. Understandably, he now loves the Lord and offers this prayer of thanksgiving and praise–and promises to keep on praying until the end of his life. It’s no wonder that this psalm was used regularly by the Jews as part of their Passover celebration. It was a powerful way to express their love and praise to the Lord for all that had been done for them.

It’s a reminder that the relationship we have with God is a two-way street. We readily speak of God’s love for the world, but it’s also perfectly appropriate for us to also express our love for the Lord. It could even be a good way to start our prayers, and maybe even a better way to start our days. “I love you, Lord, and I lift your name on high,” are words that could be said first thing every morning, maybe even before we lift our heads from the pillow.

These aren’t easy times for our world. But God has not stopped loving us! And our prayers are never in vain! 

Thought for the Day: How do I express my love for God?

Acts 2: 2a, 36-41

“Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

According to Luke Peter’s sermon had a profound effect on the Judean Jews who were in Jerusalem for the festival of Pentecost. They were convicted by his words and asked what they should do. What Peter suggests reminds us of the message John had for the people who came to him at the Jordan for baptism. If the Jews repented and were baptized in the name of Jesus, their sins would be forgiven. But Peter now adds one more thing. Not only would they be forgiven, they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

And it’s that promise that makes all the difference in the world. This would be a turbo-charged baptism. Not only would sins be washed away, people would receive the power of the living Christ, and their lives would be changed. They would actually be able to produce the fruits of the Spirit and their communities would be transformed. That promise is still a part of our baptismal ritual to this day. We’re not only cleansed by the water, we are transformed! Our brokenness is healed.

Luke says that 3000 people were baptized that day in Jerusalem. And even if we acknowledge a bit of hyperbole here, there is no doubt that this is where the whole Christian Church on earth began! It really was a good beginning!

Thought for the Day: How have I been transformed?

John 20:26-31

“Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’” vs. 29

Because Thomas has been known as the doubting disciple, he’s a favorite for those who struggle with doubts in their faith journey. In reality though, John tells us that Thomas became a believer because he saw the Risen Jesus face to face. In other words, he got lucky! For the rest of us, it’s not so easy. We are among the countless millions of people who have come to believe in spite of not having seen Jesus! We are the ones for whom John wrote his gospel. He crafted the whole book, from beginning to end, in order that we, like Thomas, might come to believe.

Why did he do that? Well, he explains it as best he can with the words, “that through believing, they may have life in his name.” John was convinced with all his heart that there were benefits in believing that Jesus is the Messiah, and those who have come to believe will most certainly agree. 

It isn’t that believing gives us a ticket on the Heavenly Express, that one day we will be rewarded for having come to faith! No, the blessings of believing are contained in the believing itself! Believing means being alive to the wonders of creation and the beauty of love. Believing is belonging, being a part of a faith community that will stand with us through suffering and joy for all of our days.

Thought for the Day: How has believing blessed me?

John 20:19-25

“When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’” vss. 22-23

John combines elements of Luke’s Pentecost story and Matthew’s Great Commission in telling this account of Jesus’ post-resurrection encounter with his disciples. His words are carefully chosen and tell us plainly that the dynamic energy of the Church comes directly from the Risen Jesus through the Holy Spirit. The image of Jesus breathing on the disciples is precious and calls to mind his conversation with Nicodemus in the darkness. The Spirit truly is the wind of God blowing where it wills and surprising us with unexpected energy and power.

And the words he speaks to them are the central message of the gospel! There is nothing more important to the quality of our lives than the sure and certain knowledge that our sins are forgiven. It’s the most important message the Church can give to seekers and deserves to be highlighted in every Christian worship service. Only with forgiveness can we stop being fixated on our brokenness and begin to have hope for restoration and healing. 

Sadly, because forgiveness is so precious, unscrupulous religious leaders have contrived to use it to manipulate behavior, and some even figured out how to monetize it. Still, our misuse has not destroyed its value, and it continues to be the balm that heals our deepest wounds. Praise God!

Thought for the Day: How has forgiveness been manipulated?

1 Peter 1:6-9

“Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy…” vs. 8

Even though these words were written to people living two thousand years ago they offer a precise fit for our situation. We have not seen the Risen Christ and yet we love him. We feast on his words and study his parables, believing that the new life he offers is what our broken world needs. Our spirits are restored by his sweet gift of forgiveness and the power of his love. Even though we do not see him, we know in our hearts what he has done for us. So of course we love him, and more than that we believe in him, trusting that what he has said and done is more than enough for our salvation.

It really is remarkable that we could have such profound faith in one whom we have never seen. It didn’t happen immediately for Thomas–in fact he wanted proof. But the gospel writer John put it well, “Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have come to believe that Jesus is the Christ.” When that happens, and it’s not a rare event, Peter says that believers rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, and many know exactly what that means. 

It really is a blessing to have faith and to live securely in these confusing times. We have a Risen Lord, a constant source of peace and joy.

Thought for the Day: When do I feel the deepest peace?

1 Peter 1:3-5

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..” vs. 3

This little letter was probably sent from the Christian community in Rome and carried the name of Peter, who Roman Catholics regard as the first pope. It’s addressed to the large community of believers living in Asia Minor, present day Turkey. Most of them, a mixture of Jews and Greeks, had likely come to faith some years before as the result of Paul’s missionary journey through this region. Peter starts his letter with a blessing directed to God, through whom believers had received a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Because belief in the resurrection has been reinforced by the use of the Apostles’ Creed through the centuries it’s hard to comprehend just what a radical teaching this was. Think of it! These people had come to believe in one generation that death was not the end and that resurrection awaited all the faithful. It was mind-boggling!

And that same hope now belongs to us, and we celebrated it with enthusiasm just last Sunday. The call and response comes easily to us as we worship, “Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!” We know what that means. And blessed are those for whom it is the center of faith!

Thought for the Day: How do I describe my resurrection hope?

Psalm 16:7-11

“You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” vs. 11

The psalmist was sold on the Lord. He had no regrets about casting his lot with the Creator and Sustainer of life. We can rightly assume that he took every opportunity available for singing praises in worship and that he gladly brought his offerings to the altar. That’s how it is when we live in the Lord.

In our communities of faith we will find many who will know exactly how the psalmist felt because they too have been convinced in Christ they have found the path of life. They’re living as they want to live, regularly feeding their spirits, and walking in the Way of Jesus. They daily see and experience the presence of the Holy Spirit and cannot imagine that life could be any better for them. This does not mean that their lives are perfect. We will always see and experience brokenness. But even with the imperfections we can certainly know the fullness of joy. 

No wonder the psalmist reported that with God there was pleasure, not the kind of pleasure that is often confused with self-indulgence. But this is pleasure that comes from an awareness of being blessed. It’s a good life, the best life, and since it’s a complete gift from God, we don’t need to ever fear that it could be taken away. “Goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.” 

Thought for the Day: What gives me pleasure?