Exodus 32:11-14

“And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.” vs. 14

According to this story recounted in Exodus, Moses was able to convince the Lord to change his mind and abandon his plan to destroy the Hebrews at Mount Sinai. All it took was a reminder that such an action would diminish the Lord’s reputation among the Egyptians. People have wondered about these verses through the centuries. Is it true that the mind of God can be changed by the clever manipulative prayers of humans? Obviously the Hebrews believed that it could happen. It was the only way to explain how Israel had survived its dalliance with idolatry. Many times in its history the nation had crossed the line of obedience and did things deserving punishment. Yet somehow the people had escaped God’s wrath–surely it must have been because God’s mind was changed! That kind of thinking is not unusual even for us. Because we know that there are consequences for corrupt and dissolute behaviors, we’re not surprised that our screw-ups get us in trouble. But sometimes that’s not what happens. We can know in our hearts that we have done wrong, and may even be bracing ourselves for well-deserved punishment, and then, nothing happens! We don’t get what we’ve deserved! Could it be that God’s mind was changed?

Thought for the Day: When’s a time I “got away” with bad behavior?

Exodus  32:7-10

“they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshipped it and sacrificed to it” vs. 8

We’re perhaps familiar with Go Down Moses, a song sung by slaves in the Deep South comparing their slavery to that of the Hebrew people in Egypt. It was a powerful anthem and was banned by slaveowners on their plantations, before becoming a rallying hymn for abolitionists. Ironically the passage from which these popular words were taken, Exodus 32, refers not to Moses’ journey to confront the pharaoh, but to his hasty trip down Mt. Sinai to confront Aaron and those who had cast the golden calf. The people had already been set free and now they were voluntarily submitting to the yoke of idolatry. It was a travesty, and the Lord is pictured as being livid with rage. While we may prefer other images of God than the one used here, the story is still a powerful reminder of how quickly people of faith can be turned from worship of God to idolatry. A powerful heresy like Christian nationalism sounds so good to so many and when combined with blatant materialism seems to know no boundaries. Countless religious people all around the world are embracing its political teachings, and abandoning the good news of the Christ. Thank God for those humble followers of Jesus who are refusing to take up the yoke of slavery!

Thought for the Day: Why are people so quick to abandon the freedom of the gospel?

Luke 14:28-33

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?” vs. 28

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the martyred German theologian, published a book called The Cost of Discipleship in 1937, and following his death it became perhaps the best known of his writings. In his estimation the gospel had been undermined by what he called “cheap grace,” which he defined as the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance–in other words grace without discipleship. It doesn’t take much imagination to see that Bonhoeffer was echoing the words of Jesus. People loved to hear his words of grace and forgiveness. They loved hearing about his mercy and steadfast love. But they didn’t much like it when they were reminded that being his disciple was going to cost them. In many instances it would cost them dearly and some would lose their lives. But perhaps the biggest challenge of all was Jesus’ assertion that becoming a disciple would mean giving up all possessions. That’s so radical that we can scarcely believe that he would have said such a thing. But even if we’re unwilling to part with all of our possessions, what if we could at least agree that being unwilling to change is not a worthy response to Christ’s gracious word of forgiveness. After all it’s only a pious charade when we hear words of grace and walk away unchanged by their power.

Thought for the Day: What has my faith walk cost me?

Luke 14:25-33

“Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.” vs. 26

There are times when reading the gospels can be confusing. It seems strange for instance that Jesus would actually tell his disciples that following him would mean they would have to hate their biological families. We can only begin to understand when we realize that he’s actually talking about the cost of discipleship. He wants them to know that following him will mean a separation from those things that they have held most dear, and this is the most radical image that he could have possibly used to make that point. We aren’t called to despise our parents, spouse, children, or siblings as a matter of course, but there are times when the call to be a true disciple can be painful. All of us hope that such a moment would never come in our walk of faith, but it could, and all of us have heard the stories of such fateful decisions. It’s important to remember here that hate in this context is not a feeling but a choice, and that Jesus also told his disciple to love those who they hated. And in fact it may even be that those necessary separations within our families can actually be overcome by our selfless acts of love. After all, it’s in loving that God’s healing power is found!

Thought for the Day: Choices I’ve made that have meant separation.

Philemon  17-24

So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.” vss. 17-18

What a gift this letter is for us! It’s likely the only piece of personal correspondence to make it into scripture, and its inclusion gives us a glimpse of Paul’s everyday life.

He has grown to love Onesimus and considers him a brother in Christ, and now he would love to have Philemon set him free from slavery. He even promises to repay any debts that Onesimus might owe. It’s an indicator of the depth of Paul’s love. This is how it works for all who bear the name of Christ. We know that Jesus has enjoined us to love one another as he has loved us, and we readily accept this as a generic commandment for how we shall live in this world. But it’s when the generic becomes specific that Christ is honored! Sometimes, many times even, we find ourselves in a position to show our love for a particular person, often to the point of sacrifice. It’s in these moments that the depth of our love, and the authenticity of our faith is really tested. Sometimes the cost of such loving can be dear, and even have an effect on our cash reserves. There’s always a risk in loving, one that Paul gladly accepted, and as we continue to walk in the way of Jesus, we too will regularly make risky choices.

Thought for the Day: When have I taken risks in loving?

Philemon 1-16

“I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment…I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.” vss. 10, 12

Slavery was a way of life in the Roman Empire. It is estimated that in the areas visited by Paul on his missionary journeys about 20-30 percent of the population were slaves and served in a variety of positions in households and businesses. Some did menial labor while others could be highly educated and serve as teachers. As the gospel spread through the Empire many slaves were attracted to the new teaching and were baptized. Paul regarded them as a part of the Church, but nowhere in the scriptures was there a movement to abolish the practice of slavery. It was firmly entrenched in the culture. But one slave, Onesimus, was of particular interest to Paul. Probably a runaway he had been of great use to Paul during one of his imprisonments, and Paul had become quite fond of him. Onesimus belonged to Philemon, an old friend of Paul’s and a leader of the congregation in Colossae, and Paul decides to send him back to his master. We don’t know why Paul chose to do this but the letter he wrote to Philemon was included in the New Testament. And while it isn’t a call for emancipation, it is an indication that at the very beginning the gospel of Jesus Christ was already beginning to eat away at the whole institution of slavery. The two are simply incompatible!

Thought for the Day: Why were Christians okay with slavery for so long?

Psalm 1

“They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.” vs. 

In the psalmist’s worldview people were either good or wicked and the secret to finding happiness was to walk in the way of the righteous and avoid the path of the wicked. That’s a popular perspective, and many of us have been taught this dualist way of thinking from childhood. And even if we’ve learned that life is more complicated than this, and that all people, rather than being either good or bad, are actually both righteous and sinners, the psalmist’s words contain a great truth. Namely, it does make a difference where we put down our roots, especially when it comes to matters of faith! If we associate or hang out with those who do not share our convictions, values, or sense of morality, it’s incredibly difficult to maintain solid connections with God. We are communal creatures, and our communities have a powerful influence on how we conduct our lives. So we’re only fooling ourselves if we think those associations make no difference. But if we put down our roots where they have access to the water of life, joy will follow, and the fruits of the Spirit will abound. Those faithful folks we choose to join on life’s journey will of course share our brokenness. They won’t be perfect! But as we continue together in Christ we will prosper.

Thought for the Day: Where have I put down my roots?

Deuteronomy 30:17-20

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live…” vs. 19

Deuteronomy tells us that obedience for the Israelites was a binary choice: there were only two options with regard to the Law. The people could either obey or not obey. Obedience would bring them life and disobedience meant death. Now it’s certainly true that choices are important. Most people grow up knowing that the decisions they make at particular times of their lives can have lasting consequences. We’re familiar with Robert Frost’s poem, “Two roads diverged in the wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by.” But it’s not true that life is a matter of choosing between good and evil or life and death. According to Genesis all things are created good, and that includes humans. And good people often make poor choices; in fact they can easily mess up their lives big time by going in the wrong direction. But they never stop being good people! And while our brokenness regularly haunts us on the journey, by the grace and the mercy of God the healing power of repentance is always at hand. And as we daily experience new birth our goodness shows forth like the flowers of spring, light fills the world, and God is glorified.

Thought for the Day: How do I receive daily healing?

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

“If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today… then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.” vs. 16 

The Law of Moses was foundational for Judaism. Throughout the history of Israel people were taught that everything hinged on their obedience to the commandments of God as revealed in their scriptures. If they loved the Lord their God and obeyed all the ordinances, commandments, and decrees of the Law they would live long and prosper. The fact that their years of occupation in the land had been marked by division, revolution, invasion, and captivity didn’t seem to faze them. The problem lay not with the Law but in their failure to obey. If they could do better then surely blessings would follow. That sounds good, and even Christians fall for the deception. Some of us are convinced that until we get our acts together God’s blessings will be withheld. But the truth is that the good life comes not through obedience but through God’s steadfast love and mercy. As John put it in his gospel, “The Law was indeed given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” When that truth finally fills our hearts the sense of peace and serenity is enormous. It’s not all up to us! Jesus has our back!

Thought for the Day: What happened when I first felt the truth of grace?

Luke 14:12-14

“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.” vs. 13

Jesus doesn’t seem to care if his host was offended by his parting remarks. In fact he’s oblivious to the social conventions that are so important in our world. When we interact with others, whether inviting folks over to our homes for a meal, or going out to eat with friends and acquaintances, most people are always keeping a record, either in their heads or on their calendars. There’s a certain equilibrium that requires keeping track of whose turn it is to be the host. But Jesus seems to be a fan of letting things get out of balance. He thinks it’s far better to invite people who have no way of returning the invitation. He wants us to connect with people out of the goodness of our hearts, and never worry about evening up the score. That’s hard to do! So much of our generosity is calculated and done with the expectation of return. How much better it is to seek out people who really need our kindness and help, and have no expectation that there is going to be a return on our investment! There are plenty of poor, crippled, lame, and blind in the world who need our care, and if our gifts to them aren’t paid back, it’s nothing to worry about. In our giving, God’s blessings will abound, and that’s what counts.

Thought for the Day: When do I play the “whose turn is it” game?