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?

2 Corinthians 5:16-17

“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” vs. 17

One of the basic truths of all great world religions is that the past does not define our future, and that is most certainly true of Christianity. Paul makes that very clear in his second letter to the Corinthians when he writes that in Christ, the old has passed away and everything has become new. Given that this is the truth, it’s amazing and appalling that so many people remain caught in the past. Some remember the brokenness of dysfunctional homes. Others carry the sin and guilt of multiple addictions. Still others lament failed relationships and fraudulent behaviors. Continually looking over their shoulders they’re convinced that the future will contain just more of the same old misery and pain. Now that may well be what happens for such folks but that’s not because it’s inevitable or predestined. What Paul taught and we believe is that in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus we have been set free from whatever has been enslaving us. We aren’t doomed to repeat the sins of the past, and when we trust that living word of grace, the future is opened up and we can become the beautiful people God has created us to be. There’s no special formula to be repeated and no magic mushrooms. The new birth is an act of the Spirit and accessible through faith.

Thought for the Day: Where do I see the newness in myself?

Psalm 32:6-11

“I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.” vss. 8-9

Portions of the psalms, the hymnbook of the bible, can also be classified as wisdom literature, and are very much like passages found in the book of Proverbs. In these verses the psalmist, having demonstrated his own need for confession and the forgiveness of sins, takes on the role of a teacher. This would be a point in worship where the leader, having led prayers, turns to the congregation and offers instruction in how they should live. His words offer a vivid description about how the people should respond to the good news of God’s steadfast love. Drawing from rural experiences he warns them not to be stubborn like horses or mules but to gladly submit to the way of the Lord. His words should be taken to heart by worshipers in every community of faith in every time and place. We too are often tempted to go our own way in satisfying our spiritual whims and fancies. Even when we know the right way to live we stubbornly resist direction and obedience. We seem to have an amazing trust in our own interpretive skills and resist the wisdom of pastors or teachers. That’s just as foolish today as it was 2500 years ago.

Thought for the  Day: When am I most likely to be stubborn?

Psalm 32:1-6

“Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” vs. 5

Because the world is both good and broken, humans have been conscious of their need for forgiveness from the beginning. And while it should be a relatively easy matter to offer an expression of remorse to the one we have offended, and then receive a word of forgiveness, for some reason the process is not that easy. Sin is complicated and comes in a variety of forms and seems to require our involvement in a sacrificial or penitential system in order to receive a satisfactory level of absolution. But whatever the ritual we use, and whether or not a priest or pastor is involved, the insight of the psalmist seems to get to the heart of the matter. If restoration is going to take place, there will have to be an acknowledgment of our sin before God. We can’t bury our sin or run away from it–if we try, the guilt will eat us alive. But when we confess our transgressions to the Lord, either privately or publicly, the Lord will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The ritual seems to work best when an intermediary is involved, often a priest or a pastor. Not only will they hear us, they will be able to offer the sweet affirmations that come with absolution.

Thought for the Day: When has confession been good for my soul?

Joshua 5:9-12

“The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.” vs. 12

It’s hard to read these accounts of the Hebrew invasion of the land of Canaan without thinking about the current struggle for land in what are known as the Palestinian territories. The place where Joshua and his army made their camp is in what we now know as the West Bank. We can travel there today and see the rich irrigated fields between the Jordan River and the mostly barren interior mountains.

People have lived in this area for 11,000 years and all ate the produce of the land! And once more there is a fierce struggle for control. Palestinians currently live in the area–they’ve been there for thousands of years. But an active militant minority of the Israeli population is gradually taking back the land through the expansion of illegal settlements. They mean to get it all back and would love to simply expel the Palestinians. The settlers claim that this is their land because God gave it to them. It’s what humans always say when they cross boundaries and take what belongs to another. “God is giving us this land, and we’re going to keep it.” Granted, there is no easy answer to the current crisis, but people of faith, both Jews and Christians are coming to the support of the Palestinians–even if it is the politically incorrect thing to do!

Thought for the Day: What is anti-semetism?

Luke 13:6-9

“He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” vss. 8-9

It’s always tempting to think that we’ve got plenty of time in life for repentance. It’s one of those things that we put off, mainly because it’s so hard. Once we’ve established patterns for relating with the world, we grow comfortable, and if given an option, even if we don’t like the things we’ve been doing, we’d just as soon continue living as we have in the past. Jesus certainly knew that propensity, after all it’s been around from the beginning. In the parable of the fig tree he lets us know that this attitude is nothing less than insanity, and our opportunities for repentance actually have an expiration date. The good news is that there is a grace period. The fig tree got one year of tender care accompanied by a healthy dose of natural fertilizer. The problem is that none of us know how much more time we have to make the changes the Spirit is recommending. That’s true in relationships as well as in the span of our lives. Someday we’re all going to run out of time, and it would be a shame if we never got around to repentance, and no one ever saw the best of what we were called to be! 

Thought for the Day: What’s the point of postponing change?

Luke 13:1-5

“He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?’” vs. 2

News of atrocities committed by oppressive rulers has always traveled fast. Here Jesus refers to an especially egregious act of the Roman governor, Pilate, that had been all over the social media of the day. He asks the people if the Galileans had been murdered because they were worse sinners than anyone else. His answer is not surprising. “Of course not!” But then he adds, “unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.” And then we’re baffled! What is he implying? Is he really saying that anyone who does not repent can expect to be slaughtered? And the answer again is “of course not.” The words are not intended to be taken literally, but they are intended to shock people into action. He wants them to know in no uncertain terms that repentance is crucial for kingdom living. Like John the Baptist he was appalled by unfruitful religiosity. And like John he calls his listeners to account. Sometimes in our misguided efforts to turn Jesus into a gentle, kind, and beautiful savior, we forget that he cares deeply about the way we conduct our lives. Those who imagine that Jesus simply smiles benevolently on their self-serving and careless lifestyles should not be surprised when one day their self-made world falls apart. 

Thought for the Day: How has repentance shaped my life?

1 Corinthians 10:6-13

“No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” vs. 13

Paul has no illusions about the power of human beings to resist temptation. He knows that even people of faith can be spineless and feeble when immorality, greed, and idolatry come knocking at their door. But even if he has doubts about the human will to resist, he has loads of confidence in God. He believes with all his heart that with the power of the Holy Spirit we will be able to endure even the most robust temptations. While some might doubt Paul’s words, those who participate in Twelve Step programs like AA know them to be true. In fact they teach that it’s only when we surrender our will to the power and will of our God that addictions can be overcome. It is as Paul says. When our strength is insufficient God will provide the way of endurance. And that’s not only true for addictions. Indeed, no matter what sin or transgression is plaguing our lives, we can find the forgiveness, love, and direction we need to be restored and start living in another way. The whole process starts with surrender, or what also might be called confession. And then, by what Christians call sanctification, God makes us holy. And it really is miraculous!

Thought for the Day: What temptation is toughest for me?

1 Corinthians 10:1-5

“I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea…Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them…” vss. 1, 5

Paul certainly was no Pollyanna. He knew from Hebrew history that most of the people of Israel, rescued from slavery in Egypt, had fallen away from the faith by the time they left the wilderness. Therefore he does not imagine that all who have been baptized into Christ will continue as people of faith. Baptism does not guarantee faithfulness, a sad truth which should not surprise any of us. Just because someone advertises that they are a Christian does not mean they can be trusted in personal relationships or in business dealings. People of faith are subjected to the same kind of temptations as anyone else and can easily be caught up in a web of sin and intrigue. We might wish this wasn’t true and that we could trust anyone who claims to be born again or a fellow believer. Rather than basing our confidence on a person’s testimony or words, we would be well advised to remember what John the Baptist said when he saw the crowds coming for baptism, “You brood of vipers, ‘Bear fruits befitting repentance!’”  It is possible for believers to trust one another, but sometimes we just have to be smart about it. Sometimes faith is only skin deep!

Thought for the Day: A time when a fellow believer has let me down.