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.

Psalm 63

“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name.” vss. 3-4

In recent years the writers of praise songs have discovered the richness of the psalms and have used their lyrics in hundreds of their hymns. These two verses from Psalm 63 make up the entirety of the praise song, Thy Loving Kindness, and its catchy tune has made it a favorite of song leaders at camps and retreats. Whoever wrote these words had a strong faith connection with God and fully expected that relationship to continue until death. We find such people in our congregations and faith communities all the time–it’s not a rarity. They’re at worship every week and join the singing with enthusiasm. It’s wonderful to have such peace in our lives. It’s not that these saints are unaware of what’s going on in the world–such a thing is virtually impossible in these wired times. But the goings-on in politics is a backdrop to what’s really important for them. They have learned that there’s nothing better than faith, and they bask in the steadfast love of God every day of their lives. How does such serenity come to us? It has to be the work of the Spirit! When we surrender ourselves to the power of God in genuine humility, the Spirit of Jesus takes over, and it’s not long before peace and joy begin to be our regular companions on the journey. 

Thought for the Day: What’s my favorite praise song?

Isaiah 55:6-9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” vs. 8

Whatever might be said about Isaiah, he certainly had his finger on the pulse of the Divine Presence. For the most part we humans have been hopelessly confused about the nature of God, and have in fact created God in our own image. We claim to know God’s will about any number of things, and assume that God will always behave according to our standards. For Isaiah such notions were sheer nonsense and he reminds his readers that God’s ways aren’t anything like ours. Instead of being a tyrannical, vengeance seeking deity, God is tender and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. In truth, that’s about all we can know about the infinite God, the Author of the universe, and a Being beyond all human comprehension or understanding. Of course that doesn’t stop us from spouting all kinds of ridiculous things about God’s will and purpose–we delight in claiming insider knowledge of the One we claim to serve. How much better it is when we lay aside our arrogance and adopt a spirit of humility when it comes to God. And how good it is to know that in Jesus we get to see as much God as we need to know. And one day, as Paul tells us, we will know God fully–and in the meantime there’s a whole bunch of living in grace that still needs to be done.

Thought for the Day: How do we know that God is merciful?

Isaiah 55:1-5

“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.” vs. 2

Many people spend hours every day wishing they had another means of employment. Sometimes the problem is their co-workers, sometimes it’s their compensation, but often it’s just plain lack of satisfaction in what they’re doing. These folks become the target audience for the marketers that plague our society with their suggestions that their unhappiness can be overcome with some new product. In this age of ubiquitous artificial intelligence, it seems that just thinking about something can trigger a deluge of offers via our smartphones. And it’s so tempting to believe the promises. And it’s all mostly lies! A new putter will not fix our putting issues! It’s hard to believe but over 2000 years ago Isaiah was very familiar with such scams, and he made an even better offer. He claimed that real contentment came with a complete change in diet. As people move away from the material and adopt a lifestyle that is filled with spiritual benefits they will find the satisfaction they crave. His promise still holds! When we turn our attention away from the new and the trendy and return to the tried and true basics of faith, we lose our dependence on momentary fixes, and discover again the true joy of living.

Thought for the Day:  How have I been suckered by marketers?

Luke 13:34-35

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” vs. 34

Like all Jews of his time Jesus had a deep and abiding love for the city of Jerusalem. For centuries it had been the site of the temple, which, during Jesus’ lifetime, had been completely rebuilt at great expense by Herod the Great. Every year faithful pilgrims came during the main festivals to offer sacrifices and sing praises in its holy precincts. Jesus had likely been there many times with his family. There was one problem. Since Jerusalem was the center of the powerful religious establishment, it was essentially hostile territory for him during his ministry. Obviously, Jesus wished that it could have been different…he had a kingdom message for the people, and he’d been prevented from delivering it. Jesus’ poignant lament for the city reminds us of God’s motherly compassion for the broken people of our beautiful world. And that’s still how it is. The heart of God breaks in the face of the horrible repression, war, and exclusion that seems to have enveloped humanity. And as the hands and feets of God it is our role as believers to reach out with compassionate wings and bring sacrificial love to the frightened and the harassed.

Thought for the Day: What’s the main ingredient of a mother’s love?