Psalm 71:1-6

“For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.” vs. 5

Like many of us the psalmist had trusted and served the Lord from his youth. That meant regularly bringing sacrifices and offerings, and participating in the rituals and practices of Judaism. But that didn’t mean that he had been preserved from the ugliness that spoils the tranquility of life in this good and broken world. He was well acquainted with the wicked, the unjust, and the cruel. Sometimes those experiences can cause us to question the goodness of God, and even wonder why we’ve bothered being so faithful in the course of our lives. Life doesn’t always go as we have been conditioned to believe that it will. It’s interesting that the psalmist doesn’t even consider turning away from the God he’d leaned on from his birth, the One who had taken him from his mother’s womb. Instead he doubles down, and continues to trust in the One he called his rock and his fortress. And that’s what people of faith continue to do, even when it feels like evil forces have risen against them. Instead of whining about how God has let them down we continue to trust the Ground of our Being. There really are no better options! There never have been and there never will!  The Lord who breathed life into the universe is continually with us and will sustain us forever. 

Thought for the Day: What do you say to someone who believes God has let them down?

Jeremiah 1:4-10

“Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, ‘Now I have put my words in your mouth.’” vs.9

Jeremiah had felt totally unqualified when he heard the call to be a prophet in Judea. It made no sense–he was just a kid and didn’t have a clue about what he might be expected to say. As it turned out, that wasn’t an obstacle. The Lord simply put words in his mouth and announced, “Okay, now you’re good to go!” Now that’s normally not the sort of thing that people like to hear. In fact, we’re likely to resent it when we suspect that someone is putting words in our mouths. But in situations when we don’t have any idea about what we should say, a moment of deep crisis or pain for instance, it’s a great blessing to have the Holy Spirit put words in our mouths. It’s that sort of thing that happens regularly for people of faith. When faced with a moment in which we’re tongue-tied or afraid, our simple prayer, “Lord, give me some wise and loving words to say,” will not go unheard. All we need to do is open our hearts to the person standing in front of us, and appropriate words will come to our tongues, and even though to us they may seem fumbling and foolish, to the one who is hurting, they will be heard as having come from the mouth of God.

Thought for the Day: Where do I find words when I’m speechless?

Luke 4:16b-21

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free…” vs. 18

The people in the synagogue in Nazareth didn’t know it but this first public appearance was Jesus’ inauguration day. This was the first speech of his ministry and in just a few words he laid out his basic plan for changing the world.

He had found the inspiration for what he said in the words of Isaish, and it wasn’t complicated. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him and he had good news not only for the poor, but for the captives, the blind, and the oppressed. In him there would be healing, recovery of sight, and freedom. His words have continued to be the theme for all who call themselves by his name and who walk in his ways. In our time we can’t help but contrast his themes with those who occupy positions of leadership in our country and around the world. Everywhere we see a preoccupation with power and influence–somehow we have made it possible for 10% of the population to possess 76% of all wealth–and the gap continues to grow. Nearly all of our leaders are billionaires, and few seem inclined to share their riches. But we don’t have to follow their example! There is another way, the path laid out by Jesus in Nazareth, and when others are faithless, we can be faithful!

Thought for the Day: How am I being faithful?

Luke 4:14-16

“When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom.” vs. 16

Sometimes followers of Jesus wish they could teleport back to Galilee and spend a week or two just hanging around him. The record suggests that he spent his days preaching, teaching, and healing, but we’re curious about his habits. Fortunately, given that teleporting hasn’t been perfected yet, Luke does give us a couple of insights as he provides his account of Jesus’ life. First, it seems he started each day with a time of private meditation and prayer. It must have been like a “reporting for duty” moment when the Spirit could offer direction. And then, Luke tells us that it was his custom to go to synagogue on the sabbath day. He was part of a community of faith and this is what his people did weekly and so he did it too. Sometimes he was asked to teach at this public gathering, but at other times we can presume he simply participated in the rituals, and listened to the readings for the day. This was habitual for him, and doubtless his presence was a blessing both to himself and to others. That continues to be the way it is for his followers. Habitual worship connects us to the community of faith better than anything else we do. We don’t have to be entertained or taught anything–it’s purely in the “showing up” that we are blessed!

Thought for the Day: How did worship become a habit for me?

1 Corinthians 12:21-31a

“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” vs. 27

Paul had spent about 18 months in Corinth, and while he was there many had responded to his proclamation of the gospel, and had become a part of the Christian community. Of course he hadn’t been trained as a mission developer and there wasn’t a particular plan to follow. This was totally a Spirit driven operation and as the congregation began to take shape there were a variety of influences. Other evangelists came and started preaching. Decisions had to be made about ritual and community life. And who would take the prime leadership roles? It became apparent that people had a variety of gifts and there was considerable debate about which were most important. Paul had had a huge influence on the initial structure, but when he left there was confusion and division. When Paul heard what had happened, as a founder, he offered direction to the floundering congregation. We don’t know if they paid attention to his letter–but we do know that they saved it! And we can see why! His insights were Spirit-centered and continue to direct our understanding of the Church. Using the human body as a brilliant metaphor he says that no member of a congregation is more important than any other. Callings or gifts will be different, but the proper functioning of the whole requires that all callings be honored and encouraged.

Thought for the Day: What is my calling in my congregation?

1 Corinthians 12:12-20

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” vs. 12

Paul’s favorite metaphor for the Church is the human body. It’s a rich comparison and we can readily see the truth of what he writes. Each of us has just one physical body, but it has many parts, i.e. arms, legs, hearts, heads, stomachs, etc. And holding it all together is a vast network of bones, nerves, sinews, and blood vessels. Physiologists tell us that those connections are intricate and complex, and that every part of our bodies has some essential function in the well-being of the whole. Paul knew enough anatomy to understand how the physical body worked, and it seemed obvious to him that this is exactly how it is with the Body of Christ. He believed that all the baptized were a part of the Church, and there were none who were excluded. And even more important than that, all had an important function within the Body! Sadly, it’s been hard for this important teaching to become a reality in our congregations. Many are hopelessly homogenous, and some observers have said that Sunday morning worship is the most segregated hour in our land.  Paul labored to bring slaves and free, circumcised and uncircumcised into each community of faith. We have issues with races and genders, and when we hesitate to be inclusive, we are less than we could be, and the whole Body suffers.

Thought for the Day: What makes diversity uncomfortable?

Psalm 19

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” vs. 14

At times preachers, as they enter the pulpit, will pray these words, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” It’s a confession of sorts, an acknowledgement that the Lord is present, and that the Lord has an interest in what was going to be said and heard. For some pastors, those who take their call to preach seriously, this is an intimidating thought. Preaching isn’t just a matter of gleaning a story or two from a commentary, adding a joke or two, and then tying it all together with a pair of pithy points. Preachers really are bringing a word from the Lord to people who are filled with a variety of feelings and emotions. Some are hurting, a few are feeling guilty, all are wanting to hear a word of grace. And the first listener for every sermon is the Lord! It’s a scary business, yet one of the most satisfying callings that any person could have. Really though, it’s not much different from the call that every believer has. Don’t we all want our words and meditations to be acceptable to the One who is our rock and redeemer? And our daily performance as a child of God does have an audience. Wouldn’t it be great if every day we could know that we haven’t missed a single cue or line?

Thought for the Day: Why do people become preachers?

Nehemiah 8:8-10

“And Nehemiah…and Ezra the priest and scribe,… said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.” vs. 9

When the words of the long-forgotten law were read to the Jews of Jerusalem their initial reaction was one of deep sadness–and they began to weep. We can only guess that their sadness came with the recognition of how far they had strayed from the word of the Lord. If, as many believe, Ezra had read from what we know as the book of Deuteronomy, we can understand their dismay. Deuteronomy did more than recount their history, it laid out the rituals and practices that defined how the people of God should live with one another, and in relationship to their neighbors. It’s one of the most remarkable documents ever produced in ancient times. And people had completely forgotten its precepts and values. No wonder they wept! It’s easy to lose touch with those ideas and practices that define us as communities of faith, and it’s not at all uncommon for believers to forget what they have been taught. But Nehemiah told the people of Jerusalem not to cry about it. They should treat this day as a new beginning and a fresh start, and start being the generous caring people God had made them to be. So too with us! Recognition of our sin isn’t only about sadness, it’s also a time to rejoice and be born again.

Thought for Day: When have I made a fresh start in life?

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6

(Ezra) read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.” vs. 3

When the Jews returned from Babylon to Jerusalem, they didn’t come as one body, but filtered back as they were able. Nehemiah had been appointed governor of Judea by the Persians and after a time, though facing serious opposition from the Jews who had not been deported, managed to restore the damaged walls of the city. Ezra had come from Babylon in one of the later groups and had evidently brought with him the book of the law. To celebrate the completion of the wall Ezra arranged to have that scroll read in a central plaza before those who could understand. We who have a hard time listening to a twenty minute sermon might wonder at those who could spend a half-day being attentive. But these people knew that there was more to freedom than the restoration of walls. They needed a spiritual foundation as well, and for them that meant following the rituals and ceremonies of their people, which were found in the book of law. Many believers today have been told that the bible has that same importance for the followers of Jesus, but because it’s difficult to understand they find it hard to pay attention. Even at worship its words regularly go in one ear and out the other.

Thought for the Day: Where do I learn what’s in the bible?

John 2:8-11

“Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.” vs. 11

In Chapter 20 John wrote that “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book, but these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and through believing have life in his name.” Because of this reference many believe there was a “signs source” that John used in constructing his gospel. It would make sense for John to have done this. He knew that nothing cements faith more than seeing a sign or a miracle, and indicates here that this is how Jesus’ disciples came to faith. We’ve seen that great truth in our congregations. Occasionally there are times when we have miraculous experiences: people with dread diseases are prayed for and receive healing; people with addictions receive cleansing and a new start; or “lost” children are found and come to faith. When those things happen and they are publicly known, it is not at all unusual to hear people say, “Now I know for sure that there is a God.” The sign has caused them to come to faith! Signs are important, and some of us have come to faith because of them. But Jesus in his words to Thomas following the resurrection also says that this isn’t the only way that we can come to faith. “Blessed are those who have not seen, yet have come to believe.”

Thought for the Day: How have signs affected my faith?