Revelations 21:1-2

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” vs. 1

On this day in 1517 Martin Luther hammered on the church doors of the Castle Church in Wittenberg of Electoral Saxony in Germany and posted the 95 Theses, a document that sparked the Reformation and literally changed the face of Europe. On this day in 2024, 504 years later, it’s likely the only door hammering that we’ll hear will come from the fists of little goblins and witches threatening mayhem and demanding treats. Times certainly have changed! But the holiday is the same, it’s All-Hallows Eve, a time to remember the dead and acknowledge the saints. In our text for today the writer continues his description of the new creation, a hope that enables us to move toward the future with confidence, knowing that death is not the end and beasts and monsters will never have any power over us. To some extent our conspiracy fixated times have bred deep feelings of uneasiness around the world. Many are very worried about the future and some are convinced that the end is near. The writer of Revelation lived in such times too, but was convinced that the One who had brought all things into existence, could be counted on at the end of time as well. Not even our enemy death will have the last word.

Thought for the Day: Why might we need a new heaven and a new earth?

Psalm 24

“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.” vss. 3-4

The psalmist had some high standards for those he adjudged to be fit for admission to the sanctuary of the Lord. His reasoning was logical. Since the Lord was the epitome of holiness, those who came into his presence should be known for the purity of their hearts and souls. While many of us are rightfully uncomfortable with that thinking (it doesn’t mesh well with our conviction that all are welcome at the Table of the Lord), it is important that we be reminded that behavior matters. Just because we acknowledge our own sin doesn’t mean we can throw holiness out the window. Words and actions do make a difference! Which makes our whole election process so difficult for people of faith! Most people arrive at their political positions through a lifetime of observations and experiences. We pretty much know whether we’re liberal or conservative or neither. But often we lament the choices that are forced upon us in an election. Sometimes we really question the holiness of the candidates and mistrust their truthfulness. We wonder if it really makes a difference if the words of our leaders are deceitful or misleading. It’s a hard decision–and some might even wonder what the psalmist would advise!

Thought for the Day: Is there any room for holiness in politics?

Psalm 24:1-6

“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.” vss. 1-2

Our faith ancestors certainly had an expansive notion of God’s dominion, not so big as our own perhaps, but big enough! As far as this psalmist was concerned all things in this world belonged to the Lord, and nothing was excluded. That’s why some folks today, those who spend time in regular meditation and contemplation, tell us that if we truly want to get a glimpse of God’s glory and majesty, the way to start is to get our heads out of our weighty theological tomes, and into the book of creation. It’s all right there for us, right in front of our eyes, and if we can put aside our smartphones for a moment, we’ll be stunned at what we see. The beauty is indescribable, beyond the capacity of artificial intelligence to create, and words are plainly inadequate. Even the finest videos can’t come close to replicating what’s right in front of our eyes every day of our lives. We knew that when we were children, sitting for hours watching a colony of ants go about their daily business, but somehow we’ve let the joy of watchfulness slip through our fingers. But not always! Sometimes God comes up behind us with one more big surprise, and we see just how very good this world really is.

Thought for the Day: What are the wonders of this world?

Isaiah 25:6-9

“And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever.” vs. 7

The universal dimensions of the prophet’s vision have been shared by many believers  through the centuries. This is no narrow anticipation of victory for a chosen few. Not only will there be a sumptuous feast on the mountain for all nations, but the shroud of death that has been our bain from the beginning will be lifted, and every tear will be wiped away. Paul must have been thinking of this verse when he wrote to the Romans that nothing, not even death, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Death really is a pain for us. Even though we know that it’s part of the natural order of things, it still hurts when it comes near, and sometimes the suffering it brings is overwhelming. And as we age, there’s comfort in knowing that one day, when we shut our weary eyes, the eyes of our souls will be opened to a new and glorious existence close to the heart of God. We have no adequate way of describing that final surprise, but it does feel good to know that when our days are over, God is our final destination. And that last day will be the best day of all!

Thought for the Day: When am I most likely to think of my life beyond death?

John 8:33-36

“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” vs. 36

Jesus says that he is able to free us from the slavery of sin. That’s a bold and rash statement and, unfortunately, not many people believe it. We’ve gotten so caught up in the old maxim that everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin that we’ve pretty much stopped believing that anyone can be sin free. Now it is true that we are going to be sinners for as long as we live in this broken and chaotic world, but we forget that in Christ we are set free. If then we have been set free from sin, why can’t we live as righteous persons instead of as sinners?  Otherwise why would Paul have written to the Galatians, “For freedom Christ has set you free, stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.”  Of course we will back slide as we move from sin to freedom from sin, but we don’t have to stay there! We’ve got all the tools we need–prayer, confession, absolution–to quickly move back onto the path of righteousness. We might start out with a 50-50 ratio but with the changing power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives we should be able to reach 80-20 without any problem at all. Think how great it would be to freely walk in righteousness for large portions of the day and night! This is what the beautiful life is like!

Thought for the Day: What’s my righteousness ratio right now?

John 8:31-32

“Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’” vss. 31-32

So many were interested in what Jesus had to say and some believed that he could  be the messiah. But Jesus knew that interest and belief weren’t enough; that was only a shallow beginning. To truly be his disciples they would need to continue in his word. It’s that word “continue” that was a stumbling block for many, and it continues to be so for us. We have become quite adept in introducing people to Jesus, with first introductions often taking place in Sunday School or confirmation classes. Occasionally those teachings are taken seriously and some young folks actually learn the basics of Jesus’ life, including the good news of his crucifixion and resurrection. And for most that’s enough! Armed with that basic knowledge they move on to live their lives, and don’t even come close to becoming disciples. And that’s really sad, because they never, ever experience the delight and joy of being free in Christ! But some do! Powerless to control their own lives, distraught with the chaos of life in this world of social media, they surrender to the Jesus they never knew, and discover the beauty of life in the Spirit. And as they continue in that life, love, peace, and joy proliferate, and they are set free to be.

Thought for the Day: How does one surrender to Jesus?

Romans 3:24-28

“For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.” vs. 28

Paul believed that all people had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But he also held that they had all been justified by God’s grace as a gift, through the redemption that had occurred in Christ Jesus. He further adds that the benefits of this great gift are made effective in faith. Paul’s add-on has frequently been misunderstood through the years. Some now insist that folks cannot be saved unless they believe, and preachers make great efforts to persuade people to make that step of faith. That kind of thinking is very close to being true, but it can give people the impression that the act of receiving Jesus as a personal savior is what gives them salvation. And that most certainly is not true. Salvation is a given. It has happened through Jesus a long time ago, and it is ours as a gift by the grace of God. How much better it is when people simply receive the gift with thanksgiving, and make no effort to claim any credit for themselves. While faith is important, and even crucial, for experiencing joy in daily living, we who call Jesus “Lord” are children of grace, and all the glory should go to God, the great architect of grace and mercy from eternity! 

Thought for the Day: What is grace centered living?

Romans 3:19-23

“Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.” vs. 19

At one time humans put a lot of trust in the law. They really believed that the brokenness of this good world could be resolved if people would be obedient to the extensive set of ordinances and commandments found in their sacred writings. But it didn’t work! All that the law could do was reveal sin–it did nothing to provide healing and reconciliation. After centuries of trying to obey the law, and then attempting to fix it by adding more laws, the conclusion of leaders like Paul was that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” But there was a solution! Paul said that we were going to have to rely on the sacrificial love of God and faithfully respond to what God has done in Christ Jesus. So the big question remains, does it really work? Does forgiveness really bring healing and restoration? And the answer is, “Of course!” There is no more powerful and restorative power in the universe than forgiveness that comes from the heart of God. It’s a force that actually changes broken humans from guilt-ridden captives of sin into righteous and holy saints of God. No matter what we have done, no matter how great our trespasses, God’s mercy sets us free to be the beautiful creatures we’ve been created to be.

Thought for the Day: What do I need to do to receive forgiveness?

Psalm 46:6-10

“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” vs. 10

More than once in this election season many have felt like echoing this psalm and wishing that the politicians would just be still. If only we could have even a moment’s relief from the ongoing diatribes and accusations it would be wonderful. But even when we turn off our social media, the loud voices interrupt our weekend football watching. Our one consolation in all of this is that, despite the turmoil and noise, God continues to be our ever present help in times of trouble. And people all around the world know this! In every land there are millions of people who know and exalt the living God, and they know that when the current crop of politicians has faded away, God will still be in charge. Rulers and governments come and go, some of them better than others, but God is the one constant in the universe. God was present in the beginning and God will be there at the end. And most important of all, God is with us now! And even though we humans have pretty much made a mess of everything that we’ve touched, our hope is built on nothing less than our Lord God’s steadfast love and righteousness. And  even when elections don’t go the way we want, God will continue to be our strength and consolation.  

Thought for the Day: Why is it hard for us to be still about political matters?

Psalm 46:1-7

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;” vss. 1-2

The psalmist knew about the ravages wrought by earthquakes and rapidly changing environments. Wars and invasions were an ever-present threat, and the unthinkable often became a reality. In other words, he knew all about our times, and composed for us a word of hope, and admonished us not to be afraid. His psalm has been read with thanksgiving in every time of tribulation and uncertainty, and even inspired Luther’s great hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” And certainly its timeless truths are most welcome in our own times of divisiveness and distress. We need to hear, more than ever, that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. God is not somewhere far away and we have not been abandoned. Indeed, God is as close as our heartbeat, an intimate presence that brings a spirit of peace and serenity that soothes our anxious souls. And it’s not just our wishful thinking or vivid imaginations that brings God close. The God of the psalmist and Luther. and every one of us, is as real as real can be. That’s such good news when we’re at the ends of our ropes with nowhere else to turn. And this is the best news: even if we don’t believe it, it’s still true! And always will be!

Thought for the Day: How can God be real if I don’t believe?