Jeremiah 31:31-34

“No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.” vs. 34

Whatever we might say about the bible, no matter how confused we get about its writings, even skeptics will have to admit that it is an enormously hopeful book. No matter what calamities and disasters had come close to the people, the writers were able to look into the future and see an ending to the brokenness that had afflicted the nations from the beginning. Jeremiah provides a perfect example. Writing at a time when the future of Israel hung in the balance, and total collapse was at hand, he dared to paint a picture of a future in which there would be unity with the Divine Presence. It’s a vision that many still hold close to their hearts even as current events and collisions of culture seem to be bringing greater enmity among nations. For some the brokenness seems overwhelming. But people of faith keep on hoping, and insist that with forgiveness unity may be restored. We even say that there is a blueprint for the road to peace if we can move from a mindset of hate and retribution to an embrace of love and restoration. And for followers of Jesus, this isn’t just something we hope for. No, we are bold to actually say that this is what will happen!

Thought for the Day: How is hope possible in these times?

Mark 10:41-45

“…but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” vss. 43b-45

When the disciples caught wind of what James and John were up to, they erupted in anger, and Jesus had to step in to settle things down. Their behavior was contrary to everything that he stood for, and he did not mince words in setting them straight. While it is true that leaders in this world lord it over those they perceive to be their followers, his disciples had been called to be servants. Certainly that was how he perceived his own mission–he had come to serve and not to be served! And that’s why every faith community worth its salt will be dedicated to service in all that they do. Not only will their leaders lead through sacrificial service, but every member will live out their call in the same way. There is just no room in the church for outsized egos and for leaders who love the limelight. Not that this doesn’t happen. We’re well acquainted with celebrity preachers who relish lavish living and the attention received from adoring followers. But these few bad apples can’t begin to outweigh the thousands of genuine leaders on every level who live according to the principles of Jesus. Love and service are a combination that can’t be matched and in their presence humans flourish!

Thought for the Day: What makes celebrity preachers so appealing?

Mark 10:35-40

“And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’” vss. 36-37

James and John presumably assumed that, since they had been among the first to follow Jesus, they should get the seats of power in the coming messianic kingdom. So, while on the way to Jerusalem they make their bold and unseemly request. They obviously didn’t have a clue about Jesus’ aims or priorities. They didn’t know that in a few weeks their lives would be turned upside down in ways that they couldn’t even imagine, and it wasn’t going to be a pleasant journey. Actually that’s the way it is for most of us as we follow Jesus. Most of us assume things are going to go pretty much as they have been going, and we’d love to soak up as many blessings as possible–maybe a promotion or a pay hike, or a new job more in line with what we deserve. But we really don’t know what lies ahead! And with nations seriously preparing for wars the likes of which we’ve never seen, there could be explosive changes for every one of us. And at the same time we face uncertainties as individuals. We all know people whose lives have been irrevocably changed through accidents or illnesses–and many never ever saw it coming. Our only hope is that, no matter what happens, Jesus will never desert us.

Thought for the Day: How am I preparing for the future?

Hebrews 5:1-10

“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” vs. 7

The writer of Hebrews used the sacrificial system of Judaism as a template for helping Jewish Christians understand why it was necessary for Jesus to undergo sufferings and death at the hands of the religious leaders. Just as the appointed high priests of Israel had offered up gifts and sacrifices for the sins of the people, so Jesus, having been appointed High Priest by God, offered himself as a sacrifice for the restoration of our broken world. While the language used in this passage may seem strange to us, especially in the references to Melchizadek, the writer is right on in his understanding the link between unconditional love and sacrifice. There remains no better way to express steadfast love than in sacrificing one’s life for the sake of others. We regularly celebrate this connection as we honor those who serve in the armed forces, but it’s even better when we recognize the amazing sacrificial service being done out of love for Jesus in congregations and ministries all around the world. We don’t always see the better side of humanity, but when we do, it almost always involves the conjunction of love and sacrifice. And it happens more often than we think!

Thought for the Day: Where have I seen love and service combined for great good?

Psalm 91:13-16

“When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.” 15-16

While we do know that believers are not guaranteed long life, and that our endings can catch us by surprise, long life is one of the most appreciated blessings we can receive. It feels good to be able to live through milestone birthdays and enjoy this beautiful world just a little bit longer, particularly if we can enjoy good health along the way. But God doesn’t just show up in the latter days with an old age extension for some, our God is with all people, particularly when trouble comes near, as a companion through good times and bad. Of course it hurts when death comes too soon, and people are robbed of special time with family and friends, but even then we are promised that death is no match for God’s love, and new life awaits. The psalmist is right. God’s blessings never come to an end, and if long life does happen to be a part of our game plan, there’s nothing better than to offer thanks and praise to God for one more day of grace and joy. We certainly don’t deserve more time in this world than other folks, but when those decades keep extending, there’s nothing better than to say, “Thank you, God, for yet another day.”

Thought for the Day: What are the blessings and curses of long life?

Psalm 91:9-13

“Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.” vss. 9-10

Scholars believe that this was a kind of benediction that was pronounced by the priest as the people left a celebratory worship service. The worshipers had come to offer sacrifices, prayers, and thanksgiving as a demonstration of their trust in the Lord. And as they departed from the sanctuary they heard words of reassurance as they headed home. No evil would befall them, no scourge would come near their tents, and they felt peace in their hearts. It’s nice to be able to leave worship with words like that echoing in our ears. Of course, even as we hear them, we know that some disaster could strike. Our faith does not make us immune to the bad things that are a part of life, nor does God throw up a protective shield around us. But still it’s a blessing to know that God will bless us and keep us, and make his face shine upon us. Those are the words of continuing peace and security that we long to hear every day. Even if our weeks don’t turn out as well as we hope they will, it’s good to know that the Lord walks with us through every day, no matter what dangers we might encounter. That’s just who God is, an ever-present help in times of trouble. 

Thought for the Day: What’s my favorite benediction?

Isaiah 53:10-12

“Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.” vs. 10

It was the conviction of the prophet that what had happened to the Servant (Israel) was a part of a larger plan. What the people suffered in Babylon was horrible, a crushing blow to their identity and their dreams. For another prophet of the exile, Ezekiel, with his image of the valley of dry bones, it was the death of Israel. But it wasn’t the end. In Isaiah’s words, the Servant’s life was an offering for sin, a sacrifice that would bring life and salvation. For early Christians these ancient words brought meaning to the tragic death of Jesus–it hadn’t been an accident or a mistake, but a part of a divine plan. Believers continue to use such insights to deal with the tragedies that bring such pain to their existence. When people suffer and experience crushing defeats, we often see them recover with amazing resilience when they see purpose in their suffering. The trajectory of lives can change in a heartbeat, and plans can be extinguished, yet somehow we find the will and the desire to persevere. And then, years down the road, we begin to see that all the ugliness was part of a greater plan. Not all folks come to that point, but many do, and for them it’s a blessing.

Thought for the Day: How has tragedy changed my life?

Isaiah 53:4-9

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.” vs.5

Through this section of Isaiah the prophet portrayed Israel as a servant, and describes the exile in Babylon as a time of terrible punishment and oppression. Here the Servant is wounded, crushed for the iniquities of the kingdom of Judah. This poignant psalm became a source of comfort in post-exilic times. The punishment had been endured for the sake of the people in later generations, and through the Servant’s suffering there had been healing. This chapter presents an amazing picture of redemptive suffering and after the death and resurrection of Jesus it became for the early church an explanation for Jesus’ unexpected death on the cross. There had been a purpose for his beatings and abuse at the hands of the religious leaders. The cross was Jesus’ punishment for the sins of the world. It’s not that Isaiah had foreseen what would happen to Jesus. But rather, the followers of Jesus saw in what Isaiah had written the perfect explanation for his suffering and death. And while there has been enormous debate through the centuries about atonement and the meaning of Jesus’ death, this passage continues to remind us that we are not alone in our suffering. In fact, these dark and painful times are the closest we ever come to the Divine Presence.

Thought for the Day: What is redemptive suffering?

Mark 10:23-31

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’” vs. 25

In some ways the world that Jesus lived in was not that much different from our own. There were huge disparities between the rich and the poor, people complained about taxes, and the wealthy controlled everything. And to the amazement of his disciples, Jesus never had anything good to say about riches. While he would occasionally sit at table in the home of a rich man, and a few wealthy people did become his followers, he consistently taught that seeking riches was pointless. Here he even indicates that the door of the kingdom of God is closed to those who are rich. The disciples didn’t like to hear that and neither do we, especially since a majority of folks in our country are addicted to money and love to accumulate as much as they can. And because we don’t like this teaching we do everything we can to find loopholes in what Jesus said, or at least reinterpret it in ways that will allow the wealthy (including ourselves) to wiggle off the hook. It’s just so hard for us to believe that the billionaires are foolish and that there are better ways to live in this beautiful world. Even people who regularly worship and who claim to be following in the way of Jesus close their ears to his warnings about wealth, and go blithely on their way.

Thought for the Day: How do I rationalize Jesus’ teachings about riches?

Mark 10:17-22

“Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’” vs. 21

Jesus had been teaching about the cost of discipleship, and now the question of the good rich man gave him a vivid real life illustration. When the man heard Jesus’ words, Mark says, he was shocked and went away grieving. And who wouldn’t be? There’s not likely a person among us who wouldn’t have done the same thing. We have become so accustomed to our prosperity that we can’t even conceive of holding a giant estate sale and giving all the proceeds to the poor. And we would have a thousand good excuses why we shouldn’t do it! And we would be right. In nearly all circumstances such an action would be totally irresponsible. But that’s not the point! The story is here not as an illustration of what we should do, but to make us think about our undeniable obsession with material possessions. We have become so connected to our stuff that we take scarcely any time at all to nurture the spiritual side of ourselves. If we manage to carve out half an hour per day for meditation and prayer, we are a rarity in our world. Make no mistake about it! Things exert enormous power and control over us, and it’s only when we begin to give them away that we can start to get a taste of freedom.

Thought for the Day: What things have a hold on me?