Matthew 16:21-23

“But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’” vs. 23 

Peter, obviously basking in the recognition given him by Jesus, mistakenly assumes that his new role gave him permission to question the dismal picture of the future painted by Jesus. Like most Jews he strongly believed that the messiah would restore the kingdom of Israel. So when Jesus said he was going to suffer, be crucified, and die, he refused to believe it.

But Jesus was insistent. He’d heard the whispering of Satan before, and Peter’s words were but an echo of the wilderness temptations. He doesn’t fire Peter or replace him with one of the sons of Zebedee. Peter would still be the rock on which he would build his church, but he still didn’t get the vision. He still didn’t know how critical suffering was to the big picture.

It’s hard to put aside the rose-colored glasses that allow us to ignore the pain and suffering of this world. We want so badly for everything to be nice and according to plan. We want good people to triumph and prosper while evil folks get what’s coming to them. We just can’t see that it’s in the crucible of life, where pain and suffering abound, that we find our strength and our glory. It’s there that we come face to face with resurrection and are raised up to be our true selves.

Thought for the Day: What am I doing to avoid suffering?

Romans 12:14-21

“No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” vss. 21-22

One of the ways in which countries can gain control of others is through a process that has been called “immiseration,” the act of gaining victory through impoverishing one’s opponents. This can be done in a variety of ways: embargoes, blockades, tariffs, and cutting off water, food, and medical supplies. Currently it’s being used in a number of places around the globe with varying success. 

It’s doubtful that the apostle Paul or Jesus would have had high regard for immiseration at any level. They seemed to have the quaint notion that we should love our enemies, pray for them, feed them if they were hungry, and give them water when they were thirsty. But in these times, we seem to have decided that deprivation on every level is the best and quickest way to bring about change. Many parents have even found it useful in dealing with unruly children!

Granted, statecraft and parenting are complicated and sometimes there is a need for hard decisions, ones that take us beyond the scope of the Golden Rule. But there is no need to relish the pain that we are inflicting on others. And we too often forget that goodness really is the most powerful weapon we have in combatting evil.

Thought for the Day: Why are we unwilling to try Paul’s formula for overcoming evil?

Romans 12:9-13

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.” vss. 12-13

After giving the Roman faithful a healthy dose of doctrine and complex legal arguments Paul moves on to what seems to be the core of his message.  He wants them to know what is really important for their community of faith, and it isn’t having proper theology! What counts is the cohesiveness of their little congregation and the way they treat other members of Christ’s Body.

Obviously, hope will be the hallmark of their life together. It’s the central message of the resurrection of Jesus. Not even death can separate them from the love of God! And contrary to what they might have expected, they will find strength and comfort in their shared suffering. And this is probably most important! Their community will be knit together by their shared commitment to prayer! Without it they will likely drift apart, but in praying for one another they will discover strength and unity.

It’s this part of Paul’s message that continues to resonate with the faithful. This is the way it is in our congregations too, and like Paul’s community, we will also be generous in our giving and hospitable to strangers. Even in a country that seems to be closing in on itself, our faith communities will lead the way in welcoming those seeking refuge and asylum. That’s what followers of Jesus have always done and that’s what we will continue to do.

Thought for the Day: What are the strengths of my faith community?

Psalm 26:1-8

“Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and mind.” vss. 1-2

This psalmist has the utmost confidence in his own righteousness. If there were any entrance requirements for temple worship, he has no doubts about passing the test. He is a man of integrity and has nothing to hide from the Lord. There is no question that he is one of the righteous.

This isn’t what we’re used to reading in the psalms. Typically the psalmists come before the Lord with confession and repentance on their minds, and call attention to their lowliness and humility. But not this fellow! It’s like he’s writing his own letter of recommendation for a temple job opening.

There are times in life when we might need to take a deep breath and put together a list of attributes for another person’s consideration. Maybe we’re involved in courtship and want our beloved to think highly of us! Or maybe there’s a job that we would dearly love to have and we’ve been asked to put together a list of our finest qualities! There are some folks, like the psalmist, who could easily do that. But for most of us it’s not that easy. We’re so aware of our own brokenness that it’s much easier to come up with our faults.

What a blessing it is to know that God sees our innate goodness, and we don’t have to pass a test in order to be loved.

Thought for the Day: What are my best qualities?

Jeremiah 15:19-21

“Therefore, thus says the Lord: If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them.” vs. 19

Jeremiah had had enough. He had answered the call of the Lord and spoken the words that had been put in his mouth, and the people to whom he spoke responded with abuse and ridicule. And now he lamented his initial response. As he put it, the Lord had become for him like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail. 

But the Lord wasn’t through with him. He told Jeremiah that if he turned back he could continue as prophet. But there was one caveat: he needed to utter what was precious, and not what is worthless. Ultimately the Lord promises, the people will listen to him.

Jeremiah’s words provide valuable insights to any who have felt the call to speak on the Lord’s behalf. So often prophets become discouraged at the first sign of opposition or hostility. At that point some will adjust their speech to gain the approval of the people. They want so badly to be liked that they alter their testimony. Soon what they are saying is little more than drivel, words without power that can never change hearts.

True prophets will forget about people pleasing and remember that their call is to speak boldly.

Thought for the Day: Am I a prophet or a people pleaser?

Jeremiah 15:15-18

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.”  vs. 16

Jeremiah was called to be a prophet about 627 B. C., during the reign of King Josiah. At first he had resisted the call and claimed to be too young, but ultimately as this verse indicates, the Lord’s words became to him a joy and the delight of his heart. This does not mean he loved his work! He discovered early on that speaking truth to power can be a wearisome calling. Other prophets in the king’s court disagreed with his assessment of the country’s future, and they had the king’s ear. Jeremiah became a pariah to his own people and was regularly mocked and insulted for what he dared to say.

That’s still what happens when people are filled with indignation at what is happening in their community or nation. Their passion rips them out of their comfort zone and they begin to speak up instead of being silent. That’s a huge decision because being a prophet is no way to win a popularity contest. Indeed, people have found that in this age of social media and low regard for truth, getting noticed in the public square can open the floodgates to unbelievable false accusations from every direction. The harassment can be intense!

Why do it? Well, as Jeremiah knew, prophets have a calling, and once called, it’s hard to be silent!

Thought for the Day: Where have I seen prophets in action?

Matthew 16:17-20

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” vs. 18

The disciples had likely seen the temple of Pan at Caesarea Philippi, and had marveled at the water gushing out of the grotto on which it stood. According to one of the legends attached to this wonder of nature, because the ancients didn’t have a clue where all the water was coming from, this feature was known as the Gates of Hades, the entrance to the underworld.

Because he likely knew the story, when Jesus tells Simon that he is now the rock on which the church will be built, he adds that the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. It was a figurative way of saying that there was no force in all the universe that could be more powerful than the Church. And he was right!

In spite of Peter’s clumsy attempts to be a strong and capable leader, in spite of the misfits who occasionally were seated on the papal throne, in spite of periodic excursions into sorry episodes of abuse and corruption, the Church remains today as the universal presence of Jesus Christ in the world. Through a network of diverse denominations and congregations, Spirit-filled men and women continue to proclaim an inclusive message of love, mercy, and justice. And everywhere the gospel is lived and proclaimed, there is bound to be healing and restoration. We can count on it!

Thought for the Day: What difference has the Church made in my life?

Matthew 16:13-16

“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’” vss. 15-16

Caesarea Philippi was located north of the Sea of Galilee at the headwaters of the Jordan River. It was famous for its temple to the Greek god Pan and at the time of Jesus, included a temple dedicated to the Roman Emperor, Augustus. Many wealthy Romans came there, not only to make offerings, but to soak in the waters of the springs that gushed from the grotto of the Pan temple. Presumably Jesus led his disciples there for a time of rest.

In that setting Jesus began an important conversation by asking the question, “Who do you say that I am?” And Simon Peter nails the answer by saying that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah. The true Divine Presence wasn’t a Greek or Roman god; it wasn’t the emperor; it wasn’t even the reincarnation of Elijah or John the baptizer. Jesus was, as Simon Peter put it, the Son of the living God.

Of course Peter didn’t realize the implication of what he had said, and he shows in his later actions that he didn’t have a clue about what a messiah would actually do. Sometime later the writer of the gospel of John describes Jesus more fully as the Incarnation of the Word of God, and his words have been even more helpful as believers continue their quest to understand who Jesus is for them. The question doesn’t have an easy answer, but it deserves the full attention of every faithful person.

Thought for the Day: Who do I say that Jesus is?

Romans 12:3-8

“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” vs. 3

We can’t help but be stunned at the inflated egos of those who have risen to positions of authority and leadership in this world. It seems as though every organization is filled with men and women who love to flaunt their position, and who take every opportunity to let everyone know how great and wonderful they are. That tendency is obvious among politicians but what alarms us is when even our faith communities are riddled with ego-driven leaders with an air of entitlement.

Paul was familiar with such types. His world was filled with them! But it came as a surprise to him when ego issues began to be a problem in the household churches that had grown up under his leadership. He admonishes his readers not to think of themselves more highly than they ought to think. The Church is the Body of Christ, and each person has gifts and a role to play, but none are to lord it over the others. All, even the leaders, are to serve with gentle humility.

It’s hard to control our egos in a world like ours. We are continually encouraged to exaggerate our skills and elevate our talents. But that’s not how the Spirit operates. Jesus said plainly, “Blessed are the meek and the poor in spirit.”

Thought for the Day: How highly do I think of myself?

Romans 12:1-2

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” vs. 2

In recent years countless entrepreneurial types have discovered they can make millions of dollars by using social media to advertise products of various kinds to their followers. They simply take a video of themselves, well made-up and looking beautiful, showing how their life is being enhanced by particular brands of clothing, beauty products, or music. There are endless opportunities for photogenic folks, and companies pay well for the exposure.

The scheme works because we love to conform ourselves to the world–and we can be counted on to imitate those we admire. That’s the way humans operate, and Paul knew it well. And he pleaded with his readers not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. 

Paul believed that this internal spiritual discernment would reveal the will of God for every person, i.e. those things that are good and acceptable and perfect. Paul’s insight is right on. We don’t discover the beauty of creation through attachment to social media and conformity to the world. Discerning the will of God comes slowly through the transformation of our minds by the power of the Holy Spirit. And it has nothing to do with the brands we use or wear!

Thought for the Day: How am I being transformed?