Psalm 138

“The Lord will fulfil his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures for ever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” vs. 8

If we care at all about this world and our place in it, we will more than likely wonder about our purpose. Since none of us receive instruction books at birth many will feel as though they are having to make things up as the years fly by. Surely, they think to themselves, there has to be a purpose in all of this. Occasionally we’ll even think we’ve got it figured out, but then stuff happens and our carefully made plans fall apart like a cheap suit.

The psalmist suggests that worrying about our purpose in life is a waste of time, because what’s really important is God’s purpose for us. And by faith he believed that the Lord’s purpose would be fulfilled in his life.

And how did he know this? Well, he connects the Lord’s purpose with the Lord’s steadfast love. Our love connection with God means that God uses us to fulfill our common purpose. So rather than obsess about our purpose, it’s far more productive to simply stay connected to the Divine Presence. When that connection is nurtured and maintained we don’t even need to think about our purpose. Surrounded by the love of God we will simply live into it. And God’s will will be done!

Thought for the Day: What is God’s purpose for me?

Isaiah 51:4-6

“Listen to me, my people, and give heed to me, my nation; for a teaching will go out from me, and my justice for a light to the peoples.” vs. 4 

The prophet knew that, even though the people were living in captivity, Israel had a purpose that went beyond the present circumstances. Some day a teaching would go forth that would transform the world, and God’s justice would be a light to the nations. 

And whatever we might make of Israel’s place in the contemporary political situation, the prophet’s insight was correct. There is a transforming light that has come out of Israel and that now lights up the earth.

But it’s not related to the current turmoil and seemingly endless war in the Middle East. That terrible situation has nothing to do with God’s justice or mercy, but is a reflection of the human desire for power and dominion. It’s a horrendous symbol of humanity’s brokenness and lust for revenge. 

But the justice Isaiah was speaking of is rooted deeply in the teachings of the Law and its affirmation of God’s steadfast love for the humble and the lowly. That good news became incarnate in the life and ministry of Jesus and has spread to every nation on the globe. The core of that message is indeed found in the teachings of Israel and we can be thankful for the prophets and teachers who risked their lives to make sure that God’s Light has never gone out.

Thought for the Day: What part of my Jewish heritage is most precious to me?

Isaiah 51:1-3

“Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the Lord. Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.”  vs. 1

Many people have a strong interest in genealogy and ancestry. They like to trace their national and ethnic origins, and to learn as much as they can about their historical roots. Isaiah encouraged the Israelites to do exactly that as they languished in captivity, and advised them to look to the rock from which they had been hewn. He believed that such a search would draw them closer to the Lord. In looking to their ancestors they would discover their calling.

That’s a truth that some find hard to accept. They’ve bought into the notion that the future holds the secrets to happiness and bountiful living, and are always trying out the newest ideas and products that the influencers say will bring them the meaning and purpose they’ve always desired. And they’re downright obsessed with looking good and being wealthy! 

But when we look to the past we discover that, even though some of our forebearers led miserable lives, a good many of them had remarkable depth and profound faith. They served God through their entire lives, and rejoiced at the peace that filled their days. If we’ve been blessed with such a family, Isaiah would advise us to pay attention to their wisdom and singularity of purpose. They are the incarnation of the Rock which is the foundation of this world.

Thought for the Day: What strengths and values have I gotten from my ancestors?

Matthew 15:27-28

“Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.” vs. 28

Periodically in the course of Jesus’ ministry he encountered faith in the most surprising people, and it always impressed him. This pagan woman had irritated his disciples with her loud cries for assistance, and she’d even gotten under his skin a bit, but when she followed up his put-down with a clever rejoinder, he was impressed. And he saw immediately that the source of her persistence was faith, and he gave her what she wished. Her daughter was healed.

It’s still amazing to see faith pop up in unexpected circumstances, and we’re always a bit surprised. Mostly it’s because we probably never guessed that this person even had any faith at all. To all appearances they’re completely irreligious and caught up in the ways of the world. We’ve never seen them in a church and may have supposed that they worship only the gods of culture or the latest popular influencer.

Yet here they are bearing testimony to us of their deep and profound faith in the Lord Jesus, and confident that God will hear their every prayer. We may not see faith practices in the way they live but it’s obvious that deep inside they have deep and powerful connections with the spiritual realm. Sometimes they put us to shame and we wish that we could be as bold in articulating our faith in a public way.

Thought for the Day: Times when I’ve been surprised by the faith of others.

Matthew 15:21-24

“Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.’ But he did not answer her at all.” vss. 22-23a

It’s not clear why Jesus entered into Gentile territory with his disciples. It could be that he simply wanted time away from the crowds that were following him everywhere that he went. He doesn’t seem to have been interested in ministry in that region. His whole purpose had been to announce the coming of God’s kingdom to the Jews. 

But somehow this Canaanite woman had heard about him, and because her daughter was tormented by a demon, when he passed by she shouted to Jesus for help. And he did nothing! He didn’t answer her a word, a response that surprises us, given the amount of compassion he had been showing to the crowds in Galilee. And then when she continues to harass him, he hurls a kind of insult in her direction, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs!”

But the woman was unfazed; she didn’t care about such things. The needs of her child were more important than anything else, and she persisted. Like we would do, she didn’t let red tape stand in the way of the care her child needed. Sometimes the rules just need to be broken and barriers removed, and she continued to beg Jesus until she got her way.

Thought for the Day: How do I react to restrictive red tape?

Romans 11:30-32

“For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.” vs. 32

While Paul is to be cherished and admired for his remarkable apostolic ministry, we can’t help but wish that his writings were easier to understand. Sometimes we have particular difficulty as he explains his insights on God’s relationship to the Jews. He obviously cared deeply about his people, and wanted to clarify their place in salvation history.

The problem is that the nuances of his argument are difficult to follow, and sometimes his conclusions seem obscure. We wonder if there wasn’t an easier way for him to get his point across. Of course some biblical interpreters love the difficulty, especially since they get to show off their expertise, even if only a few know what they’re talking about!

But even if we don’t like digging in commentaries or using AI to get at the meaning of Paul’s words, we can often get the sense of what he’s saying, and here as always, his focus is on grace and mercy. Even though all people are good and created in God’s image, they are also all broken. Disobedience is common to all! 

The good news is that God’s mercy extends to all, and there are no exceptions. All humanity is both good and broken. Perhaps the best news we can wring from this is that there is hope for all. Restoration and new life are in our future! Praise God!

Thought for the Day: How do I deal with obscure and difficult passages in the bible?

Romans 11:1-2a, 29

“God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew…for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Because Paul was skilled in the debating style of his time, and used arguments that can seem convoluted to us, it’s not always easy to figure out his logic. Sometimes the words spin in our brains, and we wonder about his point. It’s no wonder then that some just skip over the difficult passages in his letters, and that’s okay. Our salvation is not dependent on figuring out the meaning of obscure verses!

But sometimes we find gems even when we’re not particularly confident about his points. Here, for instance, as he laments the failure of his own people to accept Jesus as messiah, he continues to insist that God has not rejected Israel. Indeed, what they have done has proven to be a huge blessing for the Gentiles! And then he says this, “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

Wow! What a blessing for us to know that God’s gifts and our calling will never be taken away from us! Not because we are so obedient and wonderful, but because God keeps promises, even when we don’t! In other words, the grace of God is not conditional! There simply can’t be any better good news than that. Even when we think we’re beyond redemption, God’s love continues. Our future is secure!

Thought for the Day: What happens when we abandon our calling?

Psalm 67:4-7

“The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.” vss. 6-7

The psalmist today gives us an insight that we should fold into our hearts during these dark and contentious times. Yes, people are showing themselves to be liars and untrustworthy. Yes, billionaires continue to manipulate the government and the economy to amass even more wealth for themselves and their families. But we can never allow human brokenness to obscure God’s goodness!

We live on a planet unlike any other in the universe, one that has nurtured life in unbelievable ways. And because the earth is uniquely fashioned for habitation and has yielded its increase, humans have prospered. We have been blessed by God. There is an equilibrium between the natural world and quantum forces that holds all things together in a way that can not be replicated. All things work together for good.

And because this is true, we cannot allow the corrupting influence of humanity to destroy our appreciation for this beautiful blue dot in the Milky Way. As the psalmist prays, “May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.” Every day gives us a multitude of opportunities to offer praise and thanksgiving for the wonder and beauty that surrounds us. Earth is a good place to live! Who in their right minds would ever want to live on Mars?!

Thought for the Day: What gives me the most joy on my daily journey?

Psalm 67:1-3

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us,  Selah  that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.” vss. 1-2

In many faith communities the Aaronic Benediction from the book of Numbers is pronounced by the pastor at the close of worship. It’s a blessing for the people as they leave the sanctuary and go out into their mission field. But here, presumably as a part of temple worship, the psalmist begins with a blessing, and it really isn’t a bad idea.  It could be that we need the assurance of God’s grace as we open our hearts to God and begin our confession. It might even be better than the common place, “Good morning and welcome to worship.”

And then the psalmist throws in the word “selah,” a mysterious Hebrew term that occurs 71 times in the book of Psalms. Even AI doesn’t know what it means, and the best biblical scholars disagree. The best guess is that it is a direction of sorts, perhaps a pause for an instrumental interlude, or maybe a prompt to bow the head or lift up the eyes. We really don’t know!

What we do know is that worship is not only a time for sermons, hymns, and Holy Communion, but an occasion for meditation and reflection on God’s gracious love and saving power. It really is a time to be still before the Lord, and reconnect with the Divine Presence.

Thought for Day: What happens inside me as I worship?

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8

“Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.” vs. 8

Some might wonder why so many of the Old Testament scriptures that are read in our congregations on a weekly basis come from the book of Isaiah. If we’ve been paying attention, the answer should be obvious. Isaiah was Jesus’ favorite! Not only was Isaiah the scroll that he chose to read when he came to his home synagogue in Nazareth, he seems to have used Isaiah as a guide for much of his other teaching and preaching.

In the part of Isaiah chosen for this week’s reading, the emphasis is one that Jesus most certainly carried in his heart as a guide for ministry. He too had a heart for the outcasts of Israel, and he focused his attention on those rejected by the religious people of his day. And wherever he went it was those misfits, the sinners and tax collectors, who flocked to hear what he had to say. Eventually Jesus even reached out to non-Jews, Romans and Gentiles, to offer his healing touch.

Anyone in our day who has the slightest interest in walking in the way of Jesus will do the same. While it’s comfortable to reach out to those like ourselves, it’s the refugees, the needy, and the poor who will be our focus. Such ministry is never easy, but it’s what true followers of Jesus will hold close to their hearts.

Thought for the Day: What scriptures are my favorites?