Psalm 23:4-6

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.” vs. 4

There is a lot to be troubled about in our good but broken world. Even if we don’t believe in climate change, global warming cannot be denied, and we’re feeling its effects in a myriad of ways. The war in Gaza continues with little prospect of even a ceasefire agreement to end the humanitarian suffering. China is threatening Taiwan. The Ukrainian war continues. Refugees are on the move, more than ever before in history. Atomic bomb stockpiles are being replenished. The internet, once hailed as a boon to human development, has proven to be a cesspool of misinformation, lies, and deception. There is good reason for us to be frightened about the future! But in the midst of all that scary stuff, people of faith continue to find comfort and hope in scripture, and no passage is dearer to our hearts than the Twenty-third Psalm. There is no reason for existential fear because we aren’t alone! God is never apart from us, even in our darkest valleys, and evil will never have the last word. We have a Shepherd who loves sacrificially and unconditionally, and as the arms of the Shepherd embrace us, our fears fall away and we find comfort. And that’s no pious malarkey!  It really does happen. Even now God brings precious consolation to believers of every folk and nation. And blessed are those who know this to be true!

Thought for the Day: Why do I not fear the future?

Psalm 23:1-3

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” vs. 1

In case you missed it, there is a presidential campaign going on, one of the most divisive in generations, with both major candidates framing the election as a choice between good and evil. Of course that’s not true, and we should know better. Both men have been created in the image of God, both have goodness in their DNA. And both are flawed! They are broken persons, or to use another word, both are sinners. And come election day people will be choosing a president based on their own good and flawed reasons. In this whole process we will continually need to remember that we are not choosing a messiah, and whoever we choose will not be our country’s savior. In fact, in not too many years, our grandchildren will be hard-pressed to remember which of them emerged the winner. We know this–it’s a lesson that history teaches quite clearly. Presidents, dictators, countries even, all come and go, and life will continue unabated. This doesn’t mean that our choice this year will make no difference–there will be obvious policy shifts and we’ll like some and detest others. Our vote does make a difference in that respect. But these men will never be our Shepherd, even if their out-sized egos give that impression. We already have a Shepherd, and because the Lord fills that role, we will never be in want.

Thought for the Day: Why are people so passionate about this election?

Ezekiel 2:1-5

“Whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a prophet among them.” vs. 5

Ezekiel had been deported to Babylon along with thousands of other residents of Jerusalem and Judea. Sometime later, probably as a young man, he was grasped by the Spirit and told that he had been chosen to bring the Word of the Lord to the people living in exile. He was told that some would listen and some would not, but at least they would know that there had been a prophet among them. There has always been a need for prophets among God’s people and our age is no exception. The problem has been one of discernment. Which are the true prophets and which are the charlatans? Some of those claiming to be prophets are using their platforms to terrify and frighten their audiences by saying demonic forces are on the attack. True prophets will begin with a call to repentance and reformation, and then point the way to hope and salvation. Their focus will not be the latest terrifying tropes they’ve gleaned from social media, but on the good news of forgiveness and love that is ours in Christ Jesus. It’s as we give ourselves in sacrificial love to others that we hear God’s sanctifying word of grace, and that’s the message that a true prophet will consistently bring.

Thought for the Day: Why is attacking others so much easier than self-examination?

Mark 5:21-23, 35-43

“When he had entered, he said to them, ‘Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.’” vs. 39

When death comes to our families there is almost always sadness and grief. Visitors come to offer consolation and support. Tears will be shed, and occasionally the setting can even be chaotic. That’s particularly true when the mourners are unfamiliar with the feelings death brings–perhaps they’ve never before experienced the loss of a loved one, and they’re not quite sure what to do. The feelings of sadness can be overwhelming. But for those who have been nurtured in Christ Jesus, and who have taken to heart the message of new life, know what to do when death visits their home. Of course there will be tears, but there will also be an undercurrent of hope. When a person’s trust is in Jesus, death is never the end of the road, but rather the beginning of new life. So when a loved one dies our faith kicks in and we remember the promises of scripture. A service begins to be planned, one that will include the whole faith community, and while attention will be paid to remembering the life of the one who has died, the focus of our worship will be on resurrection. We’ll acknowledge the foibles and faith of the one who has died, but it’s the good news of Jesus that will bring us comfort and peace.

Thought for the Day: Why don’t some people want a funeral service?

Mark 5:24-34

“He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’” vs. 34

When the woman with the flow of blood was healed by touching Jesus’ garment in the midst of the crowd, he assured her that it was her faith that had made her well. We’re not surprised by his words; he regularly credits trust as a major factor in his healing ministry. It’s no wonder then that people continue to believe that healing has a strong connection to faith. And they’re right! Countless medical practitioners have borne testimony to the importance of faith in the entire healing process. It does make a difference. But we run into problems when we begin believing that faith brings certainty to healing. There are times when an abundance of faith is present and diseases still result in death or continued illness. No matter how sincere or fervent our prayers, we will not always get the desired results, and those who offer guarantees are being deceptive. There’s always mystery involved in healing, and while we’ve figured out a multitude of ways to increase its odds, we simply can’t offer certainties. But having said this, we should never downplay or discount the blessings that come from the prayers of a faithful heart. Faith does make a difference. If that weren’t true, people would have stopped praying a long time ago!

Thought for the Day: How has my faith made me well?

2 Corinthians 8:7-13

“Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.” vs. 7

Because most congregations operate on a budget and are dependent on the giving of members for their revenues, there is often one Sunday during the year in which the preacher will use the sermon to encourage increased giving. Sometimes this “Commitment Sunday” is part of a multi-week “Stewardship Campaign.” In many congregations neither the pastor nor the members look forward to what has been called “the sermon on the amount.” Paul would have been puzzled by that notion. For him anyone claiming to have faith in Jesus Christ would also excel in loving and giving, and he wasn’t one bit bashful about asking for more contributions if the need was great. And because love of money is idolatry, no pastor should be reluctant to talk about it. In fact, such a great danger to our spiritual health should likely be mentioned frequently in the course of the year. Jesus talked regularly about the perils of wealth; it seems to have been one of his favorite topics. Of course speaking about money is uncomfortable–it’s deeply personal and we like to keep our financial matters hidden, sometimes because we don’t want our neighbors to know how stingy we really are! Learning to be generous is really hard, but it’s one of life’s most gratifying lessons.

Thought for the Day: What’s my reaction to a sermon about money?

2  Corinthians 8:3-6

“For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints–” vss. 3-4

A part of Paul’s work as a missionary in the early church included what we might call “advocacy.” A famine was causing severe hardship for the believers in and around Jerusalem, and Paul believed that the congregations in Greece had a responsibility to provide material assistance. He put out the word and sent his companion, Titus, to take up a collection for the hungry and the needy. He tells the Corinthians that he was amazed at the response of the people in Philippi, saying that they had “given beyond their means” for the privilege of sharing. Those stories have continued to be common within the Body of Christ. We belong to a world-wide network of believers, and when one part of the Body is suffering we have an obligation to provide assistance. Many of us have been blessed to be able to give to the social service organizations that have been set up to channel resources to where they are needed the most. Of course some complain about the requests that come from these agencies, but most are glad to give as the Phillipians did, not only according to their means, but beyond their means!  Giving generously really is a privilege, and a blessing!

Thought for the Day: How did I learn to be a generous giver?

Psalm 30:6-12

“What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?” vs. 9

This psalmist wrote that the Lord had given him great prosperity, and that his wealth was a source of great stability. It’s a situation that many of us can identify with. Simply by virtue of where we live and an economy that multiplies portfolios even while we sleep, we’ve become accustomed to the fruits of our capitalistic system. And some of us are very grateful. But we also know, like the psalmist, that the tide can turn in an instant. Wealth disappears, but what’s even worse is the loss of good health. When that happened to the psalmist, he tried bargaining with God, saying, “what profit is there in my death?” He’s trying to remind God that he’s been faithful. In fact, since he’s been one of God’s biggest fans, his death will be of no benefit to anyone! What’s really interesting here is that the psalmist’s bargaining seems to have worked! He reports that God “turned his mourning into joy.” It’s hard to know what to do with verses like this. It seems unlikely that God would really be impressed with vague threats, but at the same time we know that fortunes do turn. Sometimes garments of sackcloth are replaced by clothes of joy. When that happened to the psalmist he promised to never cease giving thanks. It seems that however the divine economy works, thanksgiving is always in order!

Thought for the Day: How have my fortunes turned?

Psalm 30:1-5

“For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” vs. 5

The psalmist had an intimate relationship with the Lord, the kind of connection that a child might have with a parent. Within the context of that relationship, the psalmist experienced all the estrangements and intimacies that are felt in any healthy family. The times of isolation were balanced by tenderness and love. The Lord might get angry but the anger would quickly dissipate, and in the long run, the psalmist knew, he would never be abandoned. It’s likely that we too, if we have any consciousness of God’s immediate presence, have those same feelings. We know that God is righteous and that we’ve been called and set aside for goodness’ sake, and there will be times when we let God down. That’s what sinners do! So there may be times when we dampen our pillows with tears in our evening reflections on the day. We know we’ve missed times for acts of kindness and for loving words. But  our mornings always bring a sunrise, a daily reminder of God’s re-creation and constant love, and in those moments, almost unbidden, joy slips into our days, and our serenity is restored. It’s the sort of cycle those who live in Christ have come to expect as a part of daily living. Intimacy with the Divine definitely has its rewards!

Thought for the Day: What’s an intimate relationship with God like?

Lamentations 3:22-33

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” vss. 22-23

The book of Lamentations was likely written following the destruction of Jerusalem and the deportation of its leading families to Babylon. Its verses are full of sadness as the writer laments what has happened to the chosen people of God. Having experienced what he believes to be the wrath of God he writes that he has forgotten what happiness is. But here’s what is truly amazing! In the midst of his despair, alone in the darkness, he is able to write, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end!” Affirmations like this have been seen frequently through the centuries among the faithful. No matter how bad life gets, no matter how often their spirits are crushed, they lift up their faces from the dust and sing praises to the Lord. And that’s how it will continue to be. Even if the dystopian visions of some come to pass, even if climate change brings unprecedented catastrophes, the faithful will continue to celebrate the mercies of God, and awaken every morning with thanksgiving on their lips. Why do we do that? The answer is pretty basic: we literally have nowhere else to turn. The One who brings all things into existence is our only hope as long as time endures.

Thought for the Day: What mercies do I experience every morning?