Psalm 68:32-35

“Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people.” vs. 35

In our enthusiasm we are likely to describe most any sort of experience, ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime, as being “awesome.” But sometimes we use it so frequently that its impact gets watered down. After all, the more things we add to the “awesome” category, the less awesome any of them become. 

For the psalmist however, it’s likely that the word “awesome” could only be used to describe God. Everything flowed from God, the Source of all goodness and strength, the Giver of life and salvation, and the King above all kings. If we were to use that standard in describing the people and events of our lives, it’s unlikely that we would ever use the word “awesome.” Nothing could possibly measure up.

But still it would not be a good idea to take the word out of our vocabularies and decide never to use it. Perhaps it would be best to just restrict its use, and reserve it for those things which truly are awesome. Because there surely are awesome times in each of our lives. Those would be the moments in  which we are overwhelmed by the Divine Presence, times when tears come to our eyes and joy fills our hearts, not because of any human achievement, but because God has overwhelmed us. They do happen! God really is an awesome God!

Thought for the Day: How do I use the word “awesome?”

Psalm 68:1-10

But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy. Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds—his name is the Lord— be exultant before him vss. 3-4

There is a contemporary popular worship song by Robin Mark called “Days of Elijah.” The chorus has an upbeat tempo and its lyrics could well have been written by this psalmist: “Behold he comes, riding on the clouds, shining like the sun at the trumpet call. Lift your voice, it’s the year of Jubilee, and out of Zion’s hill salvation comes.” We love to sing hymns like this, and if it’s a choir number, with all the different parts, it can give a jolt to any worship service.

We need to hear and sing songs in worship occasionally that lift us up and give us joy. When the tunes are familiar everybody sings and good feelings abound. The metaphors in “Days of Elijah” are from biblical themes, and even if we don’t take them literally, the mood of triumph is unmistakable.

It’s not that we’re on the winning team and everyone else is losing. We celebrate because in Christ Jesus we’re all winners, and what better reason could we possibly have for songs of triumph? Besides, we celebrate resurrection every single Sunday and once in a while it doesn’t hurt to be absolutely jubilant with joy–and maybe even clap our hands.

 Thought for the Day: What’s a rousing worship song that I love?

Acts 1:6-14

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  vs. 8

The disciples were hoping for a quick fix after the resurrection. Not having a clue about what lay ahead they were still looking backward and thinking that now might be the time when the fabled Kingdom of Israel might be restored. But the resurrected Jesus let them know that the healing of brokenness would be a process and would happen only through the power of the Holy Spirit and their own personal witness, beginning in Jerusalem and ultimately reaching the ends of the earth.

This story is a reminder of the compelling myth of past glory in shaping our lives. All around the world we’re seeing movements that focus  on restoring the greatness of the past. The irony is that our collective memories are notoriously unreliable. What were the good old days for some were actually times of repression and misery for others. Only a few prospered in those remembered days of glory.

But the Holy Spirit never leads by going backwards. Always the movement is toward a beautiful future of healing and inclusion.  And that’s the direction in which the disciples led the way. They put aside the narrowness of the old ways, and trusted the Spirit to lead them through uncharted waters. Governed only by the law of love they went out with a message of mercy and forgiveness that was for all people.

Thought for the Day: What brokenness remains to be healed?

John 14:18-21

“They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”  vs. 21

At first this may seem like a tough standard. Jesus says those that love him are those who have his commandments and keep them, and we immediately question just what those commandments are. It turns out he isn’t talking about the Ten Commandments, but the one he had just shared with the disciples at the Passover meal. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”

Everything in the Kingdom of Peace established by Jesus is centered on love, the love that we have for God and the love that we have for our neighbor. In another place he mentions that these are the two great commandments, and that they are the standard for a life of faith. Here he makes an additional promise, namely, that through this love he is revealed.

We’re considering this text on the day our country celebrates mothers. It’s no stretch to imagine that what we’re really celebrating is the sustaining and nurturing love that comes by grace from Jesus. Even though mothers are not perfect, there is truth in the metaphor of a mother’s love, For many it’s the finest love they will ever know! So it may even be that we have seen Jesus most clearly in the love of our mother.

Thought for the Day: How is Jesus’ love like that of a mother?

John 14:15-17

“This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.” vs. 17

In order to comfort his disciples on the night before his death, Jesus assures them that they will not be alone, that he will send them the Spirit of truth. He goes on to tell them that the world cannot receive that Spirit of truth, and based on our experiences he was right. Now that we have access to multiple news feeds via social media, radio, and television, it’s simply stunning to observe how little importance is attached to telling the truth. Influencers and politicians seem to say whatever comes into their heads, and it bears little resemblance to what is actually happening. They say what they think their audience wants to hear.

And in this world of lies, the Spirit of truth is active in the lives of believers everywhere. Jesus said that the Spirit abides with us and is in us. Many of us know what that is like. There is within us a deep love for the truth and a sense of repugnance for lies. Every time we open our mouths we are conscious of that Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, steering our tongues toward the truth. Even when it is not to our benefit we find ourselves speaking deep truths, and offering loving affirmations. Almost against our wills we are molded into truth-tellers and trusting relationships are born and nurtured. 

Thought for the Day: Who do I trust to speak the truth?.

1 Peter 3:18-22

“He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison…” vss. 18b-19a

It’s not easy to know what Peter was referring to as he wrote to the suffering exiles in Asia Minor. He was obviously familiar with the basic message of the early church, that Jesus had suffered on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of all the unrighteous. Here Peter says that after his death Jesus went in the spirit and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison. No one really knows precisely what this means but the phrase got into the Apostle’s Creed as “he descended into hell,” now sometimes translated as the “place of the dead.”

Through the centuries, as believers have struggled with Peter’s intention, many have come to understand these words as a beautiful expression of God’s unconditional love and mercy. No one, even those long dead, are excluded from the forgiveness that is the heart of the Christian message.

So if we are ever wondering about who is included under the blanket of salvation, it’s worthwhile remembering that after Jesus’ resurrection the first to hear the message of eternal life were those living in the valley of the shadow of death. Even if we struggle with the symbolism we have to admit that it’s a powerful metaphor for the ultimate victory of life over death.

Thought for the Day: Why don’t we just update the ancient creeds?

1 Peter 3:13-17

“Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the- hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” vss. 15b-16a

The exiles to whom Peter was writing were suffering. We don’t know the particulars but we can guess that it might have had something to do with periodic suppression by the Romans. Or it could have been related to the ongoing struggle with the Jews who were unwilling to believe that Jesus was Lord. It seemed to the new believers that no matter how hard they tried to lead good lives, they were going to suffer.

Peter advised his readers not to be intimidated no matter what insults and accusations were hurled in their direction. And suffering in silence wasn’t his recommendation! Rather they are urged to have well-prepared lines of defense and be ready for every hint of incivility, even to the point of imprisonment. The gospel hope that had become such a rich part of their lives should be defended…these early believers were called to be anything but wishy-washy.

But then Peter adds a caveat: any defense should be made with gentleness and reverence.

That’s a good reminder for those of us who feel defensive in the current political situation. Sometimes it may feel like our opponents are legion and that they’re continually mocking our heartfelt positions.  But if we choose to respond, let us do it with gentleness and respect. That’s the way of Jesus, and when we choose it, blessings abound.

Thought for the Day: When is it best just to keep our mouths shut?

Psalm 66:16-20

“Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me.” vs. 20

While the psalmist did believe that God had answered his prayer, he also believed that God would not have listened to his prayer if he had iniquity in his heart. We can understand his reasoning because those same assumptions are often operative among us. It makes sense from a human point of view that God would pay no attention to the prayers of an unrighteous person. We have a strong sense that if people do not deserve assistance or help, they should be denied what they have asked for. In other words, “God helps those who help themselves.” The unworthy should not presume on our generosity.

But is that how God really operates? Is God’s love and mercy conditional? If that were true we could kiss the good news of the gospel good-bye. The relationship that we have with God is not transactional. In fact Jesus tells us that the love of God is showered on the righteous and sinners alike, without distinction. Paul put it this way in Romans,”God shows his love in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

Many people have their prayers answered, and by no stretch of the imagination are all of them worthy. Instead, all people are the recipients of God’s steadfast love. Contrary to what the psalmist says, God’s goodness was showered on him, not because he was righteous, but because he was loved.

Thought for the Day: How has God answered my prayers?

Psalm 66:8-15

“I will come into your house with burnt-offerings; I will pay you my vows, those that my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.”  vs. 13-14

The psalmist evidently knew a thing or two about tough times. He compares his own travails to the plight of the Israelites in Egypt and the perils of their flight from slavery. He flooded the heavens with prayers and, as humans are prone to do, promised payment if those prayers were answered. We can understand his actions. We’re likely to do exactly the same thing. Even those with minimal faith are driven by their situations to offer prayers and promises to the God they barely believe in. It’s what we do when all else fails.

And sometimes, praise God, the prayers seem to work. Miracles happen. The near dead are returned to life, and health is restored. The 1% chance of survival becomes 100% and in our joy we will even remember our vows, the ones we uttered when we were in trouble. 

The psalmist headed for the temple and offered burnt-offerings, and we have similar means to offer our thanks to God. We could double up on our offerings or send a check to Lutheran Social Services of Arizona. There are a multitude of avenues for us to pay our vows, and even though none are required, it’s what humans do in response to the random goodness of life. It’s one of the ways we have to “pay it ahead,” and blessings do abound.

Thought for the Day: How do I do my thank offerings?

Acts 17:22-31

“For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ’For we too are his offspring.’” vs. 28

There were Jews living in Athens and Paul went first to the synagogue to argue and debate with them about Jesus as the messiah. But when some of the Athenian sages heard what Paul was talking about they invited him to come and speak to them on Mars Hill near the Parthenan. 

In his presentation he doesn’t lead with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead, as a gifted and knowledgeable speaker he begins by referring to an altar that he has seen  with an inscription to “an unknown god.”

Paul uses that observation as common ground and tells his listeners that he can tell them about their unknown god. He says that God does not live in shrines or buildings made with human hands–God is even more than they have imagined. He says that all things have come into being through the one God and then quotes one of the Greek poets, “In him we live and move and have our being.”

Paul agreed with that poet, and so do many of us. The Divine Mystery is more than we can comprehend–greater than the universe and nearer than our hearts. God lives in us and we find our existence in God. There is no place in all creation where God is not, and wherever we go, God is!

Thought for the Day: Where do I feel closest to God?