1 Corinthians 7:29-31

“I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning…” vss. 29-30a

Paul had spent about 18 months working and teaching in Corinth and was well acquainted with the people who were a part of the congregation there. So later on, when he hears reports from there, he writes them letters in which he responds to a variety of their concerns. His insights on the gospel and the work of the Spirit are inspired and helpful, but he also offers his own opinion on other matters, and it’s here that some roll their eyes! He’s not married but thinks he knows all about what goes on in a marriage.. Since he believes the return of the Lord is imminent he advises folks to avoid marriage if they can, and if they are married, to act as though they aren’t. He wants people to be free of the anxieties and the desires that are a part of relationships, and to even put aside feelings of sadness or joy. Now while it is true that marriage can provide its share of burdens, it can also be a source of incredible pleasure and joy. Good marriages are the key to stability in communities and our most intimate source of companionship. There may have been a reason for Paul to advise as he did, but not everything he wrote is gospel.

Thought for the Day: When is it best not to be married?

Psalm 62:9-12

“Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” vs. 10

People have been trying to figure out how to get rich for a long time. Even in the days of the psalmist people were willing to try extortion and robbery to pad their retirement funds. As time has passed those attempts have become ever more sophisticated and many are even touted as being completely legal. Scams are directed at vulnerable people and thousands of people are being fooled; many are losing thousands of dollars. And even so-called respectable companies are using questionable, yet “legal” methods to get people to sign up for streaming services, pay ever increasing monthly fees, and risk their savings in risky investment plans. We live in a world rampant with greed and fraud! The psalmist doesn’t present a solution to that–but he does have two words of advice for us: First, obviously enough, so far as we are able, don’t participate in the extortion or the robbery. Don’t get involved in shady schemes. And second, if by chance we end up with more money than we ever dreamed possible in the course of our lives, something that does happen, don’t imagine that your wealth will give you the serenity and peace you crave. In fact, we are much more likely to gain satisfaction from giving our riches away than we are in adding to them. Followers of Jesus know what the psalmist means. They store up money in heaven!

Thought for the Day: How does it feel when I’m scammed?

Psalm 62:5-8

“For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.” vs. 5

There are some who had occasion this holiday weekend to reflect on the life and ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While in his lifetime many considered him to be a troublemaker and a threat to national security, we now see more clearly his intent and his purpose. He had a dream of a world in which divisions based on race or ethnicity would be eroded and replaced by a sense of inclusion and mutual respect. When some civil rights advocates turned to violence in response to injustice, he never wavered from his commitment to non-violence, following the spirit of Gandhi. His strength came from his faith convictions. Nurtured in the black congregations that were a part of his heritage and by regular worship, he understood the liberating message of Jesus Christ and yearned to see the freedom promised in the gospel. The liberation that he was looking for wasn’t going to happen as the result of human effort. Such a momentous change could only come from God, and he had learned the importance of patiently waiting for that moment in which the Spirit would act. By the time he died much remained to be accomplished. Racism is an insidious enemy! But he had had a glimpse, he had “been to the mountaintop” and seen a vision of his hope fulfilled. And now we continue to wait on God, perhaps no longer in silence, but still hoping for the end of prejudice and bigotry.

Thought for the Day: What am I waiting for God to do?

Jonah 3:1-5, 10

“When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.” vs. 10

Much to Jonah’s chagrin, the people of Nineveh repented and turned from their evil ways and in response, God too repented, and did not bring calamity upon them. His story reminds us of two things, first that it is possible for people to turn around their lives and avoid losing all that they hold dear. That’s good to know, particularly if we’re among those who have postponed repentance in favor of self-indulgence for too many years. There is no sin that cannot be forgiven. God’s last word is always restoration! And secondly we learn that it’s not unusual for people to resent the favor that God seems to show to those who don’t deserve it. Sometimes we would just rather that rascals reap the repercussions of their careless and carefree living. When we’ve lived a relatively decent life it galls us to see those who deserve less get more. But that’s how it is, and we should all be grateful. After all, if forgiveness wasn’t woven into the fabric of creation by our loving God, we would all be the losers. While it’s hard for anyone to comprehend how it’s even possible for God’s mind to be changed, it’s always good to know that everyone gets a mulligan!

Thought for the Day: How many mulligans have I received?

John 1:47-51

“And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’” vs. 51

Nathanael had made a confession of faith based on little evidence, and Jesus told him that his insight had been superficial. But it was a start! And according to the gospel writer, John, Jesus went on to tell him what was in store for him. The image used by John evokes memories of Jacob’s ladder from the book of Genesis. In Jacob’s dream the ladder was used by angels and stretched from earth to heaven. John now implies that Jesus is that connection between heaven and earth. No longer do humans have to climb a ladder to get to God. Rather, God has come to us in Jesus, and in Jesus we catch a glimpse of the new life that is our salvation. Of course it’s doubtful that Nathanael had a clue of what Jesus was talking about in that encounter. It’s like that with a bunch of what Jesus says in scripture. The truth of who he is and the depth of his promises remains a mystery, and we only discover the full picture after we’ve begun the journey. One thing will always be true. We don’t have to climb any ladders or reach some stage of perfection to experience his love. That’s God’s gift to us through him–and God always comes down to where we are when we need a hug.

Thought for the Day: How has my image of Jesus changed?

John 1:43-46

“Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’” vs. 46

Nathanael was quick to dismiss the idea that Jesus was the messiah. For one thing he was from a town that had no standing in tradition. It wasn’t even mentioned in the scriptures. Nathanael wasn’t the only one to make such snap judgments. Most of us do the same sort of thing when introduced to someone whose geographic origins are suspect. We’re quick to dismiss folks because of their ethnicity or color. But Philip knew what he had experienced,⁴⁶Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”  so all he had to say was “Come and see!” and that changed everything. That little invitation remains the best way for us to introduce people to Jesus. If we care at all about evangelism and spreading the good news of Jesus, the best way is to invite people to share our experience. Arguing with someone or debating fine points of theology usually has no effect at all, except to possibly drive them away. But if we can invite others to our worship community or small group or ask them to be a part of a service project, it makes all the difference in the world. It’s in the shared experience that your friend or acquaintance will begin to understand why this Jesus guy is so important to you, and it may even change their life. Even if they don’t get him at first, usually, as in Nathanael’s case, it doesn’t take them long to catch on!

Thought for the Day: When have I invited someone to “Come and see?” 

1 Corinthians 6:16-20

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own?” vs. 19

Some of us who grew up in pietistic homes became accustomed to hearing that much of which we enjoyed doing and that seemed to be fun, was in fact horribly wrong. Our parents scrutinized what we ate or drank, how we behaved, what we read or saw, and who we associated with. Regularly they would remind us that our bodies were the temple of the Holy Spirit. Their motivation was good; they didn’t want us to go to hell. But the cumulative effect of that repressive upbringing often drove young people from the church. They couldn’t wait to escape the bondage of the rules, and once they were able to do as they pleased, indulged as if there were no tomorrow. What is often missed in all of this is that our parents had a point. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and it does make a difference how we use them. We were not knit together in our mothers’ wombs in order that we might abuse God’s greatest gift. And yet we do! We destroy our lungs, livers, and hearts, eat every unhealthy fast food imaginable, destroy relationships with pornographic obsessions–but still there is hope. We are not alone. And our roommate, the Holy Spirit, can give us the courage, strength, and wisdom to lead a clean and holy life!

Thought for the Day: How have I abused my freedom? 

1 Corinthians 6:12-15

“‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful for me,’  but I will not be dominated by anything.” vs. 12

One of the first reactions people have to the gospel of grace is, “Wow, if all my sins have been forgiven in Christ, I am free to do whatever I please.” When Paul heard that reaction, he went apoplectic. That attitude makes a sacrilege of the gospel! It is true that in Christ we have complete freedom, but we will by no means do anything we please. There are just too many things out in the world lying in wait, eager to get control and enslave us. Paul was stubborn. Having been set free, he didn’t want to be dominated by anything. Many of us know exactly what he means. In our freedom we have experimented with any number of interesting diversions. On the surface they seem innocuous, not a threat to anyone–some even claim to be beneficial–but once they get a hold on you they can suck up time and money, and even ruin health and relationships. Sometimes their captivity is so complete we are driven to the edge of despair and beyond. Anyone who wants to live freely in Christ quickly learns to inventory the ways they spend their time or money, and when things get out of control, they turn away from the distraction and recommit themselves to those things which make for joy. 

Thought for the Day: What threatens to dominate my life?

Psalm 139:13-18

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.” vs. 14

The psalmist had obviously taken time to reflect on the wonder of his own body, and he was in awe. Every part has a function and a purpose and they are engineered to work together in perfect harmony. And because he wrote 2500 years ago he had only a minimal knowledge of anatomy or physiology–he knew little or nothing of internal organs, nervous or circulatory systems, or the wonder of the human brain. Now, because we are the beneficiaries of advanced knowledge, we tend to take such things for granted–we have complicated explanations for the evolution of our bodies, and too many have left God out of the equation. Not so the psalmist! In his estimation all the credit went to our Creator, the One who knit us together in our mothers’ wombs, who intricately wove us in the depths of the earth. It really is a blessing when we see our physicality as a gift from God, and begin to treat our bodies as our most precious possession, something to be nurtured and loved, and not abused. In our time, after centuries of trial and error, we know exactly how to feed and care for our physical selves to get maximum performance and satisfaction. Those who pay attention, who learn the secrets of healthy living, receive enormous blessings, because our loving God doesn’t make junk!

Thought for the Day: When did I start treating my body as a precious gift?

Psalm 139:1-6

“Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.” vs. 6

The relationship that this psalmist had with God went beyond personal. Instead of painting a picture of a God on a throne in heavenly courts or a storm god riding on the clouds, he describes God with intense intimacy. He doesn’t claim to know God; in his estimation such knowledge would be impossible. Instead he speaks of the knowledge God has of him–there is nothing in him or about him that is not known to God. Those of us who pride ourselves as being able to hide from God or who harbor dark secrets in our hearts are taken aback by words such as these. If God has such knowledge of me and what I’m about, how could God possibly love me? Indeed that is the great mystery! Given who we are and how we behave, we, for whom love is so totally conditional, can’t even imagine the steadfast love of our God. Yet that is what the God who was revealed in the person of Jesus is like. And when we get over the shock of it all, we have to admit that it feels really, really good to be so fully known, and yet not judged. If it hasn’t dawned on us yet that this is what God is like, we need to take another at Jesus. Besides him, there is no other! Praise God!

Thought for the Day: How does it feel to be so intimately known?