2 Corinthians 4: 8-13

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;” vss. 8-9

Paul and his friends did not have an easy time of it as they brought the good news of Jesus to the cities of Greece and Asia Minor. Their message seemed to always stir controversy and they endured beatings and arrests wherever they went. But they never lost heart. They were followers of Jesus and they would carry his cross until they too died. While most of us don’t face the adversity and persecution that Paul endured, there are times when it feels like we’re getting picked on for one reason or another. Some call those occasions their periods of testing, and while the testing may not appear to be severe when compared to what Paul endured, it can begin to undermine our faith. Paul reminds us that it’s in our suffering that our testimony gains credibility. Anyone can sing praises when all things in their lives are in order, but those who give glory to God during the times of perplexity and affliction are amazing witnesses in our faith communities. We know who these people are. They’re not the whiners, complaining about their lives to all who will listen, and even to those who don’t. They’re the men and women who bear on their faces the lines of tears and pain, and who still have smiles for all they encounter. They’ve been struck down, but certainly not destroyed.

Thought for the Day: Why do some whine while others endure?

2 Corinthians 4:5-7

“But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us” vs. 7

Blind auditions have become standard in symphony orchestras as they seek replacements for vacant chairs. Candidates play their instruments from behind a curtain and are hidden from those making the decisions. Presumably this eliminates bias in the selection process. Some might wonder if a similar method could be adopted by congregations when they are given an opportunity to choose a pastor. Sad to say, it’s unlikely something like that would work in this culture where appearance has crept to the top of the list when candidates for public office are considered. Even in our congregations we care deeply about external factors in picking our leaders. Those who are attractive, eloquent, and polished have a definite advantage. Paul knew about such things too, but he wrote to the Corinthians that the purity of the gospel message was all that counted. He knew he wasn’t much to look at, but he knew there was power in the Light that was present in his words. In fact he was grateful for his ordinariness–he believed God’s Light would shine more clearly if people weren’t distracted by his appearance. And that’s still how it is. When God’s Light shines within, it doesn’t make any difference if we’re plain or beautiful. A loving heart and a willingness to serve is really all that counts.

Thought for the Day: How would a blind audition work for pastors?

Psalm 81:6-10

“Hear, O my people, while I admonish you; O Israel, if you would but listen to me! There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.” vss. 8-9

When the people of Israel gathered for worship they were regularly admonished by their leaders to avoid worshiping foreign gods. This was a particular problem for the Hebrews because the Lord, their god, was invisible! There was no statue that could be erected, no drawing to be made. And since they were living among people who had every kind of physical representation for their gods, the Israelites were frequently drawn to their holy places. It’s just a lot easier to worship what you can see than what you can’t see! Those charged with passing on the faith among us, parents and teachers, have the same challenge. Our young are much more interested in attaching themselves to what they can see and experience than they are to a God whose very existence is subject to debate. We can teach our creeds and commandments until we are blue in the face, and as soon as they are on their own they migrate to one or another of the everywhere-present cultural gods and their attractive and seductive representations. But just as with Israel, not all fall away! Some love the God they experience in Jesus and know that true peace comes with humbly walking in his way! In them the faith will continue to be seen and heard.

Thought for the Day: What cultural gods do I find most appealing?

Psalm 81:1-5

“Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our festal day. For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.” vss. 3-4

Each year the Israelites celebrated a number of festivals to mark the passing of the seasons and their special relationship to God. This psalm was likely used at Rosh Hashanah, a new year lunar holiday that included temple worship and that was marked by the blowing of a trumpet. It’s important for any faith tradition to have holy days, not only to mark the passing of the seasons, but to celebrate the continuing presence of God in the world. These holidays are sometimes marked by a sense of contemplation and repentance, but at other times they are a time for sheer exuberance and celebration. All believers enjoy those times when they can come together and sing praises to God, and hear the sound of musical instruments being played to God’s glory. These annual gatherings are memorials to what God has done and is doing, and often serve to revitalize our faith commitment. For some they are the only times for worship, and while many poke fun at Christmas and Easter Christians, perhaps we should be glad that they show up at all. After all, these are the days for celebrating the mighty acts of God as powerfully as we possibly can. Perhaps the wholehearted singing and praise will serve to melt even the coldest hearts!

Thought for the Day: What is my favorite festival?

Deuteronomy 5:12-15

“Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work.” vss. 12-13

Of all the commandments that made the Top Ten in Israel’s scripture, the one establishing the sabbath day as holy has arguably received the most attention and caused the most controversy. The commandment itself is direct, “Six days you shall labor and do all your work,” but the problems arose as religious leaders began to define what work was. It was obvious that people had to engage in living on their holy day, but what should they be allowed to do? Rabbis spent centuries debating the issues that came up as people attempted to be obedient. And for every question that came up, some new rabbi would propose an answer, which in turn would be questioned by a new generation of believers. By the time Jesus showed up there were literally hundreds of rules, and he didn’t have any patience at all for the hair-splitting involved. For instance, he didn’t have any issue with synagogue worship on the sabbath, but he thought it was extreme foolishness to forbid healing, and he refused to obey. We have some of the same issues with rules as we practice our faith. Some are rule followers–it’s comforting to know the rules, and the community prospers when all obey. But those who live by the Spirit of God won’t be so concerned with the rules. For them the only commandment is to love, and they let that be their guide.

Thought for the Day: How do I feel about following rules?

John 3:13-17

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” vs. 16

Most people have at least a passing familiarity with this most famous verse from John’s gospel. Even those who don’t know the words can recall having seen the chapter and verse. With that kind of notoriety it’s unlikely that we’re going to discover anything new in its words. This is the gospel at its core, the most succinct description of the Christian message ever written. Two things are emphasized: the love of God and the faith of believers. Even though we live in a broken world, it’s important to remember that the sacrificial love of God is unconditional and limitless, and the whole world, blemishes and all, is included. Jesus is for all people! And while not all people believe that they are loved by God or that Jesus is the Son of God, those who do believe receive the gift of new life, now and forever. This does not mean that those who do not believe are condemned–that isn’t a part of God’s plan or purpose. It means only that in this world, as we live and breathe, they lack the assurance of God’s love and forgiveness. They don’t know grace! Which is why John wrote his gospel–he wanted all people to know the love of God and the forgiveness that is ours through Jesus. It’s a beautiful story–and our call is to pass it on!

Thought for the Day: What does John 3:16 mean to those who don’t believe it?

John 3:8-13

“Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony.’” vss. 10-11

Nicodemus had a ton of knowledge. He was a teacher of Israel, a much respected rabbi and a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of Jerusalem. He knew the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets, but he didn’t get what Jesus was preaching and teaching. And most important of all, he didn’t know the way to eternal life. And it wasn’t that he hadn’t heard Jesus’s words. Jesus wasn’t at all private about his convictions. So what was Nicodemus missing? Well, he’s like a lot of folks in our day, some of whom have even been to seminary. They know the doctrines and dogmas; they’re familiar with all the rituals and the traditions. But they’ve never experienced the truth that lies behind the words. They don’t have the intimate knowledge that comes through personal connection. Their hearts have never been touched by the truth; their knowledge is all in their heads! It’s like what happens when a person falls in love. The feeling can’t be explained or analyzed–it can only be experienced. Nicodemus was familiar with Jesus, but he hadn’t fallen in love with him, and that makes all the difference in the world.

Thought for the Day: Am I in love with Jesus? How do I know?

John 3:1-8

“The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” vs. 8

When Jesus told Nicodemus that it was necessary to be born from above in order to see the kingdom of God, Nicodemus had a tough time understanding. He was a literalist, comfortable in the world of black and white, and Jesus was talking about another realm, one that exists beyond the world of space and time. To help Nicodemus understand this plane of existence, Jesus uses the wind as an example. To put it simply, the Spirit is like the wind. It’s free to go wherever it chooses–we can hear its sound, but beyond that it’s a mystery. For people used to being in charge this notion is completely disconcerting. We can’t control God! And we can’t predict how the Spirit is going to work–sometimes we’re going to be blown away by its freshness and vitality. These days there are some who are concerned because their old religious ways aren’t working anymore. Some congregations are dying. Some denominations are losing members by the thousands. People wonder if the church itself is going to disappear. We forget that the Church is the Spirit’s workshop, and change is going to always be part of the picture. There’ll be new forms and new practices, all the work of the Spirit, and through the Spirit people will continue to experience new life.

Thought for the Day: What will the church be like in a hundred years?

Romans 8:15-17

“For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption.” vs. 15

It’s heart-breaking to discover how many people actually have a fear of God. We’re not talking here about fear as healthy respect, the attitude Luther was talking about when he enjoined us to “fear and love God.” No, this is being afraid of God, being terrified that some day God is going to get us for our dissolute behaviors and careless living. More people than we can even imagine have at their core a sense of dread when it comes to any future divine encounters, and they do their best to stay out of the places where they fear God might be. We can’t be sure where such notions are born–it could even come from the careless words of parents trying to hammer the fear of God into their children with threats like, “God is going to get you for that!” But wherever the idea comes from, it does us no good as we try to navigate the sometimes difficult predicaments that life brings our way. Paul told the Romans that they had the same relationship to God as did Jesus, that they had been adopted into God’s family, and that they should feel free to address God as “Abba,” or Father. So even if we’ve had a less than satisfying relationship with our birth fathers, we should know that God will love us sacrificially and unconditionally. We are God’s most beloved children! Always!

Thought for the Day: What’s it like to be afraid of God?

Romans 8:12-14

“for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” vs. 13 

There is more to our life in the world than meets the eye. We may think that we have free agency in our words and actions, and that our hearts, minds, and spirits are in charge, but that’s not even close to the truth. As any active participant in a 12 step program is quick to confess, we are not in control, and that if we really want to live, we need to surrender ourselves to a higher power. Paul describes that higher power as the Holy Spirit and tells the Romans that without the Spirit they will die. Now some might think that because they are not addicts, they don’t need a higher power. And while that might seem logical, it’s not even close to the truth. We may not be dependent on alcohol or some other drug, but most all will admit that they are addicted to sin. No matter how good we think we are, all of us regularly are victimized by our own sinful behaviors. It’s only as we tap into the always present power of the Spirit that we can produce the love, joy, peace, and patience that are the unique fruits of the Spirit, and the desire of every human heart. We’re free to go it on our own in this world, but what blessings we receive when we finally learn to “let go and let God!”

Thought for the Day: When are my addictions most apparent?