John 12:16-18

“I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” vs. 16

We can’t be sure what is intended by this reference to sheep of another fold. Like other obscure verses in scripture though, people have had a field day making various speculations. Some say it refers to the original inhabitants of North America, an idea popular to members of the LDS, and a few even believe it forecasts a mission to extraterrestrials. But most interpreters simply see these words as an affirmation of the outreach to Gentiles that took place shortly following the resurrection. At first it seems  there had been little enthusiasm for moving beyond the boundaries of Judaism among Jesus’ disciples, but that definitely changed with Paul. This pattern of expansion within the Body of Christ has been present ever since. And whenever the church has become focused on establishing boundaries between insiders and outsiders, the Spirit has moved to break down barriers and to open the way to even greater inclusivity. That hasn’t also been comfortable in our congregations–it’s much easier to relate to people who are like ourselves–but there’s no way we can even imagine that isn’t the will of Jesus. There really is only one flock and it contains sheep of every conceivable shape, color, and temperament–and there’s maybe even room for aliens!

Thought for the Day: Why isn’t my congregation more diverse?

John 10:11-15

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.” vss. 14-15

Even though most of us know very little about shepherds and even less about sheep, there’s something about the image of Jesus as the good shepherd that resonates in our hearts and minds. Put simply, we love thinking of Jesus as our shepherd, the one who searches for us when we wander off and who willingly laid down his life on our behalf. It’s no accident that one of the earliest artistic depictions of Jesus, a wall painting found in the catacombs of Rome, is that of a shepherd carrying a sheep on his shoulders. And even though the twenty-third psalm was not written about Jesus, we have no difficulty at all in associating its words and images with him. To put it a bit crassly, when life gets us down, Jesus as shepherd is “mac and cheese” for our souls. We don’t have to think about some esoteric doctrine or ponder the mystery of the trinity. All we need to do is imagine the comforting rod and staff of Jesus guiding us through whatever darkness has crept into our lives. In his arms comes peace that is beyond our human understanding, and his goodness and mercy become our companions for all the days of our lives.

Thought for the Day: When have I felt Jesus’ loving arms embracing me?

1 John 3:19-24

“All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.” vs. 24

While there is nowhere that God is not, sometimes individuals wonder whether God dwells within them. They yearn for some kind of proof that the Divine Presence is in their hearts. For such folks John indicates that there is an external sign that God abides in us, and that is by the Spirit that has been given to us. At first those words seem obscure, but not when they’re read within the context of this passage. John is very clear, the Spirit is made visible by our generosity! There are many who claim to be religious, and who love to dazzle others with their piety and familiarity with scripture. But if they’re tight-fisted and reluctant to share their bounty with the needy, the Spirit of God does not dwell within them. A more familiar way of saying this is, “the proof is in the pudding,” or as Jesus was fond of saying, “by their fruits you shall know them.” The strength of a person’s relationship to God is never hidden, but is visible to any who are exposed to their words and actions. Is it possible to be fooled? Of course! But we can be pretty confident that generosity is generally not an imitated virtue. Those who have the world’s goods are almost always inclined to keep them!

Thought for the Day: How do I know God abides in me?

1 John 3:16-19

“How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?” vs. 17

A couple of weeks ago, on Easter Day, we celebrated the sacrificial love of God with hymns of thanksgiving and praise. For John this is the only true love, and in imitation of God, John teaches that believers will gladly lay down their lives for one another. This is a teaching that comes straight from Jesus, and one that we regularly affirm. But John goes on to ask a troubling question, one that the majority of Christians would rather not answer, “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?”

Our resistance arises out of our deep and abiding love for the world’s goods, and through the years we’ve invented a multitude of excuses to ignore what John pointedly suggests. It isn’t that we’re unaware of people in need! We know perfectly well that starvation and hunger are ravaging populations all over the world, and even in our own communities. We know this, and are still able to rationalize our decision to continue our self-serving mission of accumulation. If John is right, this means that oftentimes our piety is only skin deep, and God’s love is not in us. We may not like it that God’s love is revealed by our deeds, but there really isn’t any other way!

Thought for the Day: Why do I refuse to help the needy?

Psalm 23:4-6

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.” vs. 6

Not every day is filled with green pastures and still waters! No matter how carefully we walk the paths of righteousness, sooner or later we’re going to enter the valley of the shadow of death, and it’s going to be scary. And guess what, our Shepherd Lord plunges into the darkness right alongside us. In those moments we’ll need more than gentle nudges, and the Shepherd’s rod and staff will be both our guide and our comfort. And when we’ve moved through the last of the valleys one day there’ll be time for reconciliation and feasting. At that banqueting table even our enemies will be present. Think of it! All those folks who we’ve scorned and vilified–all those people who have unfriended us on Facebook–everyone will be there. And in their presence our heads will be anointed with oil, and our cups will overflow. That’s what life with our Shepherd Lord is like. No one is left out and no one is excluded. No wonder this psalm has touched hearts in such deep and profound ways. From the beginning to the end, through every chapter and crisis of life, the Lord is with us. And more than that we are assured that goodness and mercy will follow us every step of the way, and the end is really the beginning. We will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Thought for the Day: How have I experienced the truth of this psalm?

Psalm 23:1-3

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.” vss. 1-3

It’s nice to have a shepherd. More than a companion, better than a friend, our Shepherd Lord meets us in the morning with a menu for the day. We won’t worry about our wants or desires because we receive all that we need. And as we move from one hour to the next there’ll be plenty of food and drink, and even time for shutting our eyes in contented thanksgiving. Our Shepherd wants us to rest on the journey, and there’s time for pleasant walks in pleasing places. When life is a grind, and anxieties tear away at our core, our Shepherd Lord tells us, “Look at the birds, and consider the lilies of the field.” Our souls are restored! When we come to a fork in the way and wonder which road we shall take, our Lord bids us to choose the one less traveled by, and assures us that we will never be alone. And as we prayerfully take that first step we feel a gentle nudge and soon discover the joy that comes with walking in the way of righteousness. And when twilight slowly closes in and weariness enters our bones, the Shepherd opens the door to the fold, and we can lay down our heads for deep rest. Oh my, it’s really nice to have a shepherd!

Thought for the Day: What is life like with a shepherd?

Acts 4:5-12

“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” vs. 12

According to Luke, all the leaders of the Jerusalem hierarchy were present at the trial of Peter and John. And when Peter is questioned about his authority, unlike Jesus, he does not remain silent before his accusers. Instead, he doubles down and makes an assertion so audacious that many contemporary followers of Jesus are embarrassed. We really don’t like to make exclusive claims about the way of salvation, and are much more likely to say that there are many paths to God, and that Christianity is just one of them. There is much good that can be said about our current efforts to be seen as inclusive in this diverse and multicultural world–we’ve seen how meanspirited and unloving the exclusive approach can be. And it’s freeing to have conversations with our Buddhist friends while keeping quiet about Jesus. And it’s nice to say to our children when they leave our homes, “Go ahead and experiment, Honey, after all it really doesn’t make any difference what you believe.” But some are wondering! What do we lose when we stop seeing Jesus as the Way of salvation for all people? Is it possible that we’ve watered down our faith to the point where all the passion has disappeared? Can we be on fire for Jesus and inclusive at the same time?

Thought for the Day: What does my passion for Jesus look like?

Luke 24:41-48

“and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.’” vss. 46-47

Even with their doubts the disciples believed that the good news of the resurrection had to be shared. Gospel writers made it clear that the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins was to be proclaimed to all nations. And so the disciples went: doubting Thomas to India, denying Peter to Rome, and ultimately the gospel was heard all around the world. Many have relished the stories of faithful missionaries spending their lives at great personal sacrifice to share the Easter story with those who had never heard. Some might think that since so many have been reached, the mission is over and there’s no longer any need for proclamation. That’s a nice thought, but it’s not even close to being true! Instead, what we have discovered is that it only takes one generation for the good news to be lost or forgotten. And if evangelism isn’t on the front burner of our mission, the incentive to share the gospel disappears. Many have stopped sharing their stories of faith–it could be that doubt has tied their tongues–or maybe it’s embarrassment. Whatever the reason, the number of unbelievers is increasing among us–and the call to proclaim belongs to us as much as it belonged to Thomas and Peter.

Thought for the Day: Why is proclamation difficult?

Luke 24:36b-43

“He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself.’” vss. 38-39b

The resurrection accounts in our gospels are different, and reflect the sources available to their writers. This is to be expected–the resurrection is a singular event and there are no words to describe what took place. But the writers do a great job in reflecting the feeling of the disciples who had encounters with the Risen Christ. In each case there is a combination of fear, excitement, bewilderment, and doubt. That doubt factor is the tough one, and is the feeling that many deal with in considering the resurrection. Interestingly, the disciples were not stymied by their doubts, and went out in faith to share the good news of resurrection with the world. That’s a good lesson as we live with our doubts in our time–there’s no reason why such thoughts and feelings should keep us from our mission or from worship. In fact, doubt and faith aren’t incompatible. Where one is, the other will be also–that’s just the nature of both. What is damaging is when we allow our doubts to have the victory and faith is trampled underfoot. That’s when the bad stuff can really begin to happen! But as we learn to continue in faith in the presence of doubts we discover the fruits of faith for joyful living. Even in our meager faith the Risen Christ comes near, and in him there is eternal peace.

Thought for the Day: How do I handle my doubts? 

1 John 3:4-7

“No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him.” vs. 6

On the surface John seems to be talking out of both sides of his mouth. On the one hand he writes, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us,” and yet a few paragraphs later he tells us, “no one who sins has either seen him or known him.” What gives? How shall we understand these apparent contradictions? The answer, of course, is that both statements are true! This is another example of a paradox. Those early pastors and preachers who proclaimed a gospel of grace figured out in a hurry the message of “grace alone” would be abused and misunderstood by sinners. Such folks mistakenly believed that a message of love and forgiveness was a prescription for doing as they pleased. Fortunately leaders like Paul and John didn’t abandon grace and return to the law. They simply pointed out the truth. Sin is incompatible with the righteousness of God! So, as John puts it, anyone who sins doesn’t have a clue about who God is! Grace is intended to change us, and not make us content with being sinners! The words of absolution that we hear in our rituals of confession and forgiveness have power! We can actually become the persons God intends us to be! We sinners are actually made righteous! 

Thought for the Way: What signs of righteousness am I seeing in my life?