Matthew 16:24-28

“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” vs. 24

It must have appeared to the disciples that Jesus had performed a classic “bait and switch” on them. They had begun to follow him because they believed him to be the messiah, the one who would restore Israel to its former glory. As his initial followers then, they seem to have felt that they would enjoy positions of power and prestige in that kingdom. But then he tells them the truth–there’d be no glory for them. Instead, if they were so inclined to follow him, they’d be walking on the path of self-denial–and carrying crosses besides! That’s always been a toughie for those who are drawn to Jesus. We aren’t huge fans of self-denial, especially in our age of self-indulgence and over-the-top consumption. Even when we’re told that in order to save the planet we need to adopt simplicity as a life-style, we seem unable to make any commitments that might involve self-sacrifice. But Jesus knew that human life flourishes in the presence of self-giving love and sacrificial service. He gave his own life that we might have life and have it abundantly, and it’s as we lay down our lives for the sake of others, that we begin to find and save our lives. Our sacrifice is a down payment on spiritual health and wholeness.

Thought for the Day: How do I practice self-denial?

Matthew 16:21-23

“But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’”

Matthew’s irony is unmistakable! The “Rock” on which Jesus intended to build his church had become a stumbling block to him, and the Rock’s error has been a lesson for Christians of every age, and the mistake is so clear it’s a wonder that anyone can miss the point. For a long time it seemed that followers of Jesus understood his mission. Following his example they focused their attention on the broken and the outcasts and thousands responded to that gospel message of forgiveness and love. But then the politicians came knocking, and the focus of church leaders shifted. By becoming enmeshed in human things they discovered the delights of power and wealth, and only the efforts of brave reformers, willing to risk death, kept the mission alive. Today we’re facing a new challenge. Politicians are again wooing church leaders and inviting them to make America the new Rome, an empire in which the interests of church and state are merged. Some folks are even embracing what is called “Christian Nationalism,” an unholy alliance in which flag and cross are merged. When minds are set on such human things, the gospel of grace is threatened and Christ’s true mission is obscured. It really isn’t a stretch to call such tendencies Satanic. That’s what Jesus called them, and that’s still what they are.

Thought for the Day: What is Christian Nationalism?

Romans 12:16-21

“If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” vs. 18 

One of the problems in a diverse community, as the Body of Christ is intended to be, is learning how to live with people who are different from ourselves. We have different ethnic and religious backgrounds, different perspectives on gender issues, different political preferences–in fact, we likely think differently about every matter under the sun. So there will be inevitable conflict undermining our communal experience. In talking about such an atmosphere Paul admonishes his readers to live peaceably with all. But seeming to think such a climate will be virtually impossible to maintain, he adds a caveat, “if it is possible, so far as it depends on you.” He believes that the individual has the responsibility to set the tone in relationships. We aren’t going to be able to control others; we can’t wait for others to wave the olive branch of peace. It’s up to us, always, without exception, to do the things that make for peace in our communities. We’re the ones who will listen carefully, and, when necessary ask for forgiveness–we won’t wait for others to take the first step. As the popular song birthed in the 50’s puts it, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.” The song may have come out of Holywood, but there’s no doubt that its roots can be found in the words of Paul. Its sentiment is the key for our most precious communal aspirations.

Thought for the Day: What keeps me from having peace in my relationships?

Romans 12:9-14

“Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.” vss. 9, 12-13

Life in community is not complicated, and after showering the Romans with theological background, Paul outlines some basic principles for dealing with brothers and sisters in Christ and offers his readers guidance that has stood the test of time. Any congregation that is doing the things that he has listed will likely be vibrant and flourishing in every part of its ministry. In our troubled and conflicted times, it’s particularly important for us to rejoice in hope, and offer blessings instead of curses when division threatens. And we can’t forget to cling to one another in our suffering, offering daily prayers for all those feeling pain and loss in their lives. The reminder that we are not alone when our lives seem to be falling apart is of inestimable value. It’s precisely at this point that we are bound together in love and can begin to believe that we really are the living, breathing Body of Christ in this world. When we are tempted to give up on the Church in the face of conflict and membership loss, what a blessing it is to be reminded that when our congregations are healthy, there’s still no better place for searchers to encounter the unconditional love of God.

Thought for the Day: How well do Paul’s words describe my congregation?

Psalm 26:1-8

“Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and mind.” vss. 1-2

The psalmist was a righteous man, and he knew it! And he didn’t want anyone to confuse him with the sinners that may have hung around the temple precincts. And he was so confident in the way that he had lived that he asked the Lord to test him. He was sure of his own righteousness and had no fear of any judgment from God. And what evidence did he present of his inherent goodness? He didn’t mince words, “I do not sit with the worthless, nor do I consort with hypocrites; I hate the company of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked. I wash my hands in innocence, and go around your altar, O Lord, singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all your wondrous deeds.” Now some might resonate with these words and claim them as a description of their own behavior. But others find this kind of religiosity troublesome–we see ourselves as people of faith but are much more comfortable identifying with sinners than with the self-identified righteous. We may even suspect that the psalmist would avoid our pew like the plague if he ever visited our congregation. And we’d likely be okay with that! It’s really not much fun to hang out with the righteous–which is why Jesus sought out sinners!

Thought for the Day: What does the company we keep say about us?

Jeremiah 15:19-21

“And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the Lord.” vs. 20

Jeremiah did more than his share of lamenting in his short but storied career as a prophet in Jerusalem. The royals had paid no attention to his warnings and oracles and he was lucky to have avoided being stoned. But he never gave up! No matter how frustrated he became, his sense of call was greater. We continue to see and hear people like Jeremiah at work in our world. They have a strong and powerful conviction that the world is teetering on the edge of disaster unless humanity changes its ways. They paint an alarming apocalyptic picture of a warming world and tell us that climate change will bring unprecedented calamity. And even in the presence of overwhelming apathy they refuse to be silent! They’ll continue with their warnings and predictions even when it seems no one is paying attention. That’s how it is with prophets. Their call is from God and they are convinced that their message is precious and of enormous value to us all. They hope against hope that one day the tide will turn and a spirit of cooperation will unite humanity and the planet will be saved. We may not like hearing their words but we can be sure they’ll never stop speaking the truth that has been laid on their hearts.

Thought for the Day: Why are climate prophets ignored?

Jeremiah 15:15-18

“Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?
Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail.” vs. 18

Jeremiah had been called to be a prophet of God and he had accepted the call. He would call the people of Jerusalem to repentance and to turn from their idolatrous ways. He devoured the words the Spirit laid on his heart and then discovered that no one paid the least bit of attention. The nation continued its reliance on foreign entanglements and turned away from the Lord–and Jeremiah was deeply disappointed, not so much in the people, but in God. He had expected to be soothed by his commitment to the Lord but instead he had found pain and disappointment. His feeling is not uncommon among those who try to be faithful to the call of God. Even followers of Jesus can find themselves disappointed with the results of their labors. Things don’t always go as we wish and sometimes our prayers can sound a lot like the laments of Jeremiah. We come seeking the water of life and discover that the brook has gone dry, and that there is nothing to slake our thirst. Fortunately we are never left alone. The One who has called uf to faithfulness will not desert us when our wanderings take us into the wilderness. Ultimately our joy is restored and we discover springs even in the desert.

Thought for the Day: When am I most likely to lament my call?

Matthew 16:17-20

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” vs. 19

While actual historical evidence is lacking, there is no doubt that Peter was associated with the community of Christians in Rome and probably died there as a martyr. As centuries passed and the bishop of Rome gained greater authority, Peter was widely believed to have been the first pope. They pointed to this verse from Matthew as verification of his primacy. He was Peter, the Rock, and on him, Jesus had established his Church. As the years passed and the bishop of Rome consolidated power, various popes realized that this authorization as the keeper of the keys had enormous significance. By wielding this power to bind sins, popes were able to bring the rulers of Europe to their knees and even declare allegiance to them. They even used the power of keys as a money-maker and were able to sell indulgences for their capital projects, including St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. It’s difficult to see how this could have been a part of Jesus’ intention when he called Peter the Rock. Naturally the Church needs leaders, but there’s no need for them to use their positions for personal gain and notoriety. We need sacrificial servants and not folks who flaunt their wealth and material possessions. Thank God that there are such servant leaders rocking the Church today! They are a solid foundation!

Thought for the Day: How is the power of the keys used today?

Matthew 16:13-17

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’” vs. 13

There was a lot of speculation about Jesus during his ministry. There was a heightened sense of expectation among the people, and many were wondering if God had at long last sent his messiah. John the Baptist had garnered a good bit of attention, but now that he’d been arrested and killed, people were considering Jesus. So Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” It’s an important question. And, as in the first century, there are a multitude of answers. Some say he’s God, others are convinced he was a man, a great teacher perhaps, but certainly not God. Still others think of him as a mythic being, like one of the Egyptian or Greek gods. Many would agree with Simon Peter, that he’s the messiah sent by God. But beyond the speculative answers there’s a more basic question, “Who is Jesus for us?” Is he like some historical or biblical figure, or is he a person of the present? Can we have a relationship now with Jesus? Is he our Lord and Savior, and, if so, what difference does that make for our lives? These aren’t easy questions but our answers are important, and will influence the way we live. So imagine him looking you in the eye today and asking, “Who do you say that I am?”

Thought for the Day: Who do I say that Jesus is?

Romans 12:3-8

“For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.” vss. 4-5

Life in Christ is communal! That’s one of the basic teachings of Christianity 101 and nothing good happens when we don’t take it seriously. And yet that is exactly what has taken place in our congregations in the last century. The connection with the Body has been lost in favor of a self-centered individualism, and people are drifting away from the Church by the thousands. Young people stop worshiping as they pursue their own interests, move out of the congregations that have nourished them, and never again bother to connect with a spiritual community. It’s not that they begin to lose themselves in hedonistic behaviors–not at all–they simply adopt a secular way of life. They likely don’t miss the Church as much as the Church misses them. Oh how good it is when we recognize the value of being connected to a community of faith. It’s here that we are supported in our suffering and encouraged in our sacrificial service. Together we reach out to the broken and the poor and continue the work of Jesus in our broken world. And through it all we are bound together by unconditional love and endless mercy. And most importantly perhaps, it’s here that we find our purpose, it’s here we find our niche!

Thought for the Day: Where is my niche in my congregation?