Psalm 51:1-5

“Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.” vs. 5

We would just as soon ignore verses like this one when we read scripture. It conjures up old teachings about original sin that have been less than helpful as we’ve battled issues of shame and guilt in our lives. It seems to be a contradiction of our innate goodness as a child of God, and more than that, it implies that somehow our sin is related to our sexuality. Sadly, some religious leaders have used this verse to make the essence of the sexual act dirty or perverse. Now it is true that human sexuality is an area where abuse and even violence is experienced by many in our society. The great intimacy of the sexual act makes us vulnerable on multiple levels, and many have a hard time expressing their sexual needs or even describing their sexual orientation. But it doesn’t make it any easier when we go to the bible for proof that our basic feelings of guilt can be traced back to the sexual act that gave us life. Perhaps the psalmist was trying to say that he had always been aware of his basic selfishness, and that even as a child he’d failed to live as God desired. Many of us could agree with that. Those who have had children see stubborn and selfish tendencies at a young age, almost as soon as a child can walk and talk. Sin does show up early in our lives, but sex is not the reason!

Thought for the Day: What did my parents teach me about sex?

Jeremiah 31:33-34

“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” vs. 33

Laws have a life of their own. As soon as they are established they begin to be amended and to proliferate. Soon every area of human behavior and enterprise is infected and defined in ways that defy our comprehension. Jeremiah believed that there was another way, that our lives didn’t need to be defined by external rules and regulations. He anticipated a time when God’s law would be imprinted on the hearts of all people and there would be no need for external ordinances to define and control our deeds and actions. When Jesus began his mission we got a sense of what that might look like in the flesh. With law as his servant and not his master he acted as the Spirit guided him, even when it irritated the scribes and Pharisees who were scrutinizing his every move. Under the direction of that same Spirit, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, believers discovered that the law of love had been carved on their hearts, and would spend their lifetimes living by grace, and selflessly serving the broken and the needy. And so it continues! All around,we see disciples loving and caring in Jesus’ name–they don’t carry rulebooks–but because they know whose they are, they know what to do!

Thought for the Day: Am I law guided or Spirit driven?

Jeremiah 31:31-34

“The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.” vs. 31

Covenants were as important to the people of Israel as the constitution is to the United States. They were a mark of identity and each one involved a sign and a promise. The first was with Noah and the rainbow was a sign of God’s commitment to never again destroy the earth with a flood. A second was with Abraham and Sarah and, with circumcision as a sign, was the promise that Israel would be a great nation. Then came Sinai and the Mosaic covenant, based on the Law, which celebrated the marriage of the Lord to the people who had come out of Egypt. It’s the breaking of that covenant that Jeremiah laments on the eve of Israel’s destruction. It’s not that God had abandoned the old promises, not at all; it was totally Israel’s doing. By breaking the Law they had essentially divorced themselves from the Lord. But Jeremiah assures the people that the Lord will now make a new covenant with Israel–their sins would not be allowed to destroy the relationship. Jeremiah’s powerful reassurance of God’s grace became a source of hope for Israel though their years of exile, and in fact paved the way for the forgiving ministry of Jesus. No matter how unfaithful we are, God can be trusted to be faithful–and God’s last word is always one of compassion and mercy.

Thought for the Day: What covenants have been a part of my life?

John 3:18-21

“And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.” vs. 19

John was no fool! By the time he wrote his gospel the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection had been spreading for at least a couple of generations. There were now believers in every major city in the Roman Empire. But not everyone who received the message of grace believed it, and John believed that he knew why. Even though the light had come into the world, some people loved darkness better than light–it was the best way to keep their evil ways hidden! What John observed is still present among us. Millions of people have received the good news of Jesus with thanksgiving and his light burns brightly among them. But others continue to live in darkness, presumably because it’s more comfortable for them. They sense that to believe in Jesus will mean change, and when the old ways are so comfortable, why would they bother? It’s not that unbelievers are bad people. Not at all! Many of us count them among our family and friends. And because they too have been created in the image of God, they will by nature do good. But living in darkness can be a precarious business–stumbling blocks abound–and it’s so easy to get lost, and often their basic goodness is hidden! When we love the light, our lives are enriched and the world is blessed!

Thought for the Day: What changes when we believe in Jesus?

John 3:14-17

“And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” vss. 14-15

As John struggled to find a metaphor that would make the cross more palatable to his readers, he remembered an obscure incident from the Hebrew scriptures that was absolutely perfect. During one of the Israelites many rebellions against Moses the Lord had sent poisonous serpents as a punishment. Healing came after Moses crafted a bronze serpent and hung it on a pole for those who were bitten to look at. That story was the perfect metaphor for what had happened on the cross. Jesus was like that bronze serpent. All who believed in him would have eternal life! That’s why in John’s gospel, Jesus’ last words are recorded as being, “It is finished!” The cross was the end of the story, even more so than the resurrection. For John the dying figure on the cross was the salvation of humanity, and whoever believed in him would live forever. That message continues to have traction in the Church and for many the essence of the whole bible is John 3:16, “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.” Those few words have brought healing and comfort to millions through the years, and they continue to touch hearts today.

Thought for the Day: My favorite bible verse!

Ephesians 2:4-10

“For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” vs. 10

Even though we are sinners, by grace God has already raised us up and given us new life in Christ. And when we trust that this is true, we can put away our old selves and devote ourselves to a lifetime of good works. It doesn’t make any difference how we have lived or what we have done, we have already been programmed by God to walk in the way of righteousness. Good works are a part of our DNA–they really are our natural inclination. The problem is that we have regular issues with our operating systems and sometimes viruses can infect our hard drives with devastating results. When that happens the problem is not that we have turned bad, it’s just that our connection with the Holy Spirit has been broken. We are still the good persons God has created us to be but the brokenness has to be addressed. Fortunately the Holy Spirit is the geek of all geeks, and there is no connection that cannot be reestablished. As we confess our sins, our prayers are heard, viruses are destroyed, and forgiveness is ours. Each day, by grace, we get rebooted and we can begin again to live for truth and work for justice in this broken world. And the joy and peace of God will sustain us until the end of our earthly lives!

Thought for the Day: How is my operating system working?

Ephesians 2:1-3

“You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient.” vss. 1-2

We aren’t exactly sure who Paul is talking about when he spoke of the “ruler of the power of the air,” but we can make a pretty good guess. Chances are he’s referring to Satan, or the one known as the prince of demons. Jesus spoke of Satan too when referring to the testing that was a part of his wilderness experience. Evidently Paul had those same experiences, and believed that Satan was the force behind the  trespasses of the disobedient. His words are instructive for this technological and scientific age where many are reluctant to include beings like demons or devils in their worldview. Even if we no longer use the dualistic language of good and evil, it’s important to remember that not every spirit is the Holy Spirit. There are contrary forces that are alive and well in our world and, unless we are alert, they can have a powerful influence in our lives. Often masquerading as good, they distort and undermine the truth by entangling millions in their lies and deceptions. Paul doesn’t dwell on such forces but instead points his readers to the life they have in Christ Jesus. Even if we’ve been deceived, we are not condemned! The forgiveness we have in the cross is for all people, and not just for the good.

Thought for the Day: How can I discern which spirit is Holy?

Psalm 107:17-22

“Some were sick through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities endured affliction; Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress;” vss. 17, 19

The psalmist knew that sometimes people didn’t get what they deserved, that even though their lives had been marked by rebellion and complaining, the Lord’s healing love was unconditional. Thousands of years later folks continue to find consolation in that surprising good news, especially those who have not led exemplary lives. There are a multitude of ways for us to get messed up in the course of a lifetime. Sometimes it happens early on with parental abuse or neglect. And then there are those “friends” we make during our school days. They’re quick to welcome us into their rebel culture and before we know it we’ve started a downward spiral into a world of licentiousness and excess. Oh, the bad choices we make in those formative years–they can haunt our lives for decades. By the time we even think of our long-neglected faith and come to our senses, we imagine we’ve wandered too long and too far, and that there’s no way back to God. And then comes the big surprise! God’s love has been there all along, and the image of God remains in our souls. In our distress we are lifted up and find our salvation, and we continue our journey with joy in our hearts. Oh, how good it is to be loved by God!

Thought for the Day: What has messed me up along the way?

Psalm 107:1-3

“O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.” vs. 1

Occasionally, especially in the middle of Lent or a particularly upsetting news cycle, it’s helpful for people of faith to pause and give thanks to the Lord for the relentless and unceasing love that undergirds our being. Sometimes we’re like old crows as we plod through life. Distracted by everything that moves or glitters we spend our days flitting from this to that, hoping that we can perhaps find some precious bauble that we can take home to our nests. It’s wearisome to live that way and often we wonder why we end up so bothered and irritated. Often it gets so bad that we can’t even watch the evening news without blowing a gasket, which is exactly the intent of the broadcaster! That’s when we need to turn back to the basics and repeat the refrain of the psalmist, “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,” and then go out into our yards and wonder at the beauty of the spring daisies popping up in the yards of our neighborhoods. All the political scheming is here today and gone tomorrow as the old disruptors continue their march to oblivion. But the beauty of the flowers is forever, and they return year after year to remind us of God’s presence and steadfast love. We are so blessed in our spectacular universe, and when we’ve been upset, it feels good to return to the love that will never let us go!

Thought for the Day: Where will I get my “God fix” today?

Numbers 21:4-9

“Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died.” vs. 6

It’s not uncommon for people to wonder why awful things are happening in their lives. And for people of faith the wondering is often accompanied by the question, “Why is God doing this to me?” Behind the question lurks the popular assumption that when we sin, God will arrange for our punishment, maybe not with poisonous snakes, but with some other calamity. Certainly there are many bible passages similar to this one from Numbers that provide a basis for such a picture of God. The problem with such notions is that they don’t hold up to the image of God that we see in Jesus. While his disciples assumed that death and disease were a punishment for sin, Jesus taught them that God was the source of life and forgiveness. Obviously there are consequences for foolish and careless behaviors. Sometimes we do suffer for our sins, but that’s not because God has it in for us. Rather, it’s a corollary of the basic law of cause and effect that’s built into the universe. But in reality there’s plenty of bad stuff that just randomly comes our way in the course of our days. God doesn’t need to add more! Instead, God is the source of comfort and consolation when the ugliness hits home. Remember, God is our healer and not our harmer!

Thought for the Day: What is the law of cause and effect?