Romans 4:13-17

“For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants…” vs. 16a

It was obvious to Paul that the covenant that the Lord had made with Abraham and Sarah did not rest upon obedience to the Law. How could it? Moses hadn’t shown up until 800 years later. No, the whole promise rested on grace, and there were no restrictions on who could receive it. Anyone who trusted in the promise was a descendent of Abraham and Sarah, and that could include anyone. There’s a risk associated with making grace the basis for our relationship with God. Because we are broken humans, we love a bargain, and grace doesn’t have much power when we shop for it at garage sales. That kind of cheapening of God’s most precious gift has been our bane forever. Cheap grace empties congregations and shuts the door on the cleansing and restorative power of the Holy Spirit. We remain in our sinful ways, oblivious to how wonderful life can actually be. Paul battled that attitude through his entire ministry but he never backed down on his grace-filled message. For him turning back to the Law would have negated the power of the cross, and there was no way he would let that happen. And because of his stubbornness we too can know the beauty of a power-laden, graceful life!

Thought for the Day: What is cheap grace?

Psalm 22:26-31

“Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord, and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.” vss. 30-31

When Jesus came into Galilee after the arrest of John the Baptist, he proclaimed the good news of God, which is exactly what the psalmist was doing in the temple some hundreds of years before. He knew that no matter what was going on in Judea, no matter what was happening in the lives of believers, the Lord was already active in the world. Moreover, the psalmist tells the people that the message of deliverance would be proclaimed to future generations, a people yet unborn. And what was the message? “He has done it!” At its core this is a message of grace and can be compared to what Jesus proclaimed in Galilee when he announced, “The kingdom of God has come near!” There’s an important teaching here for 21st century folks too. Not only are we dealing with personal afflictions, we’re being overwhelmed by divisive partisan politics, an election campaign, and a sense of apprehension about an AI controlled future. For many it’s a scary time! So it’s good to know that our deliverance has already come and God’s kingdom is already among us. And Jesus says to us, as he said to the people of Galilee, “Repent and believe in the good news!” What a great message for the season of Lent!

Thought for the Day: What does repentance have to do with believing?

Psalm 22:23-25

“For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.” vs, 24

The anguish of the psalmist is vividly expressed in the first part of this psalm, and according to the gospel of Mark, Jesus remembered it as he hung dying on the cross. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!” he cried out, and we sense his pain. But in this section of the psalm we get a different message. God had not been absent during the times of affliction, and ultimately the psalmist realized that his prayers had been heard. He reacts by offering hymns of praise and thanksgiving in the temple–he wants the whole congregation to know the blessings that God had visited upon him. That’s how it works in the kingdom. Sometimes, but not always, our cries of pain and anguish are heard, and our affliction is taken from us. In those moments we are all too willing to share our stories of thanksgiving and praise. We tell everyone who will listen that God is good, and that our prayers have been answered. The problem is that it doesn’t happen every time. Occasionally, the suffering continues, just as it did for Jesus on the cross. That does not mean that God is absent. In fact people have reported that in their deepest pain they have experienced an amazing intimacy with Christ. Again, that’s how it works in the kingdom. In seasons of joy and suffering, God is!

Thought for the Day: What relieves my suffering?

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

“I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” vs. 16

Not that many years ago publishing companies that specialized in producing curriculum for Sunday Schools were careful not to include too many stories about women. They didn’t want to offend the men who made decisions in congregations or undermine the patriarchal systems that governed nearly all denominations. It was simply understood that men should be in charge of anything having to do with faith! It’s puzzling that such a system could come to dominate thinking among both Jews and Christians, when Genesis plainly indicates that God’s covenant was made with both Abraham and Sarah, and the identical blessing was given to each. We can be grateful that those cultural prejudices which have grown up through the years, and resulted in the subjugation of women, are being set aside in many of our denominations and congregations. Not only does the old patriarchal system not work in modern society, it’s a gross misunderstanding of the new life we have in Christ Jesus. As Paul put it so well in his letter to the Galatians: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” There is still a lot of change needed–many men are reluctant to relinquish their favored status–but at least we seem to be moving in the right direction.

Thought for the Day: Why is patriarchy so firmly embedded in our culture?

Mark 1:14-15

“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’’ vss. 14-15

Many believed that John the Baptist was a prophet sent from God and perhaps even the messiah. He had an enormous following and when he openly criticized King Herod’s illicit marriage, he was arrested and thrown into prison. Doubtless his followers throughout Judea and Galilee were traumatized–some likely spoke of rebellion. Yet according to Mark, at that very moment Jesus came into Galilee from Judea, proclaiming the good news of God. Think of it! There was a political crisis and Jesus preached the gospel of God! He said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.” We live in a time of deep political division and the accompanying passions can easily destroy relationships and wreak havoc in our congregations. Perhaps this is a time to follow Jesus’ example and focus on the good news of God. We won’t be able to put aside our strong feelings about candidates and policies. That’s not how we’re wired. But we can know that the kingdom of God lies neither to the right nor to the left, but in the good news of Jesus Christ. Our Lenten journey calls us to repent and return to the Lord, and now is a good time to start. 

Thought for the Day: What is the good news of God?

Mark 1:9-13

“And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.” vss. 11-12

According to Mark, Jesus’ ministry got off to a rocky start. It had started well enough. He had been baptized by John, and then as he came up out of the Jordan River he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descended upon him–and then came the voice, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Wow, what an affirming moment! He was the Chosen One! But before it could go to his head, Mark says that the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness for forty days. And this was no staycation! He was with the wild beasts and it was scary. Satan was there and the temptations never ended–it was like a presidential campaign on steroids, one false promise after another, and it seemed never ending. Why did Jesus need to be tested? We presume that it was so he would know what to do with his life. And it seems to have worked. Mark says that when he emerged from the wilderness he wasted no time in beginning his work. Some of us know what that’s like. We wonder about the direction of our lives and sometimes it takes some time in the wilderness to get things figured out. The testing can take many forms, as can Satan, but eventually clarity comes and we can get to work.

Thought for the Day: What shape has testing taken in my life? 

1 Peter 3:21-22

“And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” vs. 21

The story of Noah and the Ark had special significance for early Christians. It was here that they saw the first evidence of God’s saving grace, and they began to use the Ark as a symbol for the Church. In their estimation baptism did for believers exactly what the flood had done for Noah and his family– it was a life preserver and gave them shelter from the evils of the world. Baptism incorporated them into the Church, a community of faith that brought security, shelter, and healing. While we may have other images for baptism, Peter’s metaphor continues to have value. In a very real sense the Church is an ark that keeps us afloat through the storms of life. Without a safe place this world can be a scary place and our daily news stream is quick to remind us of the terrors that lie close at hand. Irresponsible politicians capitalize on those fears and even amplify them in their pursuit of votes and money. In that environment the baptized find a refuge in their congregations where they can practice the disciplines of faith and discover the joy that God intends for our daily living. There the focus is on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the mission of love and service that he has given to all the baptized.

Thought for the Day: How is my congregation like an Ark?

1 Peter 3:18-22

“He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey…” vss. 18b-20a

Sometimes believers have questions about their friends or family members who have died without coming to faith in Jesus. They may even have had conversations with these loved ones about their eternal salvation but were rebuffed or ignored. And when death comes they wonder! We know from scripture that such questions were common in the early church. Just how inclusive was the resurrection of Jesus, and who would be included in the new life? In his letter Peter offers a word of hope. He says that after his resurrection Jesus visited the spirits in prison, i.e, those who had died in ages past, even those before the flood. It’s only a brief statement, yet it was considered important enough to be included in the Apostle’s Creed, and so it is that for centuries believers have confessed that Jesus descended to the dead after his resurrection. While it’s hard to imagine what those words mean in any literal sense, the intention is clear. The new life in Christ is for all people, even those who in their lifetimes did not know Jesus. We don’t have to worry about those loved ones who never came to faith–they’ve missed out on a lot in this life, but they don’t miss out on the life to come. Nothing can separate us from God’s love!

Thought for the Day: What do unbelievers miss out on in this life?

Matthew 6:1-6,16-21

“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” vs. 1

Jesus had little patience with religious people. In fact, in this passage he seems to indicate that they are a dangerous influence for those who would be his disciples. In his day people were sorely tempted to engage in pious practices solely for the impression they could make on others. Jesus calls such persons “hypocrites,” a term with which we have considerable familiarity. In our time people who don’t want to be considered hypocrites will often say, “Well, I’m not religious, I’m spiritual!” What they don’t realize is that spirituality, whatever that means, does not make you immune to hypocrisy. Frequently, those calling themselves “spiritual” are even more hypocritical than religious folks. They love to show off their latest spiritual “discoveries” and seem proud that they no longer worship. Jesus doesn’t care whether we’re spiritual or religious–neither gives any heavenly reward. But he does want his followers to be disciples! He wants us to practice the faith with disciplines that have both communal and personal value. He particularly mentions alms-giving, prayer, and fasting. These practices don’t make us religious or spiritual but they have a powerful impact on our relationships to God and neighbor. In doing these things we store up treasure in heaven, and Lent is the perfect time to practice them!

Thought for the Day: What will be my Lenten disciplines?

Psalm 25:1-10

“Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.” vs. 6

Evidently the psalmist was aware that his life had not been up to the standards of a pious and faithful believer. So as he continued his confession he took time to actually instruct the Lord. “Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.” The Lord is by nature merciful and loving, and the psalmist knows that, but there seems to be a nagging doubt that when the Lord finds out what he’s done, all that kindness will be forgotten, and he’ll get what he deserves. If that’s how the psalmist was feeling we can understand! That’s exactly what it’s like when our sin gets the better of us. Even though we know that God is gracious it can be really hard to believe that we are included in that universal forgiveness. That’s what happens when those old “shame on you” messages from our youth are recalled. In the face of overwhelming guilt it’s just hard to believe in unconditional mercy and love. The truth is that God doesn’t need our reminders to remember forgiveness. It’s built into the fabric of God’s nature. God will not remember the sins of our youth–only we drive ourselves to distraction with such remembering. God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Always has been, always will be!

Thought for the Day: Why do people doubt God’s grace?