Walk This Way

Isaiah 2:1-4
The prophet Isaiah shares a divine word about the times to come. “Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths’” (Isaiah 2:3). Note the focus of the vision. In those days the nations of the world will turn their attention to God, not to institutions or agencies related to God, but to God alone. And it is in God that the truth will be found. I make this point because I think too often people of faith are tempted to claim authority in matters that belong to God. Who will teach the peoples? God will. In whose paths will they walk? The ones that God has established. Indeed, who is drawing the nations together? God is.

On the one hand this passage should remind us that we all have much to learn from God. No matter who we are or how much we know or how faithful we believe ourselves to be, we simply must remain open to what God is doing and saying and teaching. We, too, should make our way to “the house of the God of Jacob” to seek instruction for there is much that we, too, have to learn. At the same time, this passage also reminds us that God alone chooses who it is that God will teach, will guide, will claim. We do not have the authority to determine who may approach the divine presence. We do not control who is “in” or who is “out” in terms of God’s love. God alone “shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples” (v. 4a). It is God who stands at the center of Isaiah’s vision, and it is God alone who should—who must—reside at the center of our lives.

The vision offered by the prophet is one of hope precisely because it does not depend on human authority. It is only good news because it is God who is at work. So we look forward to the day when God’s will is done, and in the meantime we turn to God for instruction, standing shoulder to shoulder with whoever it is that God has called.

Prayer: Lord, help us to remain focused on you alone, and help us to hear your message of truth and righteousness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Now a Word From Our Sponsor

Zechariah 7:8-8:8

Just in time for Christmas, the prophet Zechariah has a not-so-subtle reminder of what our relationship to God is all about. "Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another. But they refused to listen, and turned a stubborn shoulder, and stopped their ears in order not to hear. They made their hearts adamant in order not to hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his spirit through the former prophets" (Zechariah 7:9-12a). If we hold these words alongside the words of John the Baptist we begin to see the issues that Jesus Christ was sent to address, the claims that God was making in the stable in Bethlehem.

Right now, and just for a moment, reflect on how our global culture treats the poor and the disenfranchised in our midst. Then take another moment to consider how the message of Christmas speaks to the least and the lonely, those longing for the truth. Are there things that we can do better? Are there people for whom we can show more compassion? I suspect that there are. If we have in any way stopped up our ears to God's word, or allowed the sounds of our culture to drown it out, then Advent is the time to start paying attention again.

Now back to your regular holiday activities.

Prayer: Lord God, help us to hear and respond to your voice and your voice alone, during Advent and throughout the year. In the name of the one whose return we await. Amen.

Clean Up Your Act

Matthew 23:13-26

Our gospel reading for today includes words of Jesus’ condemning the actions of the religious elite. “Woe to you,” Jesus says, “scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean” (Matthew 23:25-26). Jesus is pointing to the ritual purification of household items, and using it as a parable of righteousness. Those who were worried about appearances but who cared little for God’s will were like cups and plates cleaned on the outside but left full of filth on the inside. “Get your priorities straight,” says Jesus. “Clean up your act.”

Most of us are preparing ourselves for the coming holidays by decorating, cooking, cleaning, shopping, and so forth. We worry about our budgets (so much to buy), about our weight (so much to eat), about our time (so much to do), about our obligations (so many folks to please). Are our priorities straight? Are we focused on the real point of the season, the needs of our world that Jesus addresses over and over again? Or are we cups and plates that are clean on the outside but filthy on the inside? Let’s put it another way: would you serve holiday guests on dishes that had not been washed? No! Nor should we serve God with hearts that have not been touched by the call for justice and righteousness.

Jesus’ words are stark and direct. What matters to God is a life of faithful obedience. Live in accordance with God’s will first and foremost, and let your actions be your gift to the world.

Prayer: Lord God, help us to live as you intend, with hearts set not on worldly desires, but on the grace and mercy that you seek. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

What’s All the Fuss About Oxen?

1 Corinthians 9:1-15

What clarity Paul provides for the understanding of scripture. “For it is written in the law of Moses, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.’ Is it for oxen that God is concerned?” (1 Corinthians 9:9; quoting Deuteronomy 25:4). And with that one question—Is God really concerned that much about oxen?—Paul helps us to focus on what is really important in the faith.

No, God’s concern is not strictly for the wellbeing of farm animals. The issue is much broader and much more pressing. If oxen should be allowed to benefit from their work, so should people. Paul of course is staking a claim for himself and those who serve the gospel as apostles, but the point goes much further. One with a generous heart does not begrudge the wellbeing of others, nor does he or she deprive others of what is fair and just. Oh, and by the way, God is the one who decides what it fair and what is just. For example, Jesus used the example of an ox stuck in a well on the Sabbath (Luke 14:5-6). Who would be so callous as to leave the animal there until the next day? Surely then, Jesus healing the sick on a Sabbath was acceptable for it addressed the wellbeing of people.

So Paul isn’t really talking about oxen; he’s talking about what is fair and what is just according to God. How we approach public policy, how we deal with economics, what we do with our income all should be measured by this standard.

Prayer: Lord, help us to care for one another as you would have us to do, so that your justice may guide our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Radiating Blessedness

Matthew 5:1-10

This passage in Matthew contains most of the Beatitudes. Their title refers to the state of utmost bliss or supreme happiness which is what Jesus promises to those who live within their parameters. If you wish to achieve happiness then you should concentrate on these certain characteristics, Jesus is saying. As we know these sayings are centered on individuals. There is a formula at work here. Those who do certain things or face certain situations (i.e. mourning, mercy, purity, persecution) receive God’s favor in particular ways (i.e. being comforted, seeing God, becoming children of God, inheriting the kingdom of God, receiving mercy). But how do these words relate to such passages as Matthew 25 with its explicit call to offer justice and compassion to those who suffer? Do the Beatitudes really point to a community faith, or merely to personal piety?

The Beatitudes point to a state of being that cannot be suppressed or hidden. To represent the kingdom of heaven, to live as children of God, to see and therefore know the will of God, to be filled with righteousness, all of these examples lead to a shared reality. These are like lamps on their lampstands, like a city on a hill. To be blessed in these ways leads one to practically radiate blessedness to others. Jesus speaks to a community of faith about what it means to reach out to others. The gospel is to be shared, not horded. So when one is blessed in the ways that Jesus identifies, all are blessed. And that in turn demonstrates that the reign of God is drawing near.

Prayer: Lord, as you bless us, allow and encourage us to bless others. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

The Character Issue

1 Kings 3:16-28

Our reading from 1 Kings today is very familiar. King Solomon was once approached by two women, each claiming a baby to be their child. Solomon discovered the truth by threatening to split the child in half, at which point the boy’s real mother relented in her claim. I’ve read this story a dozen times, and may have preached from it a time or two, but until today I don’t think I’ve ever really thought about the identity of the two woman. Right at the very beginning of the story we are told that they were prostitutes (1 Kings 3:16). So here’s the question: why did Solomon waste his time seeking justice between women of such low moral character? Surely a king had better things to do than deal with two—what shall we call them? Whores?

Or maybe the real question is this: what would we have done? Would we have allowed the social standing of the women or their immoral character to sway our judgment? Would we have told them they weren’t worthy or our attention? While the story really centers on Solomon’s wisdom we can not ignore the fact that Solomon sought justice regardless of who he was dealing with. Surely we should, too. In fact people of faith should always look for the least and the lost, to offer consolation and a better way. The homeless man with a record of petty crime—should we leave him on the streets to fend for himself? The runaway teenager now addicted to drugs—should she have to live with the mess she’s caused? The illegal alien who faces a sudden health crisis—should we deport her? The man lying by the side of the road who represents everything that we hate or mistrust—should we leave him for someone else to deal with?

We know what we are supposed to do. The prophets made it clear, and so did Jesus. Justice is akin to righteousness. In fact the two go hand in hand. We err when we spend our time meting out what people deserve instead of offering what they need. Besides, aren’t we all sinners in constant need of God’s redeeming grace? Solomon’s wisdom is profound, but I would suggest that his sense of justice is every bit as important. And while we can’t all be “Solomons” we can seek to be the people whom God has called us to be.

Prayer: Lord, may we see with eyes of justice and not of judgment, and may we serve you by showing others justice and compassion. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Just Add Righteousness

Luke 3:1-14

According to Luke, as John the Baptist preached and baptized he began to attract large crowds. Among those who came to him seeking direction for their lives were some unsavory types. As we read, “Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages’” (Luke 3:12-14). According to some commentators we may assume that both the tax collectors and soldiers to whom Luke refers were Jews in the employ of the Romans, and therefore considered traitors. Yet even they were moved to seek repentance. And what does John say to these people? He does not tell them to renounce their occupations. Instead he challenges them to fulfill their positions with righteousness and justice. Tax collectors should take no more than is due to them. Soldiers should be content with their income and not resort to extortion in order to earn more. By God’s grace what they have been given should be enough, John is saying.

Yes, there are activities that are wholly irredeemable. But society would be greatly blessed if people of faith would act with righteousness in the lawful tasks they undertake. I don’t think it is too much of a stretch to apply John the Baptist’s words to modern leaders of government and business. Those who cling to ideology, partisanship, and profitability — be they liberal or conservative –– at the expense of doing what is just are no better than extortionists. The tax collectors and soldiers to whom John spoke had made greed into an idol. Political or economic dogma is just as dangerous. Do the right thing, John says. Be content with what God has given you and act with a generosity of mind and spirit. I realize this is not an easy undertaking (in fact, the easy part is seeing the faults in other people). But if we are true in our desire to repent and get right with God we’ve got to be willing to change, to give up what may seem essential to us in order to meet the needs of others. In whatever we do, we must remain focused on God’s will. Anything else will serve to distance us from the righteousness of God.

Prayer: Lord, these are difficult times that require difficult choices. Help us at all times to live according to your will and to renounce the idolatries that scream for our attention. Amen.

The Floor Plan of God

Jeremiah 22:13-23

“Unless the Lord builds the house, they who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). “See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by…” (Amos 7:8). Those are the verses I thought of when as I read through today’s passage from Jeremiah. “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice…” (Jeremiah 22:13). When we take these verses together it is clear that God has a “floor plan” for our world, for our society, for our lives. We may try to create a legacy for ourselves, but unless we pay attention to God’s will and God’s judgment, we build in vain. If our building materials include unrighteousness and injustice then the structure will be insecure and morally out of plumb.

So who would ever knowingly build such a faulty structure? We know the answer to that question because we ourselves are guilty of the practice. A half-truth here, a blind eye there, a choice made according to expediency and not according to what is just, and pretty soon our lives are leaning precariously away from God’s intentions. The same is true of communities and nations. Taking advantage of others, overlooking the needs of the weak and oppressed, focusing too much on our desires and not enough on what God wants can leave us tottering on the brink of a spiritual collapse. We must work to shore up the structures with justice, to support the walls with righteousness. We must allow God to build through us and not ignore God’s instructions. After all, the floor plan of God is the only design guaranteed to provide for our needs and those of others.

Prayer: Gracious God, help to build lives of righteousness and justice and to reach out to those in need. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Fast God Chooses

Isaiah 58:1-12

One of the things to notice in reading from the prophets is how there is no separation between the worship of God and the ethical claims God makes upon us. Our reading from Isaiah today is a perfect example. While there are those who seek to worship and honor God with all they are and all they have, there are also others who give very little thought to what God really desires from God’s people, and as a result put little effort into the relationship.

“Is not this the fast that I choose,” asks God: “to loose the bounds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free…” (Isaiah 58:6)? If we set about to serve God with hallow rituals while neglecting acts of generosity and of kindness we’ve missed the point. God is not satisfied with such half-hearted response. What God really wants is for us to care for one another, to look after those in need, to remove oppression and injustice from our lands, to lift up the downtrodden and grant peace. If our worship of God does not lead us in that direction then we’ve missed the point. If, however, our worship allows us to turn outward and to meet the needs of our world, to share more generously, then we are following God’s for our lives.

It really is that simple. We can sit in our pew and give lip service to God, or we can allow God to motivate us, to guide us, to care for others through us and by doing so demonstrate to the world the grace of God and the love of God’s people. What sort of fast do you choose? One that you can get through quickly and forget about, or one that touches every facet of your life and the lives of others. If you said the second one, then you are on your way.

Prayer: O God, give meaning to our words and purpose to our actions, that our worship may lead us to serve others according to your will. Amen.

Redeemed By Justice

Isaiah 1:21-31

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

I find the ideas contained in Isaiah’s words, “Zion shall be redeemed by justice…” (Isaiah 1:27) to be deeply moving for a number of reasons, and especially apt for this time of year. First of all the prophet affirms that God remains at work in the life of the people. There is an ongoing relationship, a conversation if you will, that God maintains. Advent is a time of waiting and anticipation. But we do not wait in isolation, we literally wait with God to see what God will do.

For another thing, redemption and justice help to define one another. To be redeemed by God is not the same thing as a “Get Out Of Jail Free” card in the game Monopoly. Redemption, though not dependant on our works, nonetheless presupposes our participation in God’s purposes. Meanwhile, God’s justice, when shared with the world, works to spread the grace and mercy upon which all community must be built if it is to survive. God’s redemption leads us to acts of justice, which in turn push the boundaries of community outward and help to make God’s redeeming work known to others.

Finally, Isaiah’s words resonate well with those of 1 Thessalonians where we read, “(We are) urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12). God’s call has already been placed. The kingdom is already at hand. Redemption is a reality. Now all people are urged and encouraged and plead with to “lead a life worthy” of what God is doing, to enter wholeheartedly into the cycle of redemption and justice because that is what God’s people do.

What would God’s justice look like? How will we know when it arrives? These are not easy questions and good people with good intentions can argue long and hard about them without consensus. But it is a conversation that we must have at all times and it is a process that must allow and accept God’s word to stand supreme in our midst, during Advent and beyond. Part of our excitement at Advent should come from knowing that someday, in God’s time, the answers will become clear and the kingdom will arrive in its fullness, and that is something worth working for and living towards!

Prayer: O God, as we await your coming may we do so with justice for others and with thanks for your redeeming love in Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Holding and Waiting

Hosea 12:2-14
Acts 26:24-27:8
The words found in Hosea 12:6 are quite similar to more familiar words from the prophet Micah. Hosea charges the people to “…hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God” (Hosea 12:6). Micah, of course, calls on God’s people “to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). It is waiting "continually for God" (what I would consider an act of humility as it puts one totally at God’s behest) that Paul demonstrates so clearly in the account from Acts 26 and 27. Paul might have been freed from imprisonment, according to king Festus, had he not already appealed to the emperor (Acts 26:32). But Paul’s mission is not to go free, it is to go where God’s intends him to go, waiting continually for God, and walking in humility. This is how Paul finds himself en route to Rome as a prisoner, prepared to address the highest authorities in the known world concerning Jesus Christ as Messiah.

Waiting is not something I do well, nor is humility for that matter. Learning to accept where God has sent me as an opportunity instead of a burden requires my will and my aspirations to be subsumed into God’s purpose. It requires me to trust God instead of my own instincts. It forces me to live in open reliance upon God’s presence in my life. How did Paul, of all people, manage this? How did he allow himself to go from active persecutor of the church, to global apostle, to one in shackles? He did it by holding fast to what God expected of him and by “waiting continually for God” in faithfulness.

At some point today you or I may find ourselves in a difficult situation. We may feel that the best way to handle things is to figure it out for ourselves, to use our own wisdom and skill to deal with things. What Hosea reminds us, and what Paul knew, is that God is calling us to trust in the divine will and to live accordingly, with love, justice, and patient humility. It isn’t easy. But it is God’s will. And really, that should be enough for you and me.

Prayer: Lord, help us to live with justice and love and patience, even in the most trying of times. In Jesus’ name. Amen.