Do The Right Thing

Romans 12:1-21
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:14-18). I wonder what would happen if we took Paul’s exhortations as seriously as we do some other biblical texts. I wonder what would happen if we challenged ourselves to no longer repay evil for evil with as much vigor as some people of faith use in speaking out against what they consider to be among the more egregious sins. Or if we took Paul’s directions to “live in harmony with one another” to be as essential to a godly life as we hear certain other activities to be contrary to God’s will.

I’ve noticed a tendency on my part to do some picking and choosing when it comes to standards of conduct as a Christian. I’ve also noticed that I’m not the only one. It is terribly easy to make up our own catalogue of dos and don’ts and to add what we feel is appropriate to the list while leaving off some items we aren’t as fond of. The fact is that over and over again in the words of Paul—just as in the words of Jesus before him––the focal point remains love for God and love for one another. With this love comes a willingness to suffer with and to care for those around us. Jesus said that “God so loved the world” (John 3:16), a sentiment echoed by 1 John which says, “God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God” (1 John 4:16); Paul himself says clearly that “faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). It all comes down to love and the harmony, and the shared burdens, and the peaceable living, and the willingness to associate with folks from all classes that comes with it. It all comes down to opening our hearts to God in such a way that we also love our neighbors as ourselves.

As we ponder the word of God and God’s will for all people, we must embrace the entire scope of scripture. Yes, God does offer judgment, does seek to correct our sinfulness, does lead us to a more profound sense of righteousness. But first and foremost God calls us to build a community in love and forbearance where no one is haughty and everyone seeks to live in peace with everyone else. I just wonder what that would look like.

Prayer: Almighty God, may our lives be filled with love for you and for each other, and may we be guided in all we do to build a world full of your grace and peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Back to the Beginning…Almost

Jeremiah 4:9-10, 19-28
The prophet Jeremiah offers a horrifying vision of what God might do in response to the ongoing faithlessness of the people. “I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light. I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking, and all the hills moved to and fro. I looked, and lo, there was no one at all, and all the birds of the air had fled. I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were laid in ruins before the Lord, before his fierce anger. For thus says the Lord: The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end” (Jeremiah 4:23-27). Notice the various elements of creation that are mentioned. The earth is “void” and the heavens have “no light.” There is no human presence and even the birds have vanished. There are no plants for “the fruitful land was a desert.” In so many ways this is a mirror image of the creation story of Genesis 1, for here is a virtual undoing of the acts of God at the beginning of time. All that is left is a barren, empty, deserted wasteland, very like the void over which the spirit of God passed before saying, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3).

Yet even in the midst of this vision, this threat of total destruction, there is hope, for God has not forgotten the various covenants, the promises made to Noah, and Abraham, and through Moses: “I will not make a full end,” says the Lord to Jeremiah. Indeed, there is a reminder of God’s grace even in the face of human stubbornness and disregard for the divine will. The utter bleakness of Jeremiah’s vision does not overcome the hope that God holds out, that within a restored creation the kingdom will come in its fullness. In the story of Pandora’s box, the girl, Pandora, releases all that is dreadful and evil into the world. But along with the woe there is also the last thing out of the box which is hope. Here, in Jeremiah, we find a veriation of that story rooted in God’s relationship with God’s people, a story that contains both the judgment of a just God, and the grace of a merciful Redeemer.

God’s anger burns hot, but God will not bring an end to creation, says Jeremiah. Indeed, with the arrival of Jesus Christ and his ministry some centuries later, God reaffirmed the divine commitment to humanity. In the end as in the beginning, we are blessed by the care of a loving God.

Prayer: God of all creation, look beyond the darkness of the world and lift up your light on the goodness that you have established here, that all may know your love and repent of their sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Always Working the Angles

Luke 15:1-2, 11-32
There is something very sneaky about the younger brother in the parable of the prodigal son. He takes his father’s money, squanders it on a hedonistic lifestyle, and then comes crawling back home. But even in these destitute circumstances that he has brought upon himself, the younger brother has conditions. “How many of my father's hired hands,” he asks himself, “have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands’” (Luke 15:17b-19). The younger son has come looking for a job! Even though the father owns slaves (see verse 26), and servitude would have been by far the more humbling offer to make, the young man asks for gainful employment.

I’m not sure, but I think the actions of the younger brother may be intended to reflect the bargains we sometimes try to make with God. We, too, have squandered much of what God has given us; we, too, find ourselves in need of mercy and grace; we, too, find ourselves turning to God; yet we, too, try very hard to make a deal, one that is more advantageous for us. We could accept the lowest level of servitude, because we deserve nothing more, nothing better. But why not ask for a job instead (and would a corner office be too much to expect?).

It’s called working the angles, and it’s what the prodigal son was all about. It’s what we do, too, pushing God to give just a little more, be just a little more forgiving, and a little slower to anger. Like the waiting father of Luke 15, God is willing to hear us out and to give us more than we deserve. How thankful we should be! The challenge we face is to think of God’s patience and generosity every time we pray, “forgive us our debts/trespasses as we forgive our debtors/those who trespass against us.” If God is giving us more than we deserve, even more than our audaciousness leads us to expect, we simply must show the same regard for others and cut each other some slack.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for your endless and abiding love and ask for help in forgiving and loving one another. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

We All Count

Luke 15:1-10
Jesus offers words of grace in our reading from Luke this morning, though for some, the grace may seem less obvious. “Just so, I tell you,” Jesus says, “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7). Jesus has just told the story of a lost sheep and of a shepherd willing to leave the flock of ninety-nine to go in search of it. The fact that the shepherd is the one looking, the one who goes about restoring those who are lost, helps us to better understand the “one sinner who repents.” God is the primary mover in relation to humanity. God is the one who is calling, seeking, claiming, guiding, judging, forgiving, restoring, and otherwise working out the divine will in our midst. But this is as true for the ninety-nine who have remained in the fold as it is for the lost sheep. None of us may claim a special relationship with God, none of us may assume we are more worthy of God’s love, because it is God who is at work in all cases.

So why bother to seek a right relationship with the Creator? If God is going to come looking anyway, why not take the opportunity to wander off and see what the world has to offer? That sort of temptation will always be there. In truth, we all do our share of wandering. Indeed, if we are honest with ourselves, we will recognize that we all take turns as the one who is lost, the one who needs to repent, the one who needs to be found while God remains steadfast and active, calling us home and claiming us when we get there. We all count to God––none more than another––which is why God goes looking for us in the first place and why there is joy in heaven when we are found.

Prayer: Almighty God, we ask your forgiveness for our sinful ways. Never leave us alone, O Lord, or we would be truly lost. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

All Stirred Up

Luke 11:53-12:12
Imagine the stress that Jesus was forced to live under. Luke offers us a glimpse in our reading from today. “When (Jesus) went outside, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile toward him and to cross-examine him about many things, lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say. Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered by the thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy’” (Luke 11:53-12:1).

Jesus’ enemies were trying to trap him, the crowds were climbing over one another to reach him, and the disciples needed almost constant instruction. The gospel message is one of good news, certainly, but it is nonetheless full of agitation and upheaval. But what would you expect? In Jesus Christ God was not only reconciling the world to God’s self, but was transforming the world, reshaping it into what God had intended. The minute things begin to change, the minute old institutions and old ideas are set aside, turmoil erupts. We see it in our lives and throughout our culture. Even positive change is met with resistance. As Newton’s Third Law of Motion tells us, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” According to Luke, Jesus encountered this phenomenon even as he went about doing the will of God.

We may turn to Jesus Christ as a source of peace, but until we are ready to let go of everything in our lives that we value more highly than our relationship with God we, too, will experience turmoil and confusion. Nor may we simply point to others and blame them. This is as true for you and me as anyone. Even as Jesus seeks to change us, the sinfulness inherent in our nature pushes back. It is only by grace that God is able to move us to the place where we need to be. Thanks be to God for the willingness to stand firm in the midst of turmoil and to lead us—kicking and screaming if need be—toward the coming reign of God.

Prayer: Lord, help us to let go of everything that stands between us and your will for our lives, and help us to willingly accept what you are doing in our midst. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Whose Glory?

John 12:36b-43

Why did some of the leaders of the people refrain from opening confessing their faith in Jesus? According to John’s gospel it was because “…they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God” (John 12:43). This is a sad commentary but it is one that deserves careful consideration in our daily living, for we, too, run the risk of being swayed by our own need for approval or even praise. I think of dogs in particular who can be trained to act in certain ways with the use of praise. Human beings are a ways up the ladder from dogs, of course, but we sometimes find ourselves responding to the same forms of motivation.

God offers a form of glory that is not easy to appreciate in purely human terms. For one thing it calls for patience and hope because God’s glory does not come in the form of instant gratification. For another thing God’s glory is impossible for us to manipulate. By saying certain things or excelling in certain activities, humans can attract significant adulation. God cannot be swayed and certainly cannot be fooled by what we do or who we say we are.

Given the choice between human glory and the glory that comes from God, many will be led astray and choose what they can see and feel in the present life while disregarding the promises of the life of come. Even those who come to recognize the truth in Jesus may fall away when faced with the challenges of discipleship as opposed to what the world offers as normative. The choice is there to be made. Whose glory do we choose?

Prayer: Lord, guide us in our living that we may serve you and seek the glory you offer instead of falling prey to our own egos and our own sinfulness

Question + Answer = Direction

Job 28:1-28

Our reading from Job today asks a question and then, a few verses later, answers it. "Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding?…  Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding" (Job 28:20, 28). That’s about as straight forward as scripture gets. No parable, no allegory, no prophetic vision, no dreams in need of interpretation, just a question and an answer. Don’t we wish it was that easy all the time?

And yet, is this really an “easy” situation? Is it really “easy” to fear the Lord when the world offers us so many other options, so many gods and idols clamoring for our attention? And is it really all that “easy” to turn away from our sinful inclinations? No, these are not “easy” things to do; they require constant effort on our part and an unwavering devotion to God’s will. What we do find, however, is a road map, a source of direction by which to travel so that we know what is expected of us. And we know that God is engaged in the effort with us, for we have Jesus Christ as Lord and the gift of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives.

The question and the answer are there and while they do not make life simple, they do provide us with a direction to travel, a guiding star if you will. God has not left us to flounder, God is giving us what we need.

Prayer: Lord, continue to guide us and to direct us in our living that we may serve you all the days of our lives and that we may have peace and reconciliation with our neighbors

Is That Really Necessary?

Ephesians 4:17-32

“Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy” (Ephesians 4:28). When I read this verse I always chuckle to myself. This may be the most obvious admonition to be found in all of scripture. Did the author of Ephesians really need to tell us that stealing is wrong? Not if we’ve been paying attention to the rest of the Bible. But then we arrive at the next verse, “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear” (v. 29), and I begin to get antsy.

Theft is wrong–and obviously so–but what we say about and to one another often falls into a grey area; or so we’d like to think. Politicians call it “pointing out distinctions” between themselves and their opponents. Groups and organizations based on hate or racism offer their viewpoints in crass terms called “protected speech.” A joke told at a party, a comment made to a coworker, a bit of gossip shared at a potluck supper all pass as “polite conversation.” Few of us would ever endorse theft, but depriving others of their dignity is just as bad and robbing a community of its cohesion is no better. The problem is that while I can see what it means to steal I don’t always choose to see what harm I’m doing by what I say. The author of Ephesians offers me no room to wiggle. Theft and the use of language lie side by side and challenge me to take my actions seriously.

I feel confident that I will not steal today, but what words will I use and what language will I convey? Evil is evil, but perhaps the subtle wrongs are the ones to be feared most for they are the ones we have the most trouble avoiding.

Prayer: Lord, help us to live lives of faith and truth today and always. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Someone We Should Recognize

Nehemiah 9:26-38

Our Old Testament reading for today should sound familiar. “And you [God] warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your ordinances, by the observance of which a person shall live. They turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey” (Nehemiah 9:29). We’ve heard this story before, of how a rebellious and incorrigible people turned away from God’s will and ignored God’s efforts to bring them back. But Nehemiah has a trick up his sleeve. “You [God] have been just in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly…” (v. 33). Now instead of talking about past generations alone, the author speaks directly to his own audience. This is their story he is telling, these are their sins he is recounting. They, too, are guilty. But there is more.

As God’s people this is our story, too. The account Nehemiah shares is one in which we play a part, even if we are centuries removed from the events. We, too, have fallen short of God’s intentions for our lives. We, too, have displayed stubborn shoulders and stiff necks. But scripture also reminds us of God’s unending love, of the redemption that we have received in Jesus Christ. Even if our history is one of shortcomings God’s story is not completed, for the reign of God will come in its fullness and by grace God’s people will find a home in it. Stiff necks and all.

Prayer: Lord, help us to live away from our sins and toward your coming reign. In joy and thankfulness may we recognize all that you have done for us and the forgiveness that you have shown us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Placing Our Confidence In God

Nehemiah 1:1-11

Our Old Testament reading this morning includes a heartfelt prayer of confession, one that resonates with contemporary life. “Both I and my family have sinned,” says Nehemiah. “We have offended you deeply, failing to keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you commanded your servant Moses” (Nehemiah 1:6b-7). Not only does Nehemiah confess his sins and the sins of his people, but he goes on to remind God of promises made, of assurances given, that if the people should turn and seek God they will be restored. Nehemiah shows contrition and seeks mercy, but does so with confidence in God.

In my tradition we enter into confession with the same confidence in God. Yes, we have sinned and turned away from God’s will. Yes, we deserve God’s judgment. But we also know with certainty that in Jesus Christ death and sin have been defeated and that we are forgiven. The relationship between God and God’s people remains intact. In turning to God we are relieved of the weight of our sins and encouraged to live for God and one another. Though Nehemiah would find many things about our modern world to be unsettling (to say the least), I believe his trust in God would continue to serve him well. Still, even at this distance in history, Nehemiah’s prayer remains an example of faithfulness.

Prayer: “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name” (Nehemiah 1:11a).

Worse Than at First

Matthew 12:43-50 The gospel reading for today shares some troubling words from Jesus. “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but it finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So will it be also with this evil generation” (Matthew 12:43-45). My first thought when reading this passage was of something that comic Rodney Dangerfield used to say: “You think I look bad now, you should have seen me yesterday!” But Jesus’ words are far more serious than a standup gag.

The truth is that evil is an ongoing problem for humanity. Whatever it’s cause, sin is something that we can’t outgrow or outrun. If we believe that we have cleanses ourselves of evil, or have “learned not to sin,” we are probably even more vulnerable than we were before, open to all the inclinations that serve to lead us astray. Jesus’ concern is for those who will ignore his words or who will fall into bad habits once they believe themselves to be “healed.” In this regard Jesus’ words are similar to the parable of the sower which Matthew relates in a later chapter. There the seeds that fall on rocky soil or among thorns experience short-lived growth before they are consumed by their surroundings (13:5-7).

Jesus’ invitation to us is to hear the good news and by God’s grace to abide in it so that we may experience the hope and the joy that come from discipleship. There is no inoculation against sinfulness, but there is a recognition of the challenges we face and our constant need for God’s forgiveness. There is also the grace which carries us forward toward the coming reign of God. Jesus’ words are good news because they remind us to be alert and to trust, not in ourselves, but in the love of God.

Prayer: Lord help us to trust in you and not in ourselves or in the world, for from you alone come the grace and forgiveness that we need. In Jesus’ name. 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.

What’s the Matter With These People?

Mark 2:23-3:6

Our reading from Mark for today includes two incidents that took place on the sabbath day, times when Jesus broke the strictest interpretation of the law against work on the Lord’s day. But surely the only reason we know of these events is that there were some who opposed Jesus. I suppose that plucking grain may have been unnecessary as told by Mark, but it certainly was not “work.” And clearly, as Jesus showed over and over again, God’s mercy transcended the designation of days allowing acts of healing even on the sabbath, and even in the synagogue on that day.

So why would anyone object? Couldn’t they see the good that was going on? Didn’t they get it? Those questions are all fine and good until we start to think about the traditions, customs, ways of life to which we cling, even at the risk of hurting others. Don’t we know any better? Seeing the sin in others is so much easier than seeing it in ourselves. Perhaps that is the real message that Jesus is sharing with us in Mark today.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when our understanding clashes with your will and we refuse to give way. Amen.

A Place at the Table

Luke 22:14-23

“When the hour came, (Jesus) took his place at the table, and the apostles with him” (Luke 22:14). This is how Luke begins his account of the Last Supper. When it was time for the celebration Jesus and the disciples gathered in the upper room. It was natural, of course, for Jesus to have a “place at the table,” after all he was the leader of the group, and as Luke helps us to understand, he was (and is) the Messiah, the Son of God. What may seem troubling is a verse that comes later in the passage, where Jesus says, “But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table” (v. 21). Not only did Jesus have a place at the table, but so did Judas!

What does this mean? We may not betray Jesus the same way that Judas did, but all of us are willing to cast our lot with the world when it suits us. Ultimately our choices lead us to betray Jesus in our own ways, turning our backs on God’s will for our lives and treating each other with greed and self-interest. Yet, even sinful folks like you and me are welcome in the presence of Jesus. There is a place for us at the table as well. The meal that Jesus offers, then, is one of hope. In worship, gathered around the table, we find our identity as forgiven people. In confessing our sins we know we will receive pardon, and in the Lord’s Supper (or Communion, or Eucharist) we are given a share in the work of the body of Christ now, and a foretaste of that which is to come. This is one reason why I consider the communion table, the font, and the pulpit to be the “watchposts” of my own faith tradition, Presbyterianism, for it here that we actively await the fulfillment of God’s plan in history (Habakkuk 2:1).

Luke helps us to see that it is a big table to which we are invited. Jesus knows our sins. Nonetheless, he invites us to come and to take our place with him, with one another.

Prayer: Gracious and loving God, forgive us our sins and help us to live as your people, gathered around the table of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Getting Very Specific

Ezekiel 1:28-3:3

The introduction to the book of Ezekiel makes it clear that God was speaking to the prophet at a particular time in human history about a particular people in particular circumstances. Scholars go so far as to place the call of Ezekiel on July 31, 593 B.C. on the banks of the Chebar Canal in Babylon. That’s getting pretty specific, which is why it might be tempting for contemporary believers to overlook such passages as this: “…Mortal, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me…” (Ezekiel 2:3). Yes, but while God may have been addressing specifics that don’t directly apply to you and me, the issues are universal enough to fit any age and any location.

Understanding ourselves to be the people of God is to accept God’s judgment on our lives and to admit that we, like the people of Israel in 593 B.C., are in open rebellion against our Creator. We are sinners who have fallen far short of God’s will. We have neglected our neighbors, we have lived for ourselves, etc., etc. In the midst of all this sin one might expect God to turn away and allow us to sink into our own depravity. But God has chosen to remain steadfast, loving, and merciful. This, too, applies to any age and any nation where people of faith are locked in the struggle with sin. The specificity of Ezekiel means that this is no legend. These events did not happen “once upon a time.” God is real. God does real things in the midst of real lives, as real an anything we will ever face. And while that means we are being judged by God, it also means that we are being loved by the same God, which is really good news.

Prayer: Thanks be to you, O God, for remaining at work in our world and in our lives, reclaiming us from the grasp of our own sins and leading us to lives of grace and peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Speaks--Again!

Jonah 2:1-10

Perhaps it’s an odd choice––especially for the day after Easter—but there is a verse in Jonah that caught my attention this morning. “Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and it spewed Jonah out upon the dry land” (Jonah 2:10). What I find so interesting is that, just as it was with creation, God’s word has the power to direct and to guide. According to Genesis it was on the fifth day of creation that God called forth living creatures to inhabit the waters, including sea monsters and the fish that swarm in the oceans (Genesis 1:20-23). Now God speaks to the great fish, causing Jonah the reluctant prophet to be dislodged upon the land.

God’s speech, God’s creative and powerful word, did not become silent when Adam and Eve left the garden. God continues to effect our lives and our very being with speech. Thus, when we refer to Jesus Christ as the Word Incarnate we are reminded of God’s work in the world, guiding great events like wars and exiles, and incredibly minute details, such as Jonah being spewed onto a beach.

What is the word of God accomplishing in our world and in our lives today? How are we, on this side of the resurrections, being blessed by God’s work? I’m sure that being spewed from a fish’s mouth is not particularly appealing, but what it represents is grace-filled and merciful. The fish, like our own sinfulness, might have carried us away, might have left us with no hope. But with a word God is able to dispel the threat and to lead us to solid footing where we may strive again to do God’s will. The word of God is alive and at work in the big events of our lives and the small ones. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord, by the light of the resurrection may we see the path you hold out to us, and by your word may we be guided on it. Amen.

Learning to Speak the Truth

Jeremiah 8:4-7, 18-9:6

Our reading from Jeremiah today continues to decry the sins of God’s people and the indifference with which they have turned away from God. “They all deceive their neighbors, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongues to speak lies; they commit iniquity and are too weary to repent. Oppression upon oppression, deceit upon deceit! They refuse to know me, says the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:5-6).

At the heart of this particular accusation is that the people have “taught their tongues to speak lies.” This makes sense, too. As children we must learn to crawl and then to walk. We learn to dress ourselves and to tie our shoes. We learn sports and how to ride bicycles. We learn right from wrong and what is expected of us in certain situations. Somewhere in all of this we also learn to use language first speaking, then reading, and then writing. When does it occur to us to speak untruths? When does lying become a part of our skill set? According to Jeremiah’s words the art of lying is something that we teach ourselves, something at which we become adept over time. Once we have trained ourselves to be deceitful it becomes easier and easier to reject the truth and “to rely on the lie.” In doing so we move further from God and further from each other until we are completely set apart by our iniquity and our sinfulness. We may even lie to ourselves while we are lying to one another.

But just as we’ve learned to lie, we may also train ourselves to live in truth according to God’s word. It probably won’t happen overnight. It is difficult work that challenges who we are and the culture by which we are surrounded. But it is worth the effort for it moves us from separation to fellowship. It helps to dismantle the oppression that passes as human interaction, and the webs of deceit that pretend to be communication. We’ve learned to lie, now it is time to teach ourselves the truth.

Prayer: Lord, help us to speak the truth in love and to honor and cherish each other as gifts from you. Amen.

A Healthy Diet of Understanding

Jeremiah 3:6-18

In one way or another each of the readings for today deals with the problem of human sinfulness, but I find a verse in Jeremiah to be especially timely for the season of Lent. God tells the prophet, “I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15). There is a lot to deal with in this short verse. The word shepherds in this case refers to kings or rulers. That a ruler would be “after (God’s) own heart” indicates that they are faithful to God’s will. But God says these rulers will “feed you (the people) with knowledge and understanding,” and that’s the part that I find helpful today.

According to the gospel of Matthew, after Jesus had fasted for 40 days in the wilderness he was famished. Then the devil challenged him to turn stones to bread so that he might have food to eat. Jesus replied, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). This is a direct quote from Deuteronomy 8:3, a reference to the manna on which the people fed during the Exodus. The manna was real, a sign of God’s grace. But it pointed to the need to trust God and to listen for God’s word each and every day. One may be well-fed physically, but starved spiritually. In replying to the devil Jesus make the point that spiritual food is every bit as important to a healthy life as bread. Which brings us back to Jeremiah. The rulers of Judah and Israel had not attended to the spiritual needs of the people, had not led them to lives of faithful obedience to God. The people were starving from a lack of “knowledge and understanding.” God promised to change that.

The season of Lent reminds us of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. At this time of year it is important to examine our spiritual “diet,” to be as attentive to it as we are to what we eat. Without the “knowledge and understanding” of God’s word we are left malnourished and unable to live as we should. I challenge us all to be aware of what we consume spiritually so that we may live with faith and trust in God and in love and patience with one another. Bread alone won’t do it. We need God’s word as well.

Prayer: Lord, feed us with your word so that we may do your will. Amen.

Who Needs to Know?

Matthew 6:16-23
What motivates us to do the right thing? What is it that prompts actions that are good or kind or merciful? Are we ever pure in our intentions? The Calvinist in me says that no matter what, our deeds are never free from sin. That’s just who we are. Even when we do something noble or Christ-like there is always a residue of sin, like a ring in a bathtub. Jesus knew this, of course, and he cautioned against letting it get the better of us. “Whenever you fast,” he said, “do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show other that they are fasting” (Matthew 6:16).

Fasting as a spiritual discipline is a good thing. But making sure that everyone knows you are fasting is ostentatious, which is a bad thing. Do we stop fasting, do we cease to do those things which aid us in our spiritual journey because it may lead us to sin? No. But we can not pretend there is no sin involved. Instead we do the best we can. “When you fast,” Jesus went on to say, “put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret…” (6:17-18). The best way to counter the sinful inclinations is to keep focused on God, steadfastly, resolutely. If at all possible, let it be between you and the Lord and no one else. God is the only audience that matters.

Sin will always be an issue. It’s who we are. But by relying on God and living towards God alone helps to dissipate the sin.

Prayer: O God, help us to live faithful lives of service, not to be seen by others, but to do your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Winning the 'Sin Olympics'

1 Timothy 1:1-17

Being convinced as I am that we are all sinners in constant need of God’s redeeming grace I find the words of 1 Timothy 1:15 to be interesting. “The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance,” we read, “that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…”. Up to that point the message is good news! The purpose behind Jesus’ earthy ministry, his life, death, and resurrection, was and is to save sinners. But then we read the next phrase: “––of whom I am the foremost.” The writer is claiming to be the greatest of sinners, the one most in need of what Jesus was offering. So here is my question. How did he know? Did the writer of 1 Timothy win the “Sin Olympics?” Was there some form of official proclamation? How did he know he was the foremost of sinners?

Of course he didn’t. This is hyperbole, intended to make a point. If God could work through this individual God was capable to working though anyone. And frankly, if there really was a “Sin Olympics” there would be a 3-billion-way tie for first place, because we are all in that boat together. Yet, God continues to find ways of working through us and in us to accomplish God’s will. We have neither stymied nor defeated God’s plan. We have in no way frustrated God’s ability to do what it is that God has set out to do. God continues to work in our lives, despite the sin, despite the shortcomings, despite the unwillingness on our part. “The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance!” In Jesus Christ we are forgiven, and we have not had to earn it or even compete for it.

How can this good news make a difference in your life today? Where will it lead you? Can you find a way to let go of your anger at someone else, knowing that if you are forgiven by God they are as well? Can you show greater generosity of heart to others than you’ve ever shown? Can you trust God in Jesus Christ to lead you where you need to be? All of these are appropriate work for today, and all are made possible because we, despite our sinful nature, have been engulfed by grace and granted release from our sins. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord, continue to forgive us, we pray, and to lead us toward the dawn of your coming reign. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.