Thanks For Nothing, Paul

1 Corinthians 1:20-31

Mark 1:14-28

Reading the passage from 1 Corinthians for today is not likely to overwhelm us with self-confidence. "Consider your own call, brothers and sisters," Paul writes: "not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God" (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). Not exactly what I'd want in a reference letter: "I am pleased to inform you that Jim Freeman is generally foolish, weak, low, and despised. (Signed) Paul the Apostle." Thanks for nothing, Paul.

When Jesus called disciples (as we've also read today in Mark), he did not go among the wealthy and powerful, he went where the common folk were hard at work trying to survive. And as the gospel of Mark unfolds one might argue that Jesus' choice in disciples was not particularly inspiring. In human terms he could have done so much better. But that is really the point, isn't it? God doesn't seek our wisdom, our strength, our standing in the community. What God wants from us is faithfulness and obedience. What God wants from us is everything we are, including our feeble efforts, our halfhearted failures, our confusion. God takes all of that, and by grace God brings out of it something wonderful and miraculous.

We have a role to play, you and I, and God constantly challenges us to do our very best. But ultimately it is God, through Jesus Christ, who we must trust to accomplish the divine will. Until then we are called to make our wisdom, strength, and prominence that of God, and to leave behind that which the world claims to be essential.

Prayer: Lord God, help us to give our lives to you, that we may live in faithfulness all the days of our lives. In Jesus' name. Amen.

A Nation in Need of ‘Crossing Over’

Joshua 3:14-4:7

John 9:1-12, 35-38

In my country I am blessed with the freedom to worship as I choose. But I also know that with freedom can come complacency, and with complacency can come apathy. It costs me nothing to say I am a Christian; does that make my confession worthless? It could if I do nothing with it. It is times like these when the church as the body of Christ – “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, God’s own people,” as 1 Peter 2:10 tells us – must be willing to “cross over” and become what God has called it to be. “While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan” (Joshua 3:17). The significance of this account may not be that the waters parted for the people or that the ark was held by the priests, the significance may well come in the fact that the people finally entered the land to which God had been leading them. They “crossed over” into a new relationship with the Creator.

God’s call reverberates throughout the world and rests on those whom God chooses. It is the church, then, with all of its diversity and all of its variations, that faces the challenge of living the way God intends. What we do, what we say, how we act and react: these are the factors that make our faith visible, that give truth to our confession. John tells us that when Jesus introduced himself to the man he had healed from blindness the man said, “‘Lord, I believe.’ And he worshiped him” (John 9:38). How can others come to know the Lord? When we as the body of Christ “cross over” to what God intends, when we leave behind our old lives and begin to live out our calling day after day, setting aside our partisan behavior, letting go of our will and embracing the will of God.

The church as the body of Christ bears a great responsibility in the world, and it is an honor to stand with all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord. But are we willing to make a costly decision? Are we willing to “cross over” and become what God wants us to be?

Prayer: Lord, lead your church toward your coming reign and fill us again with your Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Expect the Unexpected

Amos 7:10-17

The book of Amos offers only a brief description of the prophet’s call from God. “Then Amos answered Amaziah, ‘I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel”'” (Amos 7:14-15). This is not a unique story in scripture. Moses was herding the flocks of his father-in-law when God called him (Exodus 3). Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-8) and Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1) were minding their own business when the presence of the Lord burst upon them with work to be done. In the New Testament Mary was surprised to learn that she would bear God’s Son (Luke 1:26-38); Simon, Andrew, James and John were interrupted in their daily activities when Jesus called them to follow (Matthew 4:18-22); and Paul was stunned by Jesus’ appearance to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9). These are just a few of the examples that scripture gives us.

Advent is a time for listening to God’s voice in our lives, for following where God leads us, for doing the unexpected. Few of us herd livestock, prune sycamore trees, or fish for a living. Even fewer—I suspect—are in the habit of persecuting Christians. That’s not the point of these stories. What we need to understand it that God sees in us gifts and skills that we may not readily see in ourselves, and God seeks to use those skills to serve God’s will. The tasks we find ourselves doing may be small or large, may cause us little discomfort or force us to completely change our way of life. Whatever the case, God’s people must always “expect the unexpected.” That may seem difficult during Advent when we think we know pretty well what is going on, but if we are really listening, really paying attention, then we will learn all sorts of things about God, about ourselves, and about the world around us.

Advent is a time for expectations, some of which are very unexpected. Be ready.

Prayer: Lord, keep us focused on what you are doing in our world, and give us the strength to respond when you call. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hey, Over Here!

Isaiah 65:1-12

One of our dogs escaped briefly from the backyard this morning. I became aware of the situation when I heard our son calling the dog to come out from under the neighbor’s deck, which she did eventually. Then I read our passage from Isaiah for today and I now have a mental image of God, arms outstretched, calling a wayward people to come home. But the people are more interested in what is to be found elsewhere, among other gods and religions, in places they should not go, so they are slow to respond. “I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask,” says God through the prophet, “to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’ to a nation that did not call on my name” (Isaiah 65:1).

Yesterday we read about God hardening hearts. Today we encounter God doing anything but. How poignant it is to think of God calling and no one responding. God who wants so badly to claim us and to care for us must first convince US to trust God! On my best days I believe I do think about what it means to seek God and to respond to God’s work in my life. But on those other days I am too much like a wayward Scottie, crouching under the neighbor’s deck, wanting to go places I know I should not go and do things that I know are not appropriate. “Here I am,” says God. “Come home.” And I know that God means it, and I know that in Jesus Christ God demonstrated the measure of divine love once and for all. I’m so glad that God keeps calling, that God remains concerned for us. I’m so glad that there is a way home and that even if we return as prodigals the Father waits to receive us in love and mercy.

God’s hands are outstretched. God’s call is heard throughout the land. May we always strive to respond. May we always do our best to go home.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we wander and seek a false sense of freedom. Help us to hear your call and to respond in trust. In Jesus’ name. Amen.