Deuteronomy 31.30-32.27, Matthew 20.1-16 - Lectionary for 10/30/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 31.30-32.27 and Matthew 20.1-16.

The thrust of both our readings today is that the Lord is exactly the kind of Lord who lavishes care on people who don't particularly deserve it and who often complain to him in return.  See how in the Old Testament reading we see the people of Israel repaying the Lord's favor and kindness by desiring other gods and ignoring the true God who has provided them with all they need.  In our New Testament reading we see that the people who seemed perfectly happy to be hired in the morning and work all day are upset because the master showed his care for others who didn't work all day as well.

The Lord is presented throughout Scripture as a God who cares for his people and governs them in his love.  What do we have to be jealous of?  Is it that the Lord shows love for others we don't think deserve it?  Maybe that means we need to realize that we don't deserve God's favor either.  Maybe that makes us uncomfortable.  Maybe that's a good thing, as it may remind us that our Lord's love does not cease.

May our Lord draw us lovingly to himself today.  May we rejoice in seeing him do the same to others.

Deuteronomy 31.1-29, Matthew 19.16-30 - Lectionary for 10/29/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 31.1-29 and Matthew 19.16-30.

Today we read about the two ways to gain eternal life.  Yes, two ways.  Before you throw rocks, hear me out.  There are clearly two ways in Scripture which are revealed which will lead us to eternal life.

Way 1: Live a righteous life before God keeping his commands and decrees, trusting that his commands are good and right.  Indeed, if we do this we will be perfect and we will enter life.  This is not my opinion.  This is what Jesus says in Matthew 19.17.  This is a way to eternal life and blessing.  It will work for everyone who does it, bar none.  Nobody is prohibited from keeping God's commands and decrees, trusting that his commands are good and right.

Way 2: Live a life of humility before God, trusting that his commands are good and right and that they have been fulfilled in Christ, who forgives us when we sin against God and when we confess our distrust in him.  Jesus summarizes this now in Matthew 19.26.  It's impossible with man, but possible in God's will.  Our Lord has kept the decrees of God on our behalf.  We trust in his righteous ability to keep those commands and to fulfill all things, and that he has done it for us.

Two ways.  Go ahead, choose one.  In way #1, we have to earn our own merit before God.  We have no recourse when we fail.  There is no repentance.  There is no forgiveness.  One strike and you are out.  There is no second or third strike in this game.  In way #2 we have repentance for our sin.  We have forgiveness in Christ.  We have a perfect Lord who has already overcome the world.

I think we'd better stick with way #2, don't you?

Now you can throw rocks if you disagree.

Deuteronomy 30.1-20, Matthew 19.1-15 - Lectionary for 10/28/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 30.1-20 and Matthew 19.1-15.

What does God do for his people when they endure hardship?  Of course, our attempts to answer that always fall short.  We don't know God's plan exhaustively.  We have no idea of the depths of his mercy and grace.  And in this very complicated world with an incredible number of interactions among people and events we have no clue of all the implications of any one situation.

Here's something we do know from today's reading.  We do know that the Lord uses hardship, among other things, to remind us of the Lord's promises and his compassion.  When we face difficulties we can look to our Lord and see that he is the one who ultimately resolves all troubles.  We can look at our situations and see how they are all ultimately related to the sinful condition of the world.  We can look at Jesus Christ, who has redeemed the world to God.  We know that we can look from our hardships to the life-giving Lord who has promised final deliverance.

So what does the Lord plan for us today?  We don't know.  But we do know that our Lord and Savior, in Matthew 19.14, says children may come to him for his blessing.  We who look to him in faith can come to him this day as well.  We can know that he is always with us, caring for us, and is the one who will bring us through all our trials.

Deuteronomy 29.1-29, Matthew 18.21-35 - Lectionary for 10/27/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 29.1-29 and Matthew 18.21-35.

What does it mean that all the Israelites are members of the covenant?  God has proclaimed a covenant that can be kept by faith, not by works.  All those people who are joined with the people of Israel, every man woman and child, partakes of this covenant.  Yet we see that everyone is perfectly able to depart from the covenant.  It is altogether possible to walk away from God's grace and try to be saved by works, by obedience to the Law.  Of course, we are not able to keep the Law perfectly with all our hearts all the time.  We will fail every time.

So in the New Testament we see that people are saved by grace through faith, not of their works, but by God who saves them.  This salvation is the gift of God, it is not something we can do.  In some ways, salvation is a matter of non-doing rather than doing.  We fight the urge to depend on our goodness for salvation.  We fight the desire to trust in ourselves.  Yet all the while we are concerned with doing good.  The works of righteousness which God has ordained are things we are to do, things which delight God, things which serve our neighbors.  We are certainly to do lots of good works.  But those are not what save us.  Salvation is rather a non-done work, as it is already done by Christ on our behalf.

We partakers of the covenant have the privilege of clinging to Christ and His righteousness as our hope.  This is the belief in the covenant the Lord has delivered to his people.  It is the very same covenant he made at the beginning of time.

Deuteronomy 28.1-22, Matthew 18.1-20 - Lectionary for 10/26/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 28.1-22 and Matthew 18.1-20.

Look at the love the Lord has for his chosen people.  His love exceeds reason.  Here's an example.  Is a lone shepherd actually going to leave 99 sheep to wander unsupervised on a hillside while he goes to look for the one who strayed?  Not at all.  The unsupervised sheep will be prey themselves or at least will wander away.  But our Lord and Savior comes to rescue us when we stray.  His loving care is able to protect us when we are not wandering and to rescue us when we are wandering.  This is no earthly shepherd.  His love exceeds all reason and ability.

As we read and consider the cursings and blessings we are given in Deuteronomy, let us remember that these cursings and blessings are spoken by the Lord who chooses to bring blessing upon his people.  All around us we can see evidence of his mighty hand of blessing.  May the Lord bless us to return thanks to him for his lovingkindness today.

Deuteronomy 27.1-26, Matthew 17.14-27 - Lectionary for 10/25/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 27.1-26 and Matthew 17.14-27.

Today we see several frustrating events in the ministry of our Lord.  First, the disciples are not able to cast out a demon due to their lack of trust in God.  Then the disciples are distressed by Jesus' foretelling of his death.  Peter then agrees that Jesus should pay the temple tax, thus indicating that he does not think Jesus is really the Son of God.  These are aggravating situations indeed.  Jesus deals with our unbelief all the time, showing that he is the Lord who cares for us even when we treat him with doubt, even when we bring shame to him.  

See how Jesus shows his mighty power and forgiveness to Peter?  Notice he corrects him and then provides Peter's need to pay the tax, as well as giving him the opportunity to pacify the leaders and pay for Jesus as well.  And Peter finds this money in the mouth of the first fish which comes up.  He presumably catches others, which can then be sold or eaten.  Jesus takes Peter's lack of understanding and gives him an opportunity for prosperity, at least a little prosperity he wouldn't have had otherwise.

Such love that our Lord has for us.  He takes annoying situations and makes them work for his glory and our good.

Deuteronomy 25.17-26.19, Matthew 17.1-13 - Lectionary for 10/24/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 25.17-26.19 and Matthew 17.1-13.

Our reading in Matthew today points us to the supremacy of Christ.  When God appears in power, we look to Christ.  When we think we have a good idea about something great to do, we are to hear Christ and His Word.  No matter what the situation, we are to hear, trust, and obey our Lord and Savior.

God has revealed himself in these last days in the person of his Son.  What additional revelation do we need?

Deuteronomy 24.10-25.10, Matthew 16.13-28 - Lectionary for 10/23/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 24.10-25.10 and Matthew 16.13-28.

Jesus tells those who believe on him to take up their cross and follow him.  This is not always a pleasant journey.  We sometimes think of our "cross to bear" as some sort of difficulty.  What if we think of it as our lethal injection or an electric chair?  The cross was a tool of execution.  It is in fact Jesus' death.  It is our death too.  Taking up Jesus' cross leads to death.

Well what of this?  As we think biblically we see that death in Christ is great gain.  We lose our life in the reality of Jesus' resurrection.  We do not gain this world.  We gain eternity.  We do lose our own attempts at righteousness, justification, wealth, and worldly accomplishments.  Those will all pass away with our earthly body - when the cross gets hold of us.  We gain Jesus' life,  Jesus' righteousness, justification from the One who is just, the riches of heaven and its eternity.  This is great gain.

Let us then deny ourselves and follow Christ.  It seems like foolishness for now.  It grants life and eternity.  There's nothing foolish about that.

Deuteronomy 21.1-23, Matthew 16.1-12 - Lectionary for 10/22/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 21.1-23 and Matthew 16.1-12.

We've been walking through God's commands to Israel as they prepare to enter the promised land.  Today he points out to them that life in society is really pretty tough.  Actions have consequences.  Laws have consequences.  Sometimes you plan something and it works but it may have a result you didn't plan on or desire.  

God cares about just treatment.  He talks here about just treatment when someone has been murdered but the killer is not found.  That person, even if unknown, is treated with respect.  He talks about justice for captives who have been taken into families.  He talks about just treatment for the children of unloved wives.  When it comes time for an inheritance they are to be treated justly.  He talks about just treatment for parents of rebellious children, and for those rebellious children themselves.  Even criminals who have been executed are not trampled and defiled.  Their very bodies, as something created somehow to bear God's image, receive dignity in their treatment.

No matter how you stack it, God's standard for love of neighbors in our community far surpasses our ideas.  We do not find this kind of legislation anywhere but places where God's Word has been taken seriously.  May the Lord give us a deep and genuine love for our neighbors.

Deuteronomy 20.1-20, Matthew 15.21-39 - Lectionary for 10/21/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 20.1-20 and Matthew 15.21-39.

Our reading today in Deuteronomy 20 shows Israel on conquest as different from other nations.  Let's remember some of the features of the Israelite behavior.  First we see that they were voluntarily understaffed.  Rather than compelling everyone who could hold a sword or throw something to join the fight, they sent those who were fearful or who would be preoccupied with other obligations home.  Better to have soldiers deactivated than distracted.  Second we see that the Israelites were inspired with courage from the true God.  The priests were there not just to give comfort or, as in paganism, to make sacrifices and hope something good might happen, but to remind the soldiers of the definitive command and promises of God.  Third, we see that Israel was merciful in this conquest.  They first demanded surrender, second they engaged in a seige so as to demand surrender.  The goal was to subdue the people, not to exterminate them entirely.  They were not to engage in wanton destruction of cities, forests, fields, or those who did not surrender.

This invasion of Israel actually showed a good deal of love for the people who were already in the land.  What?  Loving your neighbor whom you are invading?  Yes.  In their invasion, Israel was bringing knowledge of the true God.  They were bearing with them God's blessing, peace, and health for the people they overcame.  It would be counter-productive to go around engaging in looting and plundering.   They were bringing God's kingdom to the region.  This is a great blessing to the people.

May we also be messengers of God's kingdom, his blessing and peace wherever we are.

Deuteronomy 19.1-20, Matthew 15.1-20 - Lectionary for 10/20/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 19.1-20 and Matthew 15.1-20.

Garbage in, garbage out - is this a rule for holy living?  I suppose it can be a rule for holy living, but it is an inferior rule.  Here's a partial reason for that.  How many rules do we need?  What kind of information and influences are we taking in on purpose?  What do we get simply by being in this world?  Can we avoid them all?  And if we do avoid them all, does that make us holy?  In fact, we see in Matthe 15 that a change in behavior doesn't necessarily signify a change in heart.  We can clip the leaf clusters from a poison ivy vine, handle the vine, and still get poison ivy.  And like poison ivy, we are toxic.

The garbage that comes out of our lives shows what was inside.  What kind of garbage do we see?  How do we respond to hardship?  Do we act with a hard heart and become bitter?  How do we respond to blessing?  Do we find ways to treat that as a cures too?  How do we see our good works?  Maybe we compare ourselves to others and thus proclaim ourselves holy.

In the most holy person we find evil.  Should we wash our hands and purify ourselves from uncleanness?  Yes, but it is not enough. Moreso we plead that our Lord will wash our hearts.  May the Lord bring out good fruit from our lives.

Deuteronomy 18.1-22, Matthew 14.22-36 - Lectionary for 10/19/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 18.1-22 and Matthew 14.22-36.

One of the common complaints that I've heard about the more liturgical church traditions is that there is an emphasis on the priest or pastor leading, representing the congregation to God and representing God to the congregation.  Is this not, however, what we see in Deuteronomy 18.15-19?  Here we see that it was good and right that the people of Israel would want a mediator between themselves and God because they were afraid to face God's holiness.

The priesthood in the Old Testament is foreshadowing the priesthood of Christ in the New Testament.  Likewise, in the age of the Church, we still have those who look back to our Lord and Savior.  They make prayers on the behalf of all the saints.  Those prayers are traditionally called "collects" as they serve to gather together the needs of all the people and bring them before the Lord.  The pastor proclaims the Word of God, including our Lord's forgiveness for the sin we confess.  This is God speaking to his people through the human messenger. 

Again and again in Church practice we see people looking forward or backward to Christ, the true Mediator between God and man.  While this in no way excuses every believer from faithful prayer, true confession, and diligent service, it does remind the believer that he does not stand on his own.  He can look to the true Mediator, Christ the Lord, who has stood between sinful man and the holy God,  redeeming and guarding his people so they would not perish.

Deuteronomy 17.1-20, Matthew 14.1-21 - Lectionary for 10/18/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 17.1-20 and Matthew 14.1-21.

We often hear people complain about the idea of legal discipline and vengeance as it is presented in the Bible.  Many times I have heard people suggest that the legal system under the Old Testament was harsh.  Just look at all the killing!  And what's this "eye for an eye" thing?  

Of course, the "eye for an eye" described to a property owner how careful he had to be with his livestock and personnel because if they should harm someone else he should have the same harm inflicted upon himself, showing that the lives and well-being of others is very important.  But that's not in this passage.  This passage in Deuteronomy talks about the death penalty. 

Observe that evidence needs to be marshalled.  Circumstantial evidence will not do.  You need eyewitnesses to a serious crime.  You cannot convict someone on the basis of one witness.  Two or better three witnesses are required.  It is unacceptable to have witnesses who disagree.  They need to be able to tell what happened and show that they actually saw it.  These witnesses appear before multiple judges.   The trials are open to all.  And if someone is to be put to death, the witnesses are the first to begin the execution.  The rest of the community participates as well. 

This is no arbitrary or bloodthirsty process.  It follows the rules of law.  It involves everyone in protecting the defendant.  When it is clear the defendant cannot be protected, he is executed, but everyone has to participate.  It's a terrible thing with a strong deterrent factor.  We do not want to die, and we especially don't want our family and friends to have to kill us.

How does this type of penalty differ from the surrounding culture of the day?  If someone was accused of wrongdoing an avenger could go kill him.  End of story.  If a king, judge, or other powerful leader wanted someone dead, he could have that person executed.  End of story.  There were no requirements for testimony, no requirements for eyewitnesses, no opportunities for appeal.  The Biblical mandates are very kind and gentle.

Our Lord values truth, justice, and redemption.  Did people commit crimes and then live due to lack of witnesses?  No doubt.  How have we committed crimes and sins against our Lord and Savior?  Yet we live because he took on our sin, becoming sin for us, becoming a curse in our place.  We are all condemned.  We have three eyewitnesses - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We deserve nothing but death.  Instead our Lord has lavished life and salvation on us by his grace through the faith he imparts to us.  Thanks be to God for his wonderful gifts.

Deuteronomy 15.19-16.22, Matthew 13.44-58 - Lectionary for 10/17/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 15.19-16.22 and Matthew 13.44-58.

As we read the commands about offerings and the various feasts that Israel is to celebrate, we notice that the Israelites do not lose their offerings in any way.  They take their offerings to the appointed place and they eat them along with everyone else.  It's more like a banquet than like paying taxes.  We also see in the different holidays that everyone participates, including the poor who would not have means to celebrate God's goodness.

While our Lord did appoint private property - you can't have the prohibition against stealing without having private property - he is intensely interested in seeing that the poor and hungry are cared for.  Within the context of God's community there should be no crushing poverty.  God provides the needs for his people, using his people to do it.

May the Lord ever bless us to care for those in our community who need our care.

Deuteronomy 14.1-2, 22-23; 14.28-15.15; Matthew 13.24-43 - Lectionary for 10/16/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 14.1-2, 22-23; 14.28-15.15; Matthew 13.24-43.

Our reading in Deuteronomy underlines for us that we are not to hold too tightly to this world's things.  Every seventh year was to be a Sabbatical year.  It was a year of release.  Slaves you purchased from among your countrymen would be released.  Debts would be forgiven.  Not only were the Israelites to practice this debt amnesty, but they were to be especially generous at this time, sending their servants away with gifts.  Every seventh year the people of Israel would see God's provision for them at a time when they were prohibited by law from providing for themselves.

How does this relate with our New Testament reading?  Look again at the parable of the weeds.  This is not an example of good human farming methods.  It is not a good idea to leave our gardens with all sorts of weeds growing.  Yet this is what our Lord does with this world.  He allows sin.  He allows the work of the enemy to continue.  He allows this counter to our human wisdom.  Just like the Israelites who grant forgiveness of debts and see that their Lord gives them all they need, we grant forgiveness of sin and see that our Lord has already settled the problem of sin on the cross and will settle the problem of the sinner in the day of judgment.

Have we been shown mercy?  Let us then go and show mercy.

Deuteronomy 13.1-18, Matthew 13.1-23 - Lectionary for 10/15/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 13.1-18 and Matthew 13.1-23.

I'll just point out briefly today that some of what the Bible says makes no sense to our own ideas of logic.  In today's readings we see that those who are not faithful to God and his will should be destroyed, even if they are our families.  We are to accept no lack of faith and righteousness as they are defined by God.  The standard is incredibly high.  Every one of us is guilty.  Then in our New Testament reading Jesus makes some very cryptic remarks essentially indicating that the Word of God is planted everywhere, that it accomplishes its purpose and bears fruit except where it is violently choked out.

Are we violently choking out God's Word?   To be realistic, we have to admit that we are.  That's the way we typically operate, at least on some level.  We do want to do things our way, according to our timetable.  

We can take heart because God's Word is mighty.  It accomplishes its purpose. Even in the unfruitful ground it is creating nourishment.  Even the birds who snatch the Word away end up dropping it, allowing it to be fruitful.  God's Word is greater than we are.  Our nature is to choke and destroy God's Word but it grows, blossoms, and bears fruit anyway.  There's nothing wrong with the Word.

Why the parables?  It seems that Jesus is speaking in parables so that if we insist on closing our eyes, stopping up our ears, and turning our backs we are able to do so.  Jesus speaks in mysteries apparently so we can ignore what he says if we insist.  Let's don't ignore it.  May the Word of God dwell in us richly, bringing forth an abundant harvest.

Deuteronomy 12.13-32, Matthew 12.38-50 - Lectionary for 10/14/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 12.13-32 and Matthew 12.38-50.

Many times Christians are uncomfortable with the idea of a particular place for God's presence.  We like to emphasize his omnipresence, which is a true and biblical concept.  Yet we see in many places throughout Scripture that God appoints a particular place for worship, as he appoints particular ways of worship.  Has this idea passed away in the New Testament?

Jesus makes clear in Matthew 28 and many other places that he himself is, in fact, the New Testament place of worship.  He comes to be with his believers.  He has broken the bounds of worship in Jerusalem by having fellowship with believers wherever they are assembled in His name.  

What about referring to the local church building as "God's house" or the ideas of focusing attention on a cross, a crucifix, an altar, or a copy of the Scripture?  We do not worship the building, the furniture, or the book but we do worship the Lord who is revealed in those things.  We do not worship the building, the furniture, or the book but we do find the true presence of Christ with his people as we worship him in spirit and truth.  And since he has promised to be with us in bodily form in his Supper we may rightly treat his real presence with particular honor.  

We've all heard the question, "If Jesus walked into your local church would he be welcome?"  So we proclaim that Jesus is really present in our local churches.  Do we honor him?  He has appointed a place of worship, and that is where we are gathered in his name.

Deuteronomy 11.26-12.12, Matthew 12.22-37 - Lectionary for 10/13/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 11.26-12.12 and Matthew 12.22-37.

Our Lord gives us the option of receiving his blessing or his curse.  He makes it quite clear.  Through faithful obedience, particularly loving the Lord with all our heart and acting in accord with that love, we receive God's blessing.  What is the force of this?  If we look honestly at the Law of God we see that we will never succeed.  Luther compares the Law to a light which does nothing but show our failure.  It leaves no room for self-righteousness.  

Even in this passage loaded with the condemning light of the Law in Deuteronomy we find that God is giving promises.  He is saying that by faith we can bring our offerings.  By faith we can rejoice before the Lord.  By faith we can live in the blessing of God even though we fail in our attempts at keeping God's Law.

We see this, of course, much more clearly when in the New Testament we read that Jesus died for our disobedience to God's Law.  He gave himself in our place so we could live and rejoice in his righteousness.  There's the Gospel which we need so much after reading the Law.

Deuteronomy 11.1-25, Matthew 12.1-21 - Lectionary for 10/12/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 11.1-25 and Matthew 12.1-21.

Who is the Lord of the Sabbath?  Jesus clearly identifies himself as the Lord of the Sabbath today.  He also points out that he is free to do good on the Sabbath.  

There's a lot of debate about the Christian view of the Sabbath.  I'll simply propose today that we consider that the believer is in the presence of the Lord of the Sabbath all the time.  The Sabbath is the time of rest from our labors.  As we saw in yesterday's reading, the labors from which we most need rest are those labors we enter into as we fight with sin.  Sin is the curse, the Sabbath is the rest from the curse of sin.  Christ our Sabbath has ushered us into an eternal Sabbath, the deliverance from sin.  What day of the week is the Sabbath?  Today.  What do we rest from?  We rest from sin because of Christ's love for us.  Will tomorrow be the Sabbath as well?  Yes it will.  The Sabbath-day's rest from sin will last forever.  After all, we are in the presence of the Lord of the Sabbath who has promised never to leave us or forsake us.

This is rest indeed.  I wonder how many of us will remember that as we go about our busy days?

Deuteronomy 9.23-10.22, Matthew 11.20-30 - Lectionary for 10/11/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 9.23-10.22 and Matthew 11.20-30.

Are we laboring with God's commands?  Are we striving to do what the Lord has told us to do, to keep the commands he has given us, to love him with all our heart?  This is the command of God.  We are to come to him in obedience and in true heartfelt repentance for our sin and failure.  And on one level the Lord has made it easy on us.  Unlike the gods of the pagans, we do not have to figure out by intuition or by natural revelation what would be pleasing.  We have the Scripture which tells us clearly what it is that God expects.

So what do we do?  We fail in keeping his commands.  We are heavy laden by the Law of God.  We are burdened down with our effort to obey.  We are weary.  What shall we do?  He tells us - come to him.  We can trust in our Lord, Jesus, who has kept the law on our behalf, who has borne the penalty for our sin in his body.  We can look to him and we will see that he is the gentle one.  He is the one who has stooped down to lift us up when we could no longer lift ourselves.  He is the one who gives us rest from the sin which we see so very clearly when we try to keep God's Law.  This is the Gospel.  Christ has done what we need.  We have only to look to him in repentance and faith.

Deuteronomy 9.1-22, Matthew 11.1-19 - Lectionary for 10/10/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 9.1-22 and Matthew 11.1-19.

Consider John's disciples who came to ask Jesus if he was the Christ.  Look at Jesus' answer.  He does not simply say that he is the Christ.  He points his questioners to his works.  We likewise will do well to look to Jesus' works.  What has he done?  Has he lived in this sinful world and become acquainted with sorrow and the grief that we endure?  Has he seen the fruits of sin in people's lives?  Has he seen the crushing weight of God's Law upon sinful people?  Has he taken on the sin of the world and died so that we might live?

Let us not ask, "What would Jesus do?" but rather, "What did Jesus do?"

Deuteronomy 8.1-20, Matthew 10.24-42 - Lectionary for 10/9/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 8.1-20 and Matthew 10.24-42.

In Deuteronomy 8.15 we see that the Lord led Israel through the wilderness "that he might humble [them] and test [them] to do [them] good in the end" (ESV).  This humbling and testing goes on in our age as well.  Our Lord and Savior brings us through many trials.  Daily we are confrtonted with the temptation to live by our own wisdom, to depend on our ability.  Yet we do not live by bread alone, but by God's Word.  We do not live based on our covenant, but on God's covenant.  We do not live by our toils but by the toils of Christ on our behalf.

What does our Lord do when we choose to live by our own wits, when we exercise our free will, which is actually a bound will, when we try to have it all our own way?  Ultimately he allows us to do so.  He warns us it is the path of destruction.  He throws obstacles in our way.  He lets us endure the challenges and sufferings that come to people in every socio-economic class.  He lets us see the sinfulness of sin as we are sinned against and as we sin against others.  He lets us find that there is no adequate recourse for sin and suffering outside of himself.  But ultimately he lets us strive to earn our own salvation, to live our own way.

Let us not go down the path of destruction by exercising our will, living by our word.  Let us rather be humbled and tested, that our Lord may do us good in the end.  And this is the good he has promised.  Dying he will die for us and our sin.  He will show us that he has borne our shame and grief.  He will show us that the resurrection he experienced is the resurrection we will have, a resurrection to eternal life.  He will show us that he is indeed our living hope on this earth and in the life to come.

Deuteronomy 7.1-19, Matthew 10.1-23 - Lectionary for 10/8/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 7.1-19 and Matthew 10.1-23.

God has chosen his people.  They are to be his holy people.  Yet counter to some modern non-Christian religions, he does not give believers the command to destroy infidels.  Here in Deuteronomy 7 is an example of a command which God gave but which expired.  In Christ we are to bring the Gospel to all nations, including the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and all the other Ites we can find.  Yet we do not make covenants with unbelievers.  We do not marry with them or give our children in marriage to them.  We do not turn away from the Gospel of Christ for any reason whatsoever.  We are a people called to be holy to the Lord.  When we are called to account, we speak the Word of God in the power of the Spirit and we trust that our Lord will work though us with His Word.  

This Christian life is quite different from all those other religions which are set on world domination.  They convert through the sword and by constraining behavior.  Christ converts through the Spirit and he changes behavior through repentance and forgiveness.  It couldn't be more different!

Deuteronomy 6.10-25, Matthew 9.18-38 - Lectionary for 10/7/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 6.10-25 and Matthew 9.18-38.

Jesus looks at the people.  They are weary and harrassed.  They are like sheep without a shepherd.  When we consider the pastoral office, it's important to consider that the pastor serves as our Lord's shepherd for the sheep of his flock.  The shepherd acts on the behalf of the master.  He acts to guard and nurture the flock.  He protects them from their weariness.  He sustains them when they are weary, moving them to safety and nourishment.  And he makes sure they are nourished with all they need.

How many of our pastors today do not do the work of a shepherd, but do the work of an administrator, a coach, even a sheep that wants its flock to provide for it?  The biblical role of a pastor is that of Christ himself, laying his life down for the good of his flock, giving them the words of life and forgiveness they need, feeding them with true food and true drink which does not perish.  This is the ministry of the shepherd.

Lord, may those who are the shepherds of your flock, as well as those who are the sheep of your flock, look to you for their provision.  May we all together rejoice in the life you have given, the work you have ordained for us, the gifts you have provided for the good of your people.  May we all in turn show the world that you are the good shepherd, who protects your flock from being weary and harrassed.

Deuteronomy 5.22-6.9, Matthew 9.1-17 - Lectionary for 10/6/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 5.22-6.9 and Matthew 9.1-17.

Today we see more of the crushing weight of God's Law.  He is a consuming fire, the one who scares everyone off the mountain of his presence.  He gives commands and we are to keep all of them flawlessly.  He cautions us to be very careful.  If we keep God's commands flawlessly we are promised a rich inheritance.  

How will we keep these commands?  If we look to ourselves for that ability we will either lapse into despair or into self-righteousness.  We will either realize we cannot do God's command or we will deceive ourselves by saying that we in fact keep God's command and that it's everyone else who is some sort of a sinner.

This will not do.  We realize we fail constantly.  Yet we do not plunge into despair because our Lord has told us of his good favor, his love and kindness.  He has reminded us that his desire is to bless those who turn to him in belief.  And he has shown us that mercy in Christ.  Which is easier?  To forgive sin or to heal someone who can't walk?  We can do neither, just as we cannot keep God's commands.  But Jesus can do all of this with perfect ease.  He shows his divinity in his ability to do what no human can do.  And that includes taking on the penalty for all our failure to follow God's Law.  We are crushed, but he is crushed on our behalf.  We are in despair but we turn to him in hope.  We realize we cannot be righteous in ourselves but we turn to his perfect righteousness.

Christ has delivered us from the curse of the Law.

Deuteronomy 5.1-21, Matthew 8.18-34 - Lectionary for 10/5/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 5.1-21 and Matthew 8.18-34.

We continue seeing passages that give us some good insight into the distinction between Law and Gospel.  See how when God commands us to do things they seem to be things that we really can't do?  Or if we can do them we don't always want to do them?  And recall how in recent readings in Matthew Jesus has turned up the heat on some of the Law - murder includes unfair criticism of your brother, for instance.

So where's the Gospel?  Look how Jesus does what is needed and good.  Jesus is able to command the weather, something none of us can do. Jesus casts out demons with seemingly no effort, something else we can never do.  Jesus' ability to do things on our behalf is astounding to everyone.  Should it surprise us then when he says he can become sin for us and die for our sins?  Should it surprise us when he says he will be with us always? 

Our Lord in his Gospel has accomplished great things, fulfilling God's Law, that we couldn't do and wouldn't want to.  He can even make us desire to do God's Law, thus making us people who will love and serve our neighbors.  May we have the grace to follow our Lord in thankfulness today, trusting his promises.

  

Deuteronomy 3.1-29, Matthew 7.1-12 - Lectionary for 10/2/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 3.1-29 and Matthew 7.1-12.

I fear that Matthew 7.1 is the only Bible verse people in much of modern Western society know, and that they know it quite badly.  What is judging in the Bible?  We are in fact to make moral decisions and assess whether something is right or wrong.  But we are not to condemn out of hand without knowledge.

So how should we judge?  We look at the facts.  We consider Scripture.  If something is sin we identify it as sin for which Christ died.  If something is not sin we identify it as something which is good in the sight of our Lord.  We consider that our sin is every bit as serious, maybe more serious, than the sin of those around us.  And we rejoice in Christ's atoning sacrifice.

Who's judgmental?  It must be those people who have decided that Christians are judgmental.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com

Deuteronomy 2.16-37, Matthew 6.16-34 - Lectionary for 10/1/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 2.16-37 and Matthew 6.16-34.

I wonder if we think about those people who are not Israel, who are not God's specially chosen people.  In Deuteronomy 2.19 we see that God has made promises to people who are not the children of Abraham.  God has given the territory of Ammon to the descendants of Lot.

What do we know about Lot?  He was a nephew of Abraham.  He was not in the line chosen to receive the promise of God.  He departed from the city of Sodom when the city was due to be destroyed by fire.  He fell into sinful disbelief and fear before bearing children with his daughters who were concerned their family line would pass away if they didn't get him drunk and impregnate themselves.  This is the story of a family that is a real wreck!

God promises to care for lots of people who have messed up families.  God promises to care for all sorts of people who fall into fear and disbelief.  God promises to care for all his chosen people, those he has adopted not of the biological descendants of Abraham but those of the spiritual seed of Abraham.  He promises to be with us, never to leave us, never to forsake us.  He will be with us to the end of the world, even though our families are messed up, even though we fear, even though we believe only weakly.  We who have seen the deliverance of God are delivered indeed.  We have a place and an inheritance which our Lord will guard for us.