Deuteronomy 1.37-2.15, Matthew 6.1-15 - Lectionary for 9/30/09

(Posting early due to an appointment altogether too early in the morning on the 30th)

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 1.37-2.15 and Matthew 6.1-15.

In our modern world's culture of governmental charity and a welfare state, I wonder how many people are actually quiet heroes.  In Matthew 6.1-4 we see our Lord's command to give quietly.  The United States government doesn't seem to think this actually happens.  I think it happens a whole lot more than we know.  How many times have you known someone who had a need which was known and that need was taken care of?  How many people have you known who are in lower income groups, raising children, and routinely receive bags of hand-me-down clothes?  How about the young couple just getting started who receive a basket of food just because someone knew they could use it?  Have you ever gone looking for an excuse to give something to someone?  I know I have, and sometimes I've managed to pull it off too.  I wonder how many Christians have quietly adopted other people's children by giving their parents clothing, lunch money, Christmas and birthday presents, and making sure those children make it to sporting events, music lessons, even doctor visits.

Of course, once we talk about this in the blogosphere we ruin it.  So don't talk about it.  Just go do something.  Have fun!  Your Father sees you and will reward you with his smile of delight.

Deuteronomy 1.19-36, Matthew 5.21-48 - Lectionary for 9/29/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 1.19-36 and Matthew 5.21-48.

We continue looking at this Law/Gospel idea.  Let's take the beginning of our reading in Matthew for an example.  What's the big thrust of verses 21-26?  It's clearly got a big emphasis on law.  Jesus starts out reminding us of the law about murder and then he applies the same kind of penalty against those who are angry with their brothers.  Did you have a brother growing up?  I did.  Nobody can provoke anger more effectively.  And in our world we are surrounded by brothers and sisters.  Jesus paints us as all being in the same family.  Fact is, there are a lot of people who are good at provoking anger and we're good at being provoked.  We are good at deriding those around us.  We are good at mocking and criticizing.

Is that enough law?  There's plenty of sin that we do.  Now look at verse 23.  This isn't just about when we are angry.  What about if someone else is angry?  Good grief!  I have to be responsible for that person's anger too?  This is too much, isn't it?

Jesus says if we know some situation where someone has something against us or we have something against someone we are not even to finish making our offering.  We don't even try to enter into worship when there is unforgiveness.  It's futile because by definition we are guilty, and that guilt is just as bad as the guilt of murder.

So there's the law.  Go ahead.  Take it and apply it.  If the shoe fits, kick yourself with it.  If it doesn't, go look for your feet.  There's plenty here to convict each of us.

Where's the Gospel?  It's right there, but we had to look.  "Come to terms with your accuser" (v. 25).  Who is accusing us?  It may not be the other person.  If I'm angry with my neighbor, if I've been mocking my neighbor in my heart, he is not accusing me.  Who is accusing me?  God is my accuser.  Wait a minute!  This is worse!  I'm guilty of murder and I'm not being accused by a person, but by God!  But this in fact is the Gospel because I come to terms with my accuser through the completed work of Christ on the cross on my behalf.  I come to terms with my accuser because Christ died in the place of murderers.  I come to terms with my accuser because Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for me.  I come to terms with my accuser because my accuser has given himself for me.  There's the Gospel.  There's the forgiveness.  There's the renewal of access to worship. 

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

Deuteronomy 1.1-18, Matthew 5.1-20 - Lectionary for 9/28/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 1.1-18 and Matthew 5.1-20.

Here we see two lawgivers - Moses and Jesus.  I'm going to give a simple challenge today, but beware.  It's a challenge that will take a lifetime or longer to master.  When reading today's passages, try to look at that distinction between Law and Gospel clearly.  Remember the Law is that which we do at God's command.  The Gospel is what God does on our behalf.

I'll kick off the thoughts with a few leading questions from Matthew 5.3.

What does it mean to be poor in spirit?

Is this a command for us or is it a description of us?

How do we fail to be poor in spirit?

What could we do to truly be poor in spirit?

What are the identifiers of someone who is truly poor in spirit? 

If we try to do something to be poor in spirit does that negate it and make us not blessed?

What is the kingdom of heaven?

What does it mean that it is ours?

How does the kingdom of heaven become ours?

What has Jesus done to make the kingdom of heaven ours?

How will we see the kingdom of heaven?

What assurance is there in knowing that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit?

After looking at this statement of Jesus, summarize what God commands and what God promises.

That Law and Gospel paradigm fits awfully well.

Malachi 3.6-4.6, Matthew 4.12-25 - Lectionary for 9/27/09

Today's readings are Malachi 3.6-4.6 and Matthew 4.12-25.

God continues to point out Israel's failings through Malachi.  Notice that some of the people are moved by God's condemnation, they apparently repent and gather to faithfully talk together.  It would certainly seem as though their talk is centered, not on the latest dairy goats or chariot production, but on what God has done in his people.   

What has the Lord done in his people?  This is in our New Testament reading, as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy is revealed.  The people who were dwelling in darkness see a great light.  Christ the Lord has come.  God has visited his people bringing redemption and healing with him.  

I mention Law and Gospel on this blog a lot.  We recall that Law is what we are told to do.  Gospel is what God has done for us.  Here we have an opportunity to work on distinguishing between Law and Gospel quite clearly.  What has God commanded?  It's all over the place in this reading.  We realize we have not done it and that no matter how hard we try we will still fail.  We do not find hope and salvation in Law.  We find conviction of sin, we find restraint of sin, and we find God's values proclaimed.  But we do not find salvation.  How about Gospel?  This is where God delivers hope and salvation to us.  Look at all the Gospel statements.  Christ has come.  He has revealed God's mercy.  He has called people to be with him.  He proclaims deliverance from disease and affliction.  He rescues his people from sin and death.  There's the Gospel.

Thanks be to God who has brought the Gospel in Christ.

Malachi 2.1-3.5, Matthew 4.1-11 - Lectionary for 9/26/09

Today's readings are Malachi 2.1-3.5 and Matthew 4.1-11.

If we look at today's reading through a lens of Law and Gospel we will see that they fit together quite well.  Notice how in Malachi we see all manner of ways the people try to make excuses for their neglect and disrespect of the Lord.  We have dishonored God and brought ourselves under his righteous condemnation.  Is this part and parcel of being human?  Not in any way.  Jesus, the perfect Son of Man, when tempted by the devil, a formidable foe indeed, confronts him with the Word of God.  Humanity does not sin by nature.  Sinful humanity does sin by nature.  Who has faced that temptation, overcome it, and prepared life and hope?  Jesus Christ, our perfect Lord and Savior has faced our great foe and has defeated him.  We need not justify ourselves, for there is one who justifies us, Jesus, the one who by his nature is perfectly just.  We need not earn God's love, for there is one who loves us divinely, Jesus Christ, love incarnate.  What then is our job?  Believe on him, not on ourselves.

Malachi 1.1-14, Matthew 3.1-17 - Lectionary for 9/25/09

Today's readings are Malachi 1.1-14 and Matthew 3.1-17.

What kind of offering do we bring to our Lord?  The offering we are to bring to the Lord is a perfect unblemished offering, something precious and perfect.  What can it be, though?  We have nothing which is unblemished.  All that is undefiled has fled from this world with the entrance of sin.  And our Lord needs and wants nothing.  There is nothing at all we can offer him.

We read today God's call to repentance through his prophets, Malachi and John the Baptizer.  What is pleasing to God?  Nothing of ours.  But one man, the man Jesus Christ, is pleasing to God.  He is the one who came, undefiled, to offer himself as a perfect offering to the heavenly Father.  He is the one who is beloved.  And he is the one who has called a people to himself, baptizing them into his name, promising his presence with them, bringing them to eternal life.  This is what is good and pleasing to our Lord.

Nehemiah 9.22-38, 1 Timothy 6.3-21 - Lectionary for 9/24/09

Today's readings are Nehemiah 9.22-38 and 1 Timothy 6.3-21.

"Ahh, this is the life!"  Those words of wisdom came from the back seat of my car as we dawdled along an Interstate highway in fairly heavy traffic near St. Louis some years ago.  We were on a family vacation.  My two daughters and the older daughter's best friend were in the back of our aging subcompact car.  My wife and I were in the front seat.  What inspired this comment from my daughter's friend?  Well, we had just spent a day going places and doing things - museums and the like - and they were now packed into the car.  My wife had just handed chunks of cheese to the back seat so the girls were relaxing and having a snack.  Quite a life!

Do we have that kind of contentment?  That's what we have described for us in 1 Timothy 6.  Do we find that regardless of our circumstances, even quite humble circumstances, possibly crowded, tired, and delayed, we are content?  Paul reminds us that we do have what we need.  In verse 8 he observes that food and clothing is adequate.

"Ahh, this is the life!"

Lectionary for 9/23/09

Today's readings are Nehemiah 9.1-21 and 1 Timothy 5.17-6.2.

How are we to consider our elders in Christ?  They are worthy of double honor.  They are to be defended when accused.  The presumption of innocence should lie on Christian leaders. Yet in our society today, even within the Church, we see a presumption of guilt.  We see elders mocked, treated with derision and disdain.  Rather than being an honorable place of service before the Lord it is a thing of dishonor, a burden to be avoided.

Even as we receive the biblical command to treat elders well, we need to notice that those who persist in sin should be rebuked publicly.  This is the very same treatment that every believer who persists in sin is to receive.  The elder in Christ is no more impervious to the rightful condemnation for sin than any other believer.  

Can we practice this kind of critical loyalty in our relationships?  Can we respect our pastors and elders, protect them, hold them blameless, and at the same time be willing to confront genuine sin, even to the point of condemning it publicly?  This is exactly the kind of friends our pastors and elders need.

Lectionary for 9/22/09

Today's readings are Nehemiah 7.1-4; 8.1-18, and 1 Timothy 5.1-16.

What attitude should the Church have about widows?  We should take care of them.  Paul first gives a quick definition of widows.  He observes that the children of widows should learn to care for them.  They have been cared for by their parents and should take care of the parents in return.  Younger widows should be encouraged to move on with their lives in some ways.  Paul's point of view is that the younger widows will end up desiring to marry rather than to live as widows.  This is fine and should be encouraged.

What about older widows who don't have children who are able to care for them?  We re to care for them.  They can devote themselves to serving the Lord by serving fellow believers.  In turn, the Church should care for the widows the Lord has entrusted to her.  

Paul anticipates that there will be more demand for care than the Church as a whole can meet.  He encourages families to care for their widows.  Sadly, in this modern age, we see there are many widows but they turn not to their  families, not to the Church, but to their government for help and support.  This encourages people to look to the world for care and comfort rather than looking to the body of Christ.

Know any widows?  Know some way to care for them?  It's an honorable occupation.

Lectionary for 9/21/09

Today's readings are Nehemiah 5.1-16; 6.1-9, 15-16, and 1 Timothy 4.1-16.

Yesterday we saw the Church as a fortress.  How do people depart from that truth?  Look at 1 Timothy 4.1-5 and notice that people frequently depart from the faith by coming up with rules and regulations which they think will guard them from error.  Paul specifically mentions abstaining from marriage and from certain foods.  Yet how many times have we seen within Christianity that it is exactly the people who abstain from marriage, avoid certain foods and drinks, and otherwise add laws to God's Word who are considered the strong and dedicated Christians?  Paul would take issue with that.  These are the people who have departed from the faith.  They have plunged themselves into bondage to the law, and it's a law of their own making, not God's Law.

When we fall from grace we fall into legalism.  When we fall from grace we fall into moralism.  When we fall from grace we fall into self-sufficiency.  Let us determine never to do that.  And by God's grace we will hold to our Lord by faith, knowing that we can do no more.

Lectionary for 9/20/09

Today's readings are Nehemiah 4.7-23 and 1 Timothy 3.1-16.

Jesus Christ has established his church, "the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth" (1 Tim. 3.15b, ESV).  A pillar and a buttress are specifically warlike objects.  They are the defensive walls, the fortifications, protecting that which is inside.  Our Lord here is very clear that we are a people at war, not at peace, and our job is to defend the truth.  From the pillar we can see falsehood coming.  As the falsehood - the gates of hell which will not prevail against the Church - comes to attack, we have identified it and the defensive wall of the Church is to hold against all falsehood.

What do we see instead?  We see today a weakened Church which makes compromise, which does not guard the truth, which does not protect against false doctrine.  We see a Church which is a "voluntary association of likeminded people."  We see a group of people who are assembled around the Scripture but who are not prepared to take a stand on the wall.  We see a group of people who are ready to take a stand on the wall but who don't know truth and error.  They have not looked at the truth adequately to identify the attackers.  We see a group of people who have allowed falsehood into their midst for so long that they no longer consider it an important issue.

May the Lord cleanse us, forgive us, give us eyes to see rightly, give us hearts to guard the truth, and restore his Church to be the true pillar and buttress.

Lectionary for 9/19/09

Today's readings are Nehemiah 2.11-20; 4.1-6 and 1 Timothy 2.1-15.

The apostle Paul is particularly concerned that believers should pray.  We pray everywhere, for all people.  We pray especially for rulers.  We pray for our protection.  When we pray for the rulers we pray that they will do the right thing, which will result in our protection.  We develop this attitude of prayer, thanksgiving, and meditation on the Word of God as we realize that our true battles are spiritual battles.  We develop an attitude of trust in our Lord as we realize that our true battle is a battle he has won, the battle against sin, death, and Hell.  We develop and attitude of quiet dignity as we realize that our Lord is God over all the rulers for whom we are praying.  We do not have to fear in our conflicts.  We do not have to worry about where our government is leading us.  We do not have to wonder about the outcome.  We can have the utmost confidence that our Lord is caring for the affairs of State.

So when we are tempted to say, "there's nothing I can do but pray," we are reminding ourselves that we think the battle is ours.  The battle is not ours. 

Lectionary for 9/18/09

Today's readings are Nehemiah 1.1-2.10 and 1 Timothy 1.1-20.

Our reading in 1 Timothy brings to mind the suggestion, first made by the Unitarians, then picked up by evangelical Christians with Rick Warren at the forefront.  The suggestion is that doctrine divides and that what we need is more deeds, less of an emphasis on creeds.  What does Paul have to say about this?  He says that creeds are essential!  Having an adequate understanding of the Gospel as passed down from the Lord through his apostles is critical.  This is what the early Church classified as "tradition" and goes a long way to explain their emphasis on tradition.  Literally, tradition is that thing which was "traded" from Christ to his apostles and has been traded from them to us through the Scripture and their proclamation of biblical truth.  

What do we need?  We need creeds.  We need good solid confessions of faith.  We need the kind of understanding of the faith that raises up servants of God who will stand and proclaim God's truth fearlessly regardless of the personal costs they will incur.  Is our faith built on the true Gospel that has been given to us by our Lord?  Is it built on the shifting sand of our own experience and feelings?  What kind of foundation do we need?

You might ask what will happen if we focus on creeds and not deeds.  I ask in return if the Holy Spirit is no longer working through his people in this world.  I would ask if our emphasis on creeds makes us less likely to love our Lord and love our neighbor as ourself.  I would ask if an emphasis on creeds makes us less aware of the defeat of sin and death on the cross.  I would ask if an emphasis on creeds makes us less aware of the righteous wrath of God revealed against all unrighteousness.  In fact, an emphasis on creeds will make Christians more staunch social and cultural activists.  We will realize more acutely what our Lord values.  We will strive to work as his servants in this harvest field which surrounds us.  Surely, an emphasis on creeds will result in laborers reaching out to their neighbors with the compassion of their Savior.  

Creeds, yeah.

Lectionary for 9/17/09

Today's readings are 2 Chronicles 36.1-23 and Colossians 4.1-18.

Colossians 4.1 tells masters how to treat slaves - justly and fairly.  What is the motivation for such treatment?  It is because the master also has a master, but a heavenly master.  

It's easy to bypass verses like these today.  We may simply pass them by observing that we are not in a slaveholding culture so there is nothing to be gained by them.  We may decide to apply a verse like this to our employer/employee interactions.  Yet I think both these reactions tend to limit our understanding of what Paul is addressing.

In the first century Roman culture, slaves were a little different from employees.  And if your view of slaves is that of Gone with the Wind or Uncle Tom's Cabin you are barking up the wrong tree as well.  A slave is personal property, no doubt.  That slave gets to go where the master says to go, do what the master says to do, and can be terminated through being granted freedom, being sold, or being executed at the pleasure of the master.  However, within the typical Roman family, slaves were also part of the "familia.  They were under the protection of the "pater familias" who would be responsible to see that they had all they needed.  By most it was considered a serious responsibility to own and be responsible for a slave.  In many less wealthy families the family members would work alongside the slaves in the backbreaking labor of farming a small plot of land to eke out an existence.  In some families, the slaves would be the educators of the children, the accountants for the stores, the technical support department for the company, whatever was needed.  In short, many many times the slave was an integral part of your household, someone you would depend upon.

How do we treat those people we work with?  How do we treat those people we live with, even if they are not of the same social standing as we are?  How do we treat those people over whom we have the power of freedom and captivity, life and death?  How have we been treated by our heavenly master?  As believers in Christ we are to treat those around us with the kind of dignity our Lord and Savior has accorded us.  We do what is best for them.  We enable them to achieve what is noble and good.  We provide for their needs.  And we shepherd them as a good shepherd cares for his flock.

Lectionary for 9/16/09

Today's readings are 2 Chronicles 35.1-7, 16-25 and Colossians 3.1-25.

2 Chronicles 35.22 makes a very interesting statement about God's revelation.  Neco king of Egypt spoke to Josiah.  Josiah did not recognize that God was speaking through Neco.  In this passage God has hidden himself behind a human king.  He has actually spoken to Josiah but Josiah did not recognize that it was God speaking to him.  He thought it was his enemy.

How often we fail to recognize the voice of our Lord!  He speaks all around us but we don't understand what he is saying.  We try to explain what we are hearing and what we think the Lord is saying but we too often read circumstances or earthly and possibly demonic voices to be God's voice.  We are prone to interpret things wrong.

Thankfully, the Lord has spoken to us in these last days through Jesus Christ, the living Word of God, and has revealed him in a definitive way through the writings of the Bible.  If we want to be sure of hearing from God, we need only open the book and read it.  This is in sharp distinction to every other religion in the world.  Even Islam, which has a definitive book, does not have a definitive savior who has done all we need to receive life.  And the other world religions don't even come close.

Let us rejoice in the living God who has revealed himself to us in clear ways we can understand.

Lectionary for 9/15/09

Today's readings are 2 Chronicles 34.1-4, 8-11, 14-33, and Colossians 2.8-23.

In his efforts to cleanse the temple, Josiah is brought face to face with God's word.  Yes, as we have seen numerous times lately, the temple has become a catch-all for dirt and clutter.  God's word has been forgotten.  Even the priestly workers who found the Scripture seemed unaware of its existence.  What happens when Josiah is brought face to face with God's word?  He is brought to repentance.  He realizes his sin.  He realizes the failing of the people of Israel.  He realizes God's holy demands which must be kept.  

The Colossians had the opposite problem.  Notice that they were being bound not by ignoring God, but by seeking to set up rules and regulations which go beyond his word.  This will also drive believers away from faith in Christ and to faith in themselves.  

Let us trust in the Lord, not in our own plans, our own ideals, our own imaginations.  Our Lord has revealed himself to us.  That's the revelation we need.

Lectionary for 9/14/09

Today's readings are 2 Chronicles 33.1-25 and Colossians 1.24-2.7.

The life of the believer in Christ is a life of repentance.  Look at Manasseh, the king of Israel.  When we start reading his story we see him as quite a failure.  He is faithless, pursues idolatry, even sacrifices his children to false gods.  Quite a leader!  I found myself thinking his life story would end in his arrest, captivity, and some sort of vile death.  But God, who is rich in mercy, had a different plan.  He brought Manasseh to repentance.  He heard Manasseh's prayer.  He granted him forgiveness and used him as a channel for God's blessing to be poured out on many.

Do we live a life of repentance?  Do we know that God is near and ready to hear our prayer?  Do we realize that God has made an approach to him ready in Christ as revealed in Word and Sacraments?  Do we see that our Lord will enable his people to "walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith" as we are told in Colossians 2.6-7?  Doubtless we forget often.  There's yet another thing about which we can repent.

Thanks be to the Lord who hears our cries, grants us repentance, and pours his forgiveness out upon us.

Lectionary for 9/13/09

Today's readings are 2 Chronicles 32.1-22 and 

Colossians 1.1-23.

The first chapter of Colossians is one of the most "packed" chapters in the entire Bible.  Look at the way God is described.  What kind of a Lord does the Bible introduce?  This is not like the gods of the Assyrians.  They are mere idols.  They are really only as powerful as the people who believe them.  They are no gods at all, but the spirits of this world, especially of their worshipers.  But the God of the Bible, this triune God is someone altogether different.  He created all the world.  He filled all the world.  He sustains all the world.  He lovingly cares for everything that happens.

Lord, may we ever look to you, the true and living God, in faith and trust knowing that by your mercy you have done all things that are right and good.

Lectionary for 9/12/09

Today's readings are 2 Chronicles 31.1-21 and Philippians 4.1-23.

A recurring theme in today's reading is that of giving.  The Israelites under Hezekiah give of their goods and do it so abundantly that Hezekiah orders storerooms to be made to keep it all.  The Philippians have been giving to Paul again and again.  When God's people give generously there's an unmistakable impact on the world.  Throughout history it has been Christians who have formed hospital organizations.  It has been Christians who have formed orphanages, feeding programs for the poor and hungry, ways to clothe the needy, all these things our society needs.  And how do they do it?  By steadfast planned giving and occasional special gifts.  A quick look at statistics about charitable contributions in this country says that it's the social and political conservativees, specifically conservative Christians, who tend to do a lot of charitable giving.  It's the social and political liberals, with a much smaller concentration of Christians, who are always talking about taking care of the poor.

What can we make of this?  God has blessed his people with the resources they need.  He has also blessed them with an understanding of human need.  Through their ongoing generosity this world is a different place than it would be without them.  Maybe the Lord will bless us to make a difference for someone today.

Lectionary for 9/11/09

Today's readings are 2 Chronicles 29.1-24 and Philippians 3.1-21.

Hezekiah made a good start as the king.  He exalted God.  It's striking to see that he had the "filth" cleaned out of the temple.  We don't know how much time had passed since the temple was appropriately consecrated, maintained, and used.  But some time had passed.  Somehow things weren't pristine the way they were supposed to be.

Have you ever had this happen to you?  I clean up my garage and my basement once in a while.  I'm always amazed at how much work it is.  It seems only yesterday that I put things tidily on the shelves, swept the floor, and left everything in very good order.  Now look at it!  There are broken things lying around, nothing is where it belongs, the shelves seem full and there's no space anywhere.  It's dirty, cobwebby, and generally the kind of place you want to avoid.  What happened?  Neglect, that's what.  So I clean it up and tell myself that I will keep it clean and tidy.  Three or four months later...all over again.  And our lives, or worship are like this.  Want another example?  Have you ever gone on a diet?  Have you ever quit smoking?  The average overweight person by the end of his life has lost hundreds and hundreds of pounds.  Smokers quit smoking dozens of times.  It's amazing how that can happen.  But before we point fingers, let's realize that faithful people quit believing and faithless people start believing every day, many times a day.  On one level, one person can be brought to faith countless times in a day as he realizes the redemption the Lord has poured out. for him.  On another level, of course, like the continual presence of the temple in Jerusalem, the salvation of the Lord has always been there for those who believe.

Hezekiah started out well.  He saw the rubble.  He had the rubble cleaned up.  He had the temple consecrated and began the sacrifices God had appointed.  Like Hezekiah, we can make a good start as well.  We can clear out the rubble, bringing ourselves in repentance to our Lord, seeking the forgiveness which he has promised, the forgiveness which he has purchased for us.  Are we going to keep that basement of our life clean?  Doubtful.  But our Lord has given forgiveness for that as well.  We can come to him, dirty basement and all, asking for his cleansing work day by day.

May the Lord work faith in our hearts.

Lectionary for 9/10/09

Today's readings are 2 Kings 9.1-13; 10.18-29 and Philippians 2.12-30.

Jehu looks like he will be a great deliverer.  He will overcome the house of Ahab, he will demolish the worship of Baal, he will be faithful to the anointing he has received as the true king of Israel.  It seems like a good plan, right?

Like any political leader, like any human leader at all, in fact, Jehu fails.  He accomplishes great things as the leader of Israel but he continues with the worship of the golden calves, contrary to the command of God.  This is typical of our leaders.  They simply aren't as good as we would like.  Then again, normally they are not as bad as we could imagine.  But we are able to find something disappointing in every leader we have.

What do we take from a passage like this?  First, our leaders are fallible.  They are going to disappoint us.  That does not mean they aren't the leaders God has placed over us.  It means they are sinful people like the rest of us.  Second, when we are in positions of leadership we need to realize we are fallible as well.  Is our leadership marked by repentance?  It should be, for we sin all the time.  Third, we should look to the Lord who enables leaders to lead.  It is his direction that matters.  What is God's priority in our situation?  If we are pursuing that priority we will not go wrong.

Lectionary for 9/9/09

Today's readings are 2 Kings 6.1-23 and Philippians 1.21-2.11.

Do we have the mind of Christ?  Looking at the first 11 verses of Philippians 2 we see that Christ's mind is one of humility, such deep humility that he came to serve rather than to be served.  He cared so greatly for everyone who would die without redemption from sin that he took the sin of the world upon himself, giving himself to die in our place.  Here we see someone worthy of honor.  Christ merits our praise.  He is exalted by God the Father to his own right hand because of his humility.

None of us will ever have the mind of Christ.  We really won't.  But we are called to have it in the measure that our Lord has given it to us.  We show we have that mind when we look to other people's interests rather than our own.  We show that mind when we give people comfort, affection, and sympathy though they really don't deserve it.  We show that mind when we consider others' interests to be more important than our own interests.  Now here's the big difference.  Christ was truly more concerned with our interests than with his.  We may do a decent job of pretending others' interests are more important than our own, but we know that in fact we still think our interests are more important.  We're just acting like others' needs are more important.  There's the difference.  

Nevertheless, let us look to Christ, the one who truly humbled himself on our behalf.  May he give us grace to humble ourselves for others and to seek his forgiveness for our failure to do so.

Lectionary for 9/8/09

Today's readings are 2 Kings 5.9-27 and Philippians 1.1-20.

The interchange between Elisha, Naaman, and Gehazi reveals a good deal to us about the ministry of the gospel.  Elisha told Naaman of God's plan for healing him.  Like the New Testament claims to believe that Christ has died in our stead as a full propitiation for our sins, Elisha's command that Naaman wash in the Jordan seven times seemed foolish.  This is something that is demeaning for it doesn't use the resources we have brought to the situation.  It is free, which is offensive to Naaman, a rich man.  Yet, as with the New Testament command that all we do is believe the gospel, Naaman finds that following God's command is the only way to be cleansed.

What of Naaman's desire to give Elisha money?  Is there anything wrong with that desire?  As long as it is not motivated from a desire to pay for services rendered, there's nothing wrong with giving God's servants money.  Is it all right to pay a pastor?  Paul tells us in Ephesians that the elder is worthy of a double reward.  But Elisha did not give God's word to Naaman in order to receive money.  Naaman could not pay Elisha enough to do that.  God's word is more precious than any financial reward we can imagine.

We need to ask about Gehazi's motivations, then.  It is clear that his desire was to receive a reward he could use for himself.  He did not disclose it to Elisha.  He was already taken care of by Elisha.  There was no call for Gehazi to act as Elisha's debt collector.  There was no debt.

In our zeal for the Gospel, let us be sure it is zeal for the Gospel.  As we seek to provide for Christ's servants, let us be sure that our motivation is not to provide for ourselves, but to provide for those others.  God will take care of us.  He is the giver of daily bread.  He will always watch over his people.  Let us desire to provide the Gospel freely, realizing that our Lord and Savior will indeed give us all we need.

Lectionary for 9/7/09

Today's readings are 2 Kings 4.38-5.8 and Ephesians 6.1-24.

Look at Paul's prayer request.  In Ephesians 6.19-20 he asks that people will pray for him, not for health, not for release from prison, not for protection from the executioner, but for boldness in speaking the gospel.  We've been watching the culture in North America become more hostile toward the gospel than it has been over the past several hundred years.  With the increasing power of political correctness, demands that we must "tolerate" (i.e., celebrate to the detriment of our own convictions) other cultural and religious groups, and calls for submission to a nanny government that knows what is best for everyone, we see more people fearing to speak the gospel clearly.  In some areas holding a clear Christian conviction has led people to imprisonment.  It has separated children from parents.  It has resulted in pastors and church services being interrupted by aggressive dissidents.  There have even been church buildings burned down apparently as a reaction to the church taking a clear stand for the gospel of Christ.

Let us pray for boldness, for ourselves and for other servants of Christ around the world, that they may proclaim the gospel clearly and in all its power, regardless of the earthly consequences.  May we bring this heavenly message to our world.

Lectionary for 9/5/09

Today's readings are 2 Kings 2.19-25, 4.1-3, and Ephesians 4.25-5.14.

How is the Christian to walk?  We are to walk in love, that love which is given to us by Christ, that love which is shown by Christ on the cross.  Do we do it?  Not like we should.  That's why we have such great opportunity for repentance and forgiveness on a daily basis.  Our passage in Ephesians gives us command after command from God.  Are we to keep these commands?  No doubt we are.  But we realize we will fail every day.  We will fall short of the command, though when we compare ourselves to others we may not think we fall as short as some people.  Regardless, we fall short.  We fail to keep God's command.  So where is our hope?  Let's find it in the passage.

4.30 - sealed by the Holy Spirit - We have been claimed by God.  He will not fail to redeem his people.

4.32 - forgiving as Christ forgave us - We are forgiven even when we fail to forgive.

5.1 - Christ loved us - Though we did nothing to deserve it, Christ loved us.

5.6 - God's wrath is on the "sons of disobedience" - We who trust in Christ are not subject to God's wrath, but his wrath does exist. It is not our responsibility to right all the evil in the world.  God will take care of that in the end.

5.8 - light in the Lord - The believers are God's light.  We do good and are able to do so because God is shining his light through us.

5.14 - Christ will shine on you - We have no need to fear in discerning God's will.  He will give his light and reveal to us what is right and good.  He has done this in the Scripture, which we can trust as God's definitive revelation of himself and his will.

Lectionary for 9/4/09

Today's readings are 2 Kings 2.1-18 and Ephesians 4.1-24.

Paul tells the Ephesians to "no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds" (Eph. 4.17b, ESV).  This idea holds all of today's reading together.  We see that Elijah and Elisha were acting based on trust in the Lord, not trust in themselves.  Paul has just laid out the unity of the body of Christ.  He has told us of the way our Christian leaders build us up to maturity in which we stand in Christ, not trusting our own opinion.

This view of maturity and stability flies in the face of modernity.  We have been conditioned to believe that we are the ones in charge of our destiny, that we should be ourselves, that we reach wise decisions based on the evidence we have and then we can trust those decisions.  Ultimately the modern man is the arbiter of truth.  This is walking like the Gentiles.  This is futility of mind. 

Let us rather put on the mind of Christ, the only human mind in this world which is not ruined by sin.  Let us exalt Christ in all our opinions and in the actions that come from them.  This will make us the steadfast people we desire to be.  It will make us a good picture of Christ to this world.  It will enable us to walk, as Elijah and Elisha, by faith.

Lectionary for 9/2/09

Today's readings are 1 Kings 18.20-40 and Ephesians 2.1-22.

How are we saved?  In today's readings it is clear that it has nothing to do with our own works, nothing to do with our own merit, nothing at all to do with our righteousness.  We are no more rewarded for how good we are than the prophets of Baal were rewarded by their false god.  We are no more able to make ourselves worthy by our godly behavior than they were.  Try though they might, the found no reward for their attempts at holiness.  Likewise we receive no reward for our works of holiness.  We can work hard all day to bring glory and honor to God in Christ and we find at the end of the day that we have done nothing worthy of merit and that we have earned lots of condemnation.

Paul says it over and over in Ephesians 2.  It is by grace you are saved.  Thanks be to the God who gives his grace so freely.  We could not save ourselves.  It is by grace we are saved.

Lectionary for 9/1/09

Today's readings are 1 Kings 18.1-19 and Ephesians 1.1-23.

The care God lavished on Elijah is the same care he has lavished on us.  Though in today's reading we see Elijah at a relatively difficult point in his life, look what Ephesians says about those who trust in the Lord.  They have redemption.  They are partakers of a divine plan.  They have an inheritance.  They are recipients of a promise.  There is a guarantee, the Holy Spirit, demonstrating that we will be recipients of God's promise.  We can therefore give thanks that our salvation is not of our glory but of God's glory.

Are we enduring difficulties in life at this time?  Quite possibly.  What promises do we have of God?  They are great promises indeed.  And like Elijah, like Paul, like all the saints before us, we are reminded of God's promises, of his loving provision for us, of his care by which he predestined us to be partakers of his promises.