Lectionary for 6/19/09

Today's readings are Proverbs 22.1-21 and John 18.1-14.

Fear not!  The Lord is here!  Our Lord and Savior is present to watch over his people for their protection.  As this band of soldiers (the Greek word indicates a force that would typically consist of several hundred) approached Jesus came forward to meet them.  He made sure they knew that he, and nobody else, was the target of their pursuit.  Without their making any move to take the disciples captive, Jesus told them to leave the disciples alone.  Then when one of the disciples impulsively attacked a servant Jesus not only guarded the disciple but he healed the servant.  We see Jesus standing in between harm and his people.  We even see Jesus standing between his people and those they would harm!

What a savior we see in the Scripture.  Jesus' act of guarding his people from all harm is not limited to the approximately three year period between his baptism and his crucifixion.  He continues guarding his people in the resurrection, providing for them by Word and Sacraments, showing them through the Scripture what kind of provision he has made for them, giving the Holy Spirit to draw people to faith, creating new hearts, new minds, new lives.  Our Lord has promised that he will never leave us or forsake us.  He will always be there, guarding us from his enemies, guarding his enemies from us, and taking our place in condemnation and death, just as he does in John 18.

Lectionary for 6/18/09

Today's readings are Proverbs 20.5-25 and John 17.1-26.

Sometimes I read two different passages of Scripture and it seems the lighting changes in between them.  The entire tone is quite different.  Look at the different scene today between Proverbs 20 and John 17.  In Proverbs 20 we are reading about what is good and pleasing to God, how we will know righteous people and unrighteous people, what we need to do to act wisely in this world.  Cut to John 17 and we see Jesus praying for his people, talking with the Father about how the Father is glorified on earth in and through the Son.  The landscape couldn't be more different.

What great care our Lord has for us his people.  He has prayed for us.  We are under divine protection.  We have received the Word of God which gives us all we need.  He has made peace between God and man.  He has committed his followers to eternity.  He will make them one in him even as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are inseparable.  May we have grace to live as our Lord has prayed we may live.

Lectionary for 6/17/09

Today's readings are Proverbs 17.1-28 and John 16.17-33.

Today we see Jesus telling about his future death, burial, resurrection and ascension.  It seems to us that this should all make perfect sense to the disciples.  After all, they have been with Jesus.  He has talked about being given over to sinful men to die.  He has talked about the fact that he is in fact God incarnate.  He really has not made any secret of his identity or plans around his disciples.  Now he tells them quite plainly what he is going to do.  What's the result?  The disciples are first confused but afraid to ask for clarification.  Jesus clarifies anyway.  Now the disciples say they understand everything.  Our Lord and Savior disputes that claim.  As we will read later, he is quite right.  

How many times have we failed to understand what our Lord is doing, even though he has told us?  How many times have we wondered whether his will is really for our good?  How many times have we questioned his providence on our account?  How many times have we said, as the people of Israel complained to Moses, that surely God is leading us out into a wilderness to abandon or kill us?  The Lord is so very clear about what he is doing.  He leaves us with no reason to doubt.  Yet our nature is to doubt.  Is that also something Jesus died for and lives to forgive?  It most certainly is.  No matter what our fear, no matter what our doubt, no matter how we are scattered, we can have confidence that it is no surprise to our Lord.  We are not scattered out of his loving sight or care.  And he is quite able to care for us, protect us, gather us, forgive us, and bring us to be with him.

Lectionary for 6/16/09

Today's readings are Proverbs 16.1-24 and John 16.1-16.

As we look at the first four verses of Proverbs 16 we see a classic picture of Law and Gospel at work.  What is it we do?  We make our plans, we judge our ways to be pure, we try to accomplish our purpose.  Taking a moment to consider our desires and purposes in light of God's word we see that we consistently fall short.  What do we desire?  When we consider the commandments, which of us does love and trust in God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength?  Which of us truly loves his neighbor as himself?  No, our genuine heartfelt desire, even in our acts of charity and kindness, boils down to self-aggrandizement.  

What is God's perspective as revealed in these same four verses?  God has made "the wicked for the day of trouble" (ESV), He establishes the plans that are committed to him, He knows our plans and purposes, He tells us the answer, though we ignore it.  We are confronted in this passage with a God who is quite unlike us.  He works things out according to a different plan than the one we came up with.  It isn't our world.  It is God's world.

How will we be reconciled in this dispute?  God's plan from the foundation of the world has been to redeem a people to himself in Christ, through our Lord's death on behalf of sinners.  This is God's plan.  And we see it accomplished in our New Testament reading.  Looking at John 16.12-15 we see that our Lord has promised the Holy Spirit to declare what the disciples need.  He has done so, revealing Jesus the living Word of God through the inspired Scriptures.  He does so, drawing our attention to what the Bible says about Jesus.  He does so, opening our eyes to God's final revelation.  We are not alone.  Again, it is God's world and He is quite able to accomplish in the world what He has purposed.  His plans come to pass.

Lectionary for 6/15/09

Today's readings are Proverbs 15.1-29 and John 15.12-27.

Today let's look at some of the commands Jesus gives to his disciples.  What are the disciples to do?  Love one another, do Jesus' commands, bear fruit, ask the Father for things in faith.  What provision does our Lord promise? He promises that he understands exactly what they will be going through when they are persecuted.  He promises the Holy Spirit who will bear witness of Christ.  This is the provision our Lord has given us.  Does it seem like a small provision?  Would we rather that he promised us wealth, earthly protection, strength of arms, physical defense against persecution?  That is not what he promises.  Instead, he makes eternal promises, encouraging us to realize that our time on this earth is brief.  All this will pass away, but our Lord abides forever.

Lectionary for 6/14/09

Today's readings are Proverbs 14.1-27 and John 15.1-11.

We have recently looked at the distinction between Christ's commands for believers and his descriptions of believers.  This distinction between the imperative (command) and indicative (description) mood is an important one for understanding the Scripture.  Look at the reading from Proverbs today, flagging verses as imperative or indicative (It's so sad that the letter "i" won't serve as an adequate abbreviation.  Sometimes in notes I'll use "m" or "n" to indicate iMperative or iNdicative.).

Time after time, the Scripture uses indicatives while many preachers will use those indicatives as if they are imperatives.  I'll just illustrate one instance.  Try Proverbs 14.16.  In the ESV it says, "One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless."  What will we say about this?  Does it indicate that if we are to be wise we must be cautious and turn away from evil?  Not at all.  It describes wise people in that way.  Do you want to know if you are wise?  If you tend to be cautious and if you avoid evil you are probably wise.  How about the fool?  Does being reckless and careless make the person a fool?  Not at all.  Those are attributes which characterize a fool.  We can recognize ourselves as fools when we are reckless and careless.  

These indicatives help us see what our state is.  They help us see our need for repentance and forgiveness.  They clarify to us who we are, just as the indicatives we read about God clarify to use who He is.  May we receive God's blessing today as we see ourselves rightly as the branches which abide in Christ, bearing fruit.

Lectionary for 6/13/09

Today's readings are Proverbs 13.1-25 and John 14.18-31.

It's very easy to fall into the pattern of thinking the Bible is God's instruction book, the place where God gives the rules we should live by.  Look in today's readings at the commands God gives.  But also look at the promises God gives.  Our Lord makes commands, indeed.  But he makes tremendous provision.  Jesus promises that he will be with us.  He also promises the ongoing fellowship of the Holy Spirit.  Our Lord does not leave us without his personal presence to enable us to do all that is necessary.  As you read, you might have noticed the number of descriptive statements, especially in John 14, where Jesus tells what his disciples are.  Recall the difference between being told what we are and being told what we are to do.

Lord, may we live before you, fulfilling your descriptions of what we really are in you.  As we live in you, may we be blessed sometimes to see ourselves doing what you have commanded, simply because of what we are in you.

Lectionary for 6/12/09

Today's readings are Proverbs 10.1-23 and John 14.1-17.

Sometimes being truly Trinitarian seems a little clumsy.  Have you ever thought of the way we tend to pray to the Father or maybe to the Son (rarely the Holy Spirit), then we tack one or more of the other persons of the Godhead on?  The fact is, it seems a little clumsy because it is clumsy.  We are finite humans who exist only in one person.  But here we are, addressing one God who exists in three persons.  It's bound to leave us a little confused.

In John's Gospel we see Jesus completely at home with the concept of the Trinity.  The Father and the Son are one.  And when the Son goes to the Father, the Father will send the "other" - here the Greek word indicating another of the same type - the Holy Spirit.  God is clearly one God in three Persons.  And the great news here is that we will not be left without the real presence of God!  The Son leaves and the Spirit comes.  We are always cared for.  God is always watching over His people.

Lord, may we rejoice in Your presence today, for You have promised never to leave or forsake us.  We know that we can pray confidently, for You ever live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

Lectionary for 6/11/09

Today's readings are Proverbs 9.1-18 and John 13.21-38.

Who is welcomed by the Gospel?  We see in Proverbs 9 that Wisdom is calling out to everyone, wise and foolish.  How many times in the modern Church are we guilty of limiting the call of the Gospel to those who have adequate intelligence, a strong knowledge base, or a tendency toward or away from a certain type of cultural value?  Current practice within church growth circles includes having churches with particular target audiences, generally with targets such as college age people, young adults, or people in their thirties with small children.  Some churches have a particular desire to minister to homeless people.  What will they do when a fifty-something CPA comes to Bible study?  What would the hip young church a block from my house do if I walked in?  Yes, sometimes I think of doing it just to see.  The list goes on and on. Is it a white church?  A black church?  An Asian church?  A church of intellectuals?  Why don't we ever see ads for a church specially geared toward people with an IQ in the eighties?  How about a church for bald people?  A church for those with corrective eyewear?  A church for people who wear hats backward?

Maybe we'd better get back to the call of the Gospel.  Wisdom calls out.  "You can come too."

Lectionary for 6/10/09

Today's readings are Proverbs 8.22-36 and John 13.1-20.

The selection from Proverbs continues with Wisdom (personified) talking about the value of seeking wisdom.  The word "wisdom" is a feminine noun, thus we refer to wisdom as "she."  Yet something struck me as I was reading this.  Here Wisdom seems to be personified in terms we would be most comfortable ascribing to God the Son.  See how there seems to be a bringing forth of Wisdom before the foundation of the earth.  See the creation done with the active involvement of Wisdom.  See the presence of Wisdom with the Father, "daily his delight" (v. 30, ESV) and actively involved in the life of every living being.  See how the matter is concluded in verses 35-36 (ESV) "For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death."

I wonder if this is actually a Messianic passage?  I haven't looked it up in a wide variety of commentaries.  Maybe if anyone reading has an opinion, informed or otherwise, you could drop a comment.

After writing the brief paragraph above, I took a look at the various commentaries in e-Sword, which primarily represent Calvinistic and Dispensational viewpoints.  Most of them made comments which indicated a Messianic understanding of Wisdom.  Anybody know if this extends beyond that theological camp?

Lectionary for 6/9/09

Today's readings are Proverbs 8.1-21 and John 12.36b-50.

got wisdom?

The very wisdom which calls out to people, which pleads with them to seek her out, this very wisdom is embodied in the living God, revealed in Jesus Christ, brought to life in the saints by the Holy Spirit.  Our Lord is wisdom incarnate.  

It's very easy to desire wisdom and to decide, based on our culture, that we will gain wisdom by sitting on a mountaintop meditating quietly, or by emulating ancient philosophers - questioning everything like Socrates or outlining everything into syllogisms like Aristotle.  But this is not how the Bible defines gaining wisdom.  We gain wisdom by heeding the call of God.  And that call of God is to believe Jesus has come to redeem the world.  This is true wisdom.  And it is readily available to all, no matter the walk of life, no matter the proximity of mountaintops, no matter the intellectual level.  It's a matter of belief in the living Christ.

Lectionary for 6/8/09

Today's readings are Proverbs 5.1-23 and John 12.20-36a.

Since yesterday was Trinity Sunday we return to the calendar-based readings.  Those will continue until Ash Wednesday of 2010.

Today we have two calls to follow Christ in wholehearted obedience.  In Proverbs we are reminded that our ways are visible to the Lord, both the way of righteousness and the faithlessness we choose which leads to destruction.  In John we see that we win by losing, we live by dying.

As we work our way into the Time of the Church, let us realize that Christ has died so we can live, that our live is in Christ, and that our Lord does indeed remain forever.  Let us walk this year in belief in the true power of the resurrected Lord.

Lectionary for 6/7/09

Today's readings are Numbers 35.9-30 and Luke 24.28-53.

Many people make a great deal of fuss over the cities of refuge, but they fuss about the concept in ignorance of the nature of the law.  The city of refuge was not a "get out of jail free" pass.  People would not be admitted into the city unless they were deemed to be guilty of accidental manslaughter.  They had to get to the city and receive the verdict before the family's avenger caught up with them.  And once in the city they had to stay there, often for a very long time, before they were free to return home.  The city of refuge was not a place where a genuine criminal could find safe haven, nor where someone would desire to go.

What did God in his mercy provide through the city of refuge?  He provided a place of protection for those who sinned accidentally.  What does this foreshadow?  Christ, in his death, burial and resurrection, has provided protection for us.  He has provided forgiveness for the sins we don't even realize we are committing. He promises that we will be covered by his mercy as we dwell in his place of protection until the death of our high priest - Christ, who will die no more.  What of those sins we have committed and are not aware of or that we forget to confess?  Christ has taken us into his protective custody.  We need not fear.

Rejoice today in the protective care of our Lord and Savior!

Lectionary for 6/6/09

Today's readings are Numbers 32.1-6, 16-27 and Luke 24.1-27.

Today we see Luke's account of the first post-resurrection appearances of Jesus.  It seems the true death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus is a matter of debate and skepticism.  Let's notice just a few of the significant things Luke points out.

1) The early disciples don't seem to have expected a resurrection.  If this were fabricated by the early Church every believer would have remembered Jesus' words and expected his resurrection.

2) The first witnesses were women.  Again, this is not the kind of story someone who wanted people to believe it would invent.  The testimony of women was never given full credence.

3)  The grave clothes were left behind.  If someone had stolen the body, the wrappings would be gone.

Christ is risen, he is risen indeed.

Lectionary for 6/4/09

Today's readings are Numbers 24.1-25 and Luke 23.1-25.

As we read Luke 23 today we can make a comparison between Jesus and Pilate.  Jesus goes toward his end, unflinching.  It does not matter what public opinion says.  It does not matter what the governmental officials say.  It doesn't matter how he is treated by the soldiers.  It doesn't matter to Jesus that he is guilty of no crime whatsoever.  He shows a steadfast determination to face death unflinching.

Pilate, on the other hand, is much more like we are.  He isn't sure what is going on.  He does release a prisoner to the people at this time of year, but doesn't think this is a fair prisoner exchange.  Yet he's pushed by tradition, by public opinion, by the very real threat of insurrection.  He is acting in the most pragmatic way he can to try to quell the disturbance which seems to center around Jesus.

How many times do we live out our Christian walk very much like Pilate lives?  How often are we moved by public opinion rather than by the Scripture?  How often are we intimidated by those immediately surrounding us when we could simply state our position and face those around us with a clear conscience?  How often do we try to make peace but end up simply brushing troubles under the carpet?

May we walk like Jesus walked today.

Lectionary for 6/3/09

Today's readings are numbers 23.4-28 and Luke 22.47-71.

So we see it.  Balaam, brought with the express purpose of cursing Israel, has proclaimed blessing on them.  Here's what always amazes me about this incident.  Balaam appears to be a pagan priest.  He later goes on to deceive the people of Israel into idolatry.  He does not like the Israelites.  Let us make no mistake about that.  He is not at all friendly to them.  But what does he do?  He proclaims blessing on the very people he hates.

Yesterday we looked for God to speak through means we didn't necessarily expect.  Today we look for God to proclaim truth through those who are opposed to him.  Does it happen?  It certainly does.  Even an unbeliever can administer a sacrament.  Even an unbeliever can read the Scripture so we can hear from God.  Even an unbeliever can say something insightful about the very moral principles God has laid out.

We don't want to look to those who are haters of God to find truth, of course.  But we don't want to discount all they say or do out of hand.  Sometimes the hater of God speaks at God's command.

Lectionary for 6/2/09

Today's readings are Numbers 22.21-23.3 and Luke 22.24-46.

We see today that God's help is sometimes found in the places we would least suspect.  We see Balaam, who has been forbidden by God to curse Israel, going along his way, persuaded by large amounts of money and a number of influential people.  We see Balaam being warned by a donkey that he is not to curse Israel.  We will have to wait until tomorrow to see what happens when Balaam actually tries to curse Israel.

How many times do we look to the wrong places for confirmation of what we should do, for God's call on our lives, for confidence in the faith, for a sense that what we are doing is important to God?  Do we forget the simple promises of God in Christ?  As we look for the voice of the Spirit to tell us how we are to minister do we forget the words of Christ saying he will be with us and we are to make disciples baptizing and teaching?  When we are to minister in Christ's name to every nation do we forget that "every" includes those in our own household and within our neighborhood?  When we want to know what will accomplish Christ's work, do we forget that He has said the Gospel is the power of God?

I pray we may do better, looking to the promises and provision the Lord has already made, knowing that what He has promised, He is able to achieve.

Lectionary for 6/1/09

Today's readings are Numbers 22.1-20 and Luke 22.1-23.

I notice a commonality between Numbers 22 and Luke 22, aside from the obvious one that each reading is a chapter 22.  The pagan prophet Balaam knows and acts on the same thing that Jesus does in Luke.  Both act upon an understanding that ultimately whatever God says will happen.  We dare not try to avoid or re-engineer what our Lord calls us to do.  If the Lord says to bless something, we bless it.  If the Lord curses something, it is accursed.

In today's news I heard of the murder of a public figure who has caused harm to countless families.  This man was acting within the bounds of human law, though not divine law.  Should he have stopped doing harm to families?  Certainly.  Was it appropriate to murder him?  Not at all.  Our Lord is able to end the life of anyone he pleases.  Our Lord is able to extend the life of anyone he pleases.  Maybe the Lord was using this individual to create indignation and outrage?  Maybe he was a pivotal person in changing public opinion.  Whatever his role, it was his role before the Lord, who is the ultimate judge of all our temporal wrongdoing.

What has the Lord directed for us today?  What has he withheld from us?  Whether it is proclaiming God's blessings on people, proclaiming God's cursing on people, preparing a place for others to celebrate, protecting others, serving others, celebrating the sacrifice of Christ, let us do it wholeheartedly before our Lord.

Lectionary for 5/29/09

Today's readings are Numbers 20.1-21 and Luke 20.19-44.

We see Moses going through a very difficult time period.  He was confronted by arguing Israelites, complaints about food and water, a very real dangerous situation.  How did Moses respond?  In his aggravation he did what seemed the most reasonable thing, or at least the thing that was most ready at hand, when he struck the rock to bring out water.  Of course, we see then that Moses is brought face to face with his troubles becoming worse.  He is told by the Lord that he will not be entering the promised land because he did not glorify God.  How did Moses respond to this?  We don't know anything about his immediate reaction, but the very next thing we see him doing is going about the business of arranging safe passage for his people.

Here's a great example of manly leadership.  Moses knows his days as leader are numbered.  He has sinned and will pay the penalty for his sin.  So what does he do?  He does his duty, knowing that the same God who calls him to account for his sin is the God who graciously can and will bring the people of Israel into possession of the promise he has given.  Moses knew the Lord before whom he was repenting.  He knew the promises that God has given are promises which God will fulfill.  He knows now that the Lord doesn't leave his people out in the desert to perish of thirst and hunger.  

We likewise can depend on our Lord and Savior to accomplish what He has promised.

Lectionary for 5/28/09

Today's readings are Numbers 16.41-17.13 and Luke 20.1-18.

From Aaron's rod which not only sprouted but budded and produced almonds, to Jesus' works which say more than his words, we see that God has no need of man's defense.  Our Lord himself, through his mighty works, is able to prove his presence, his person, and his provision for this world.  He acts in his own authority, doing according to his will, accomplishing his purpose.

One of the questions I think we should always ask when considering our life and ministry is this.  "Why am I doing what I am doing?"  Is it because God has given it to me?  Is it because I want to enable God to work in a particular situation?  The two answers, though they seem similar on the surface, reflect a world of difference in their underlying philosophy.  If my answer is the first, I am perfectly in line with what we read in today's selections.  If my answer is the second, I become like Korah and his followers, like the priests and scribes who wanted Jesus to work according to reason, like innumerable heretics throughout history who have set up their plans above God's stated will.  May we ever do things because God has given them to us.

Lectionary for 5/27/09

Today's readings are Numbers 16.23-40 and Luke 19.29-48.

We see Jesus entering Jerusalem in triumph today, as a king coming in peace, not for war, entering on a donkey, not a mighty war horse.  We see our Lord mourning that Jerusalem has not recognized him for who he is.  We see our Lord taking the temple back and teaching in it.

Our question as we read these passages?  How do we receive our Lord?  Do we cry out in acclamation to him or do we cry out to him that he should stop people from his praises?  Do we hurry to the temple to hear Jesus' teaching or do we hurry to the temple for our own profit?  How are we receiving this king?

Thanks be to God that he has purchased our forgiveness, forgiveness even of our receiving him badly, as we will surely receive him badly even today.  Thanks be to God that our Lord is in the business of restoring people to God.

Lectionary for 5/26/09

Today's readings are Numbers 16.1-22 and Luke 19.11-28.

What do we make of Korah's rebellion?  What does it have to do with life today in Christ's Church?  Quite bluntly, our Lord has appointed different people to different roles in His kingdom.  Korah was right in saying (Numbers 16.3) "...all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them" (ESV).  But he was not right in saying that Moses and Aaron had "gone too far" and that they exalted themselves unduly.  In fact, Moses and Aaron were acting in accord with God's calling to them.  Korah and his associates were choosing not to act in accord with God's calling.  They were leaders, "chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men" (Num. 16.2, ESV).  But leaders or not, they were to lead in the area of life where the Lord placed them to lead, not in some other area of life.

So back to today's Church.  What role has the Lord appointed for specific people?  Are there certain qualifications for elders?  No doubt.  Are they all to be able to serve in the pastoral ministry?  It's my strong opinion, biblically, that they are to be so qualified.  Is there a time and place for a duly appointed elder who is not paid as the pastor of a congregation to minister in Word and Sacraments?  Yes.  But in every congregation there is order.  Someone has the primary responsibility to shepherd the flock.  This is right and good.  It is part of making sure God's flock has good pasture.  What about those people who are natural leaders but are not called to be elders?  Are they to carry on a pastoral role?  Maybe in some situations, but only according to God's plan and provision for them.  For instance, by his office as the head of a household, each husband is called to be the primary "pastor" for his flock at home.  But if that role has not been extended to the greater congregation, he is free to be shepherded within the context of the Church as a whole while he does the work of a shepherd at home.  What about those with other gifts?  A gifted administrator, negotiator, public relations person, or teacher may in fact not have the gifts and calling of a pastor.  It may well be that those people, who may be very good leaders in their careers, may need to limit their desires for leadership when they are in the specific congregational context.  

Let's look at the big picture.  Moses and Aaron were called by God to lead the people of Israel, to shepherd them from Egypt to the land of promise.  They were not naturally qualified.  They were called and were given the gifts they needed to do the job.  Likewise, each of us is called and gifted to do some job that our Lord has appointed.  May we be faithful to that calling.

Lectionary for 5/25/09

Today's readings are Numbers 14.26-45 and Luke 18.35-19.10.

In our reading today we see the start contrast between obedience and unbelief.  Yes, it seems that in the Scripture the opposite of obedience to God's command is unbelief.  Whom does God count as his friends?  Those who do what he commands.  Who are the enemies of God?  Those who do not believe his commands.  See the stark opposition here?  The people of Israel are told to enter into the promised land.  They don't believe God's command and his accompanying provision.  It is that unbelief that constitutes their disobedience.  What of the blind man who is brought to Jesus?  He is not healed because of any work of righteousness that he has done, but because he believes Jesus is the Son of David who is able to command him to be well.  Belief is accounted as righteousness.

Lord, may we believe.

Lectionary for 5/24/09

Today's readings are Numbers 14.1-25 and Luke 18.18-34.

Today's readings are full of God's promises to his people that they will in fact enter the land of promise.  That's appropriate for today, Pentecost Sunday, the day when we celebrate God's giving of the Holy Spirit to empower believers in this world and to call people to Christ in faith and repentance.  Our Lord has made a promise of eternal life.  Yet we seem to focus just on this mortal life.  Our Lord has made a promise of heavenly bliss.  We seem to focus on what will make us happy on this planet.  How great are the promises of God!  How limited are my expectations!

I'd challenge people today to consider whether their local churches are focused on eternity or temporality.  How many of us hear sermons today about Memorial Day, a "man" holiday in which we remember our war dead?  How many of us hear sermons today about Pentecost, a "God" holiday in which we celebrate the coming of the third person of the Trinity?

Lord, may we be people who look to the hope you have given us, a true and eternal hope.

Lectionary for 5/21/09

Today's readings are Numbers 11:1-23, 31-35 and Luke 17.1-19.

How do we respond to God's blessing?  Often we talk about how we respond to God in times of adversity, but we may well have as much difficulty or even more when dealing with blessing.  Do we remain grateful to our Lord and Savior or do we desire the food of our captivity?  Do we delight in God's provision which looks, smells and tastes wonderful?  Are we rather those who would prefer to work hard with something messy and smelly so as to make it edible?

I find I must challenge myself to look at the many blessings of God and see them as blessings.  They are all around me and they are not inconsequential.

As we look at God's blessings upon us, may we, like the Samaritan leper, receive the words of our Lord, saying, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well" (Luke 17.19, ESV).

Lectionary for 5/20/09

Today's readings are Numbers 10.11-36 and Luke 16.19-31.

As we read today, may the Lord remind us of the inclusivity of the Church.  See how the Israelites gathered some of those who would follow with them, believe with them, and receive from the Lord along with them.  See how our Lord and Savior gathers those who believe on him to dwell in delight and comfort for eternity.  May we also be God's agent to gather those who will believe and follow him.

Lectionary for 5/19/09

Today's readings are Numbers 9.1-23 and Luke 16.1-18.

See how abundant God's mercy is today.  When our Lord appointed the Passover only those who were ceremonially clean and able to be present at the tabernacle could participate.  Everyone else remained in his sin and did not have the relief promised by God.  What mercy the Lord has shown, then, that he appointed another day on which those who were genuinely prevented from participating in Passover could do so.  It was not something to be done at the option of the worshiper, picking one or the other date.  But for those who were ceremonially prevented from participation on the appointed day there was another opportunity.

How many times in this New Testament age does our Lord proclaim that it is the day of salvation?  Every day is the day of restoration.  Every day is the day that Christ our Passover has died for us.  Every day is the day to worship our Lord.  How great the mercy shed upon us.  Yet in this day and age we still do not have the choice.  Rather, the choice of how and when to reveal salvation is the choice our Lord and Savior has made.  At the appropriate time he revealed himself.  At the appropriate time he died for our sins.  At the appropriate time he was raised again, and at the appropriate time he was exalted again to heaven.  We, like the Israelites, have no choice in the matter.  Our Lord has done wonderful things, providing for our forgiveness.  We simply follow as he has commanded.

Lord, let us walk with you in faith today, as this day is the day of salvation.

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

Lectionary for 5/18/09

Today's readings are Numbers 8.5-26 and Luke 15.11-32.

In the parable of the Prodigal we see the young man doing something that many of us could stand to do more of.  Maybe you've noticed it, but I hadn't until it was pointed out in a book I read not too many months ago.  Recall that the young man forms a plan before starting on his way home.  He will express his repentance to his father and ask to be treated as a hired servant.  Fair enough.  As a plan, it's not a bad plan.  But what happens when he is face to face with his father?  Notice how his rehearsed speech stops in the middle.  He expresses his repentance, nothing more.  He proposes no plan.

When we think we have figured out what we'd like God to do for us and we start to pray, maybe we should consider leaving off our requests.  Maybe we should stop once we have repented.  Maybe asking God's forgiveness is quite enough.  We don't have to tell him how to create fame and fortune in us.  He knows better than we do what is right and good for us.

"I, a poor miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment.  But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor sinful being."

May we walk as forgiven people today.

Lectionary for 5/16/09

Today's readings are Leviticus 26.21-33, 39-44 and Luke 14.1-24.

I just make a quick observation today.  See in Leviticus how when God's people despise his covenant with them he will allow them to suffer for that attitude.  Yet at the same time we can see that the people have apparently been guilty of ignoring the sabbatical year commands for some time.  They have rejected God's command and yet he is first longsuffering, reminding them of their obligation.  Next he lets the people suffer for their sin, but even when they are enduring famine and being driven from their lands by enemies they are still God's special, protected people.  He never forgets his covenant and promises to them, no matter how much they are suffering the righteous penalty for their sin.

How great is God's love for his people.  He never forgets his love for them, even when they forget their love for him.

Lectionary for 5/14/09

Today's readings are Leviticus 24.1-23 and Luke 12.54-13.17.

Today we see the force of God's Law, at least some of the force of God's Law.  What jumps out from Leviticus 24?  Sin leads to penalty.  If you kill, you are killed.  If you steal, things are taken away from you.  If you do evil, you receive the same evil in return.  What could God be getting at in all this?  What is the divine design?

We can't begin to exhaust the wisdom of God, but sometimes we can get a pretty good idea of his intent.  One of the uses of the Law classified in the Reformation was that of a "curb."  God's Law is used, sometimes quite forcefully, to restrain evil.  Under real thread of retribution, even we sinful humans are less likely to let our sinful attitudes result in a great deal of overtly sinful behavior.  I may dislike someone without a cause, but I'm fairly unlikely to kill that person if I know the result will be that someone kills me.  I'm unlikely to steal money from my employer when I know my employer will take it back and then take just as much again from me.

There's a time and place for very strict laws which result in punishment for those who break the laws.  May the Lord work in our lawmakers and others to institute and enforce what is truly appropriate in the sight of God as they attempt to promote an orderly society.

Lectionary for 5/13/09

Today's readings are Leviticus 23.23-44 and Luke 12.35-53.

It isn't unusual to hear sermons about Luke 12 which tell Christians exactly what they must do if they do not want to be found as unworthy servants and be beaten in that last day.  We often end up beating ourselves up trying to figure out just how to be ready for our Lord's coming.  There are books upon books warning Christians of the judgment to come on those who are not expecting their Lord in just the right way.

But what are we to do, biblically, to expect the Lord's coming?  Are we not simply to take him at his word?  Are we not simply to carry on doing the same things we would normally carry on with in his presence?  When we have worked through the day serving the Lord what does he expect of us?  He expects us to go to sleep and rest, though knowing that he may come and wake us up to put us about some duty or another.  

What will happen, then, when the Lord comes?  First off, we won't sleep through it.  We read elsewhere that the Lord will come with a shout, the sound of a trumpet, and everyone will see him.  Our Lord can knock on the door quite loudly enough to wake any sleeping servant.  Amazing he doesn't knock the door down!  And how do we see the master coming home at a late hour from the wedding feast?  He comes home in a jolly mood.  He beats on the door with a champagne bottle, we open the door, he has us sit down at the table and he dresses up like a servant to serve us the same kind of goodies that he's had at the wedding feast!

Let us look forward with eager anticipation to the return of our Lord and master, who is coming to bless us in his home.

Lectionary for 5/12/09

Today's readings are Leviticus 23.1-22 and Luke 12.13-34.

We read today about some of the distinctions between the true God and false gods.  See in Leviticus the care that the true God has for his people as well as for "sojourners," those who are in proximity to God's chosen people but are not a part of their nation.  Our Lord cares that his people know all they have comes from the Lord.  See how the of the offerings the people present before the Lord some are given over entirely to the Lord and some are eaten and drunk before him.  See how God's people do not keep everything to themselves.  In fact, God's people don't own everything.  All they have comes from the Lord and is to be used according to his purposes.  This is why they care for the poor and sojourners by leaving food behind for them as well.

How has the Lord taken care of you today?  In what way has he provided your daily bread?  In what way is he using you to provide the daily bread for others?  What do we have to worry about?  What room is left for striving after more things, more security, more happiness?  If we are diligently doing what our Lord has appointed for us, will he not provide all we need in this life and an eternity of bliss with him?  Is there something else we were wanting?

Thanks be to God, who has provided all we need according to his heavenly riches.

Lectionary for 5/11/09

Today's readings are Leviticus 21.1-24 and Luke 12.1-12.

We read in Luke about the fact that we are not to be characterized by fear, other than fear of God.  For the believer, who can cause harm?  Who can assail us in a meaningful way, in a way which causes eternal harm?  Our Lord and Savior knows how to protect what he has purchased by his own blood.  He knows what is good for us.  And he knows all who would bring us grief.

So often in today's world we become entangled with the good things of our culture and society.  We become entrapped in cares about what we should eat, what we should drink, what we should wear, where we should live.  All this is important as a matter of daily concern.  But when we pray the Lord will give us our daily bread we can then rest in confidence that he will in fact take care of us.  We have no need to worry about it.  We have no need to worry about those who would attack us, rob us, deceive us, or attempt evil against us.  There is no evil in this world which can bring true harm to the Lord's people.  No, let us rather look to our Lord with fear and reverence.

 

Lectionary for 5/8/09

Today's readings are Leviticus 18.1-7, 20-19.8 and Luke 11.1-13.

In today's reading see how the Lord has appointed what is good for his people, not what will bring them evil.   The sexual morality which is laid out in Leviticus values appropriate relationships rather than simply forbidding relationships.  The way we are taught to pray in Luke gives us comfort that we can know what our Lord wants to do in our lives.  In fact, we are praying to the living god who loves his people and does delight in providing exactly what his people need.  He is not like the rest of us, evil fathers who would do something wrong.  Yet even we evil fathers by and large make decisions which are good for our children.  How much more does the heavenly Father care for his people?

Let us go in confidence, praying and knowing that our Lord will show us ever better how to pray.

Lectionary for 5/7/09

Today's readings are Leviticus 17.1-16 and Luke 10.23-42.

What is the summary of all the Law and prophets?  "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10.27, ESV).  Notice how the lawyer talking with Jesus skips right over the first and greatest command, pertaining to loving God.  He jumps right to what constitutes loving your neighbor.  Yet which one of us manages the first?  Who loves the Lord with all his heart, soul, strength, and mind?  None of us does this greatest command the Lord has given us.

Today's prayer from the Treasury of Daily Prayer is striking. It's found on p. 259.  "Lord Jesus Christ, in Your deep compassion You rescue us from whatever may hurt us.  Teach us to love You above all things and to love our neighbors as ourselves; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever."

Lectionary for 5/6/09

Today's readings are Leviticus 16.1-24 and Luke 10.1-22.

Our reading today follows very closely on the heels of yesterday's logically.  We have seen that the Lord gives his Gospel to be received with joy and communicated with charity.  Yet today we see that our Lord has provided a plan by which the Gospel is to be proclaimed, a way the word of salvation is to be spread through the world.  God has given very specific instruction in His Word to reveal himself adequately to this world.  And look at the power which the seventy-two experience in their obedience to the Lord.  Jesus has empowered them to bring his truth to the world.  And the Gospel itself is God's power.

May the Lord unleash his powerful Gospel, using us his people as faithful vessels of proclamation.  May our attention be focused on the Lord of the Gospel, not on the signs which accompany this faithful ministry of proclamation.  And may we have the Lord's desire for the salvation of our lost and dying world.

Lectionary for 5/5/09

Today has simply escaped from me.  I look at the clock and see that the day is almost over and no post is written about what I read this morning.  Well, here it goes.

Today's readings are Leviticus 10.1-20 and Luke 9.37-62.  We see the Lord giving gifts to be received responsibly and with rejoicing.  How, then, are we to receive those with whom we have theological disputes but who are engaged in proclamation of the Gospel?  This is a frequent issue in my life personally since I teach at a Christian school which has a very diverse population.  So how do we decide whether matters of the faith are of primary doctrinal importance or not?  Isn't it all important?

Without a doubt we should realize that the law of non-contradiction does hold.  There are issues in which to disagree indicates that in matters of life and salvation one party is decidedly wrong.  These are issues on which genuine believers should not budge.  This is one of the reasons I like the use of historic creeds and confessions.  They lay out the most critical matters of the faith.  Are there matters of disagreement which are important and are not dealt with specifically in the ecumenical creeds?  Certainly.  We need to be careful and exercise wise and charitable discernment.

Let us continue to look to our Lord and Savior who has given us this most precious Gospel by which we are saved.  Let us focus on him, the author and finisher of our faith.

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

Lectionary for 5/4/09

Today's readings are Leviticus 9.1-24 and Luke 9.18-36.

As I read today I noticed that the unifying feature of all reconciliation with God is death.  The soul who sins must die.  The faithful in Leviticus approached God with death and bloodshed.  Jesus calls his followers to die in order to follow him.  We take up our cross, that is, an instrument of death.  

In this Easter season, we remember not only the death of Jesus on our behalf, but his resurrection as the firstfruits of the new creation.  How are we going to be raised to new life if we are not dying?  How do we live except by first dying to ourselves, being crucified along with Christ?

Lord, give us a trust in your death on our behalf.  Give us a willingness to die to ourselves and to live to you.  Give us a living hope in the resurrection.

Lectionary for 5/3/09

Today's readings are Leviticus 8:1-13 and 30-36, and Luke 9.1-17.

We have opportunity today to consider God's provision for his people.  Observe that even in the offerings in Leviticus, the priests and the people making the offerings are not left out.  There are opportunities to eat from the offerings people give.  In fact, eating in the presence of God is quite an important theme in Leviticus.  Likewise in Luke's Gospel we see that the very disciples Jesus commands to provide for the hungry people receive their provision from the hand of Jesus and themselves partake of the food Jesus has provided as well.

Do we look to our Lord and Savior for all our provision?  When we pray the Lord will give us our daily bread do we actually expect that he will?  And are we thankful for all that he has given us?  Whatever we have comes from the hand of our Lord.  May we be faithful to give thanks and to rejoice as we enjoy the blessings he has prepared for us.

Lectionary for 5/2/09

Today's readings are Exodus 40.17-38 and Luke 8.40-56.

See today how the presence of God changes everything?  We have a tent of meeting and a tabernacle which is so filled with God's presence that nobody is able to go there.  Our Lord is a great and consuming fire.  What of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?  See how the second person of the Trinity, the man Jesus, the mediator God has provided between God and man, can be approached.  People crowd around him and receive his mercy and grace just by jostling him in the crowd.  And when Jesus goes to heal the little girl it doesn't matter how sick or dead she might be.  He heals her anyway.

What a Lord we have, who comes to us in our deadness and brings us life, who heals all our ills, who bears all our sins, and who allows us access to the Lord whom we could never approach otherwise.

Lectionary for 5/1/09

Today's readings are Exodus 39.32-40.16 and Luke 8.22-39.

After spending several days not being able to resist talking about Luke (my favorite of the four Evangelists), I think I should turn my attention back to the principles our Lord is unfolding in Exodus.

Many people expend tremendous amounts of time and effort explaining all the symbolism of the tabernacle, the altar, the arrangement of the furnishings, the nature of the sacrifices, and showing how they all point to Christ.  While this is not at all wasted effort, I would propose that there may be more to gain by fixing our eyes and our mind on this one overriding principle.  God, in Scripture, has provided a means of salvation.  It is a means which man would not have invented on his own.  It works according to God's plan and his plan alone.  And while it is not something we would have dreamed up, it uses very concrete elements.  God had his people prepare a tabernacle where they could meet with Him.  The people were not to meet their God on their own terms, but on his terms.  And the meeting of God and man is always one of reverence, realization of the power and holiness of God, confession of the sinfulness of man, and expression of the fact that sin brings death.

Likewise, as we meet our Lord and Savior we meet him according to his own rules.  We see that we are dead in trespasses and sins.  We see that the cure for sin is death, and that our death isn't adequate.  We see that it is only through the death and resurrection of Christ that  sin is atoned for and that God will accept us as his people.

Lord, may we never despise your plan.  May the desire of your heart, the salvation of your people through the blood of Christ, be that which we desire as well, in accordance with your mercy and grace.  Amen.

Lectionary for 4/30/09

Today's readings are Exodus 38.29-39.8, Exodus 39.22-23, Exodus 39.27-31, and Luke 8.1-21.

We would be remiss if we didn't consider this very important parable of the soils at least once in each year's readings.  Look with me at the mighty power of God's Word.  See how the Word of God has been scattered, seemingly indistriminately, throughout the whole world.  Jesus Christ has come to give his life as a ransom for the world.  There is no part of the world in this parable which is not covered by the living Word of God.  See how the Word, of its own accord, accomplishes its purpose.  It acts as seed will naturally act.  It doesn't matter what kind of soil you provide for the seed.  If it is put down somewhere and watered, it will germinate.  It may die quickly, but it will do its work of germination.  Jesus, the living Word of God, is sprouting everywhere.  Even Satan's attempts to destroy the Word are ultimately unfruitful.  Birds, after all, are well known for carrying seed and planting it elsewhere.

Do we want to bring Jesus to our lost and dying world?  We are too late.  Jesus has already come to our world.  Let us rather proclaim his presence, his redemptive work, the mighty power of this living Word of God, praying that he will take root and bear a fruitful crop in those to whom we proclaim his presence.

Lectionary for 4/29/09

Today's readings are Exodus 34.29-35.21 and Luke 7.36-50.

The narrative we read today in Luke's Gospel is easily and often misinterpreted.  I'd like to make a few observations about it.  Yes, the misinterpretations I cite are misinterpretations of which I am certainly guilty.

Maybe we understand from this passage that Simon the Pharisee was righteous so he had no need to repent.  This cannot be.  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Jesus mentions some of Simon's sins as e commends the unnamed woman.  It does not matter who we are, whether we are very scrupulous in our religious life and observance or not.  We are all sinners by nature, and we do not need to look very far to see our sin.

Maybe we understand from this passage that the woman was really in need of repentance and forgiveness in an exceptional way.  This is true, but when we look at the passage in that way we may be quick to assume that we, as opposed to the woman who must have acted in some heinous manner, have less need for repentance.  Back to my former paragraph.  We all have need for repentance.

Maybe we understand this passage to teach that the woman is forgiven because she is weeping, anointing Jesus' feet, and showing her love for Jesus.  This is not so.  The logic of Jesus' statements is quite the opposite.  The woman is weeping, anointing Jesus' feet, and showing her love for Jesus because she has been forgiven.  It is, in fact, the mercy of God applied to our lives which brings us to repentance and expressions of love to Christ, not vice versa.

Maybe we assume that if we are not constantly tearful before our Lord we are not truly forgiven.  Yet we need only look at the greater context of Scripture to see that there are many people whom Jesus has forgiven who don't spend all their time mourning.  The mourning and weeping has its appropriate time.  And there is an appropriate time for walking in joy and confidence before our Lord and Savior.  Different people will express themselves in different ways.  The outward emotional expression is not an accurate measure of spirituality.

Maybe we assume that Simon was left unrepentant and unforgiven.  We are not told that.  Many times seeing God's mercy on one person will be the instrument the Holy Spirit uses to draw others to Christ and show his mercy to them as well.

Have we seen the forgiveness of Christ?  Let us then turn to our Lord and Savior.  Let us give him the kiss of greeting, wash his feet, anoint his head with oil, and rejoice in his presence.  Having been loved much, let us likewise love our Lord.

Lectionary for 4/28/09

Today's readings are Exodus 34.1-28 and Luke 7:18-35.

One of the key issues in today's reading, and, I think, in Western Christianity of this day and age, is the issue of presumption.  Not the presumption by which I presume that I am deserving, or by which I assume that something good ought to happen even in response to my bad decisions.  I'm thinking of logical presumption.  We recall, for instance, that in a court of law the accused is presumed innocent until proven otherwise.  It's this issue of presumption which strikes me in today's reading.

What is the presumption made here?  It is that the Lord is true, that he is supernatural, and that he in fact is the mighty creator, sustainer, and redeemer of the world.  That's the presumption of the Bible.  Yet if we walk into almost any gathering of Christians, we see a different presumption in operation.  We see that God's Word must be proven, that Jesus isn't the savior unless we believe he is, that we need to persuade people of sin and salvation in order for sin and salvation to be true.

Let God be true and every man a liar!  Restore the presumption which the Bible takes!  Know that the Lord is God, there is no other!

Lectionary for 4/27/09

Today's readings are Exodus 33.1-23 and Luke 7.1-17.

I read an article in Newsweek recently, talking about how young people today do consider themselves self-centered and assume that it is just fine to be so.  Indeed we seem to be in a culture which has spent some years simultaneously exalting the individual and urging people to enter into service to others.  The whole affair seems kind of schizophrenic, but there we have it.  That's what we have.  In some way we seem to be intent on exalting ourselves as good people in every way.  At the same time we do honor those who are dedicated to doing good for others and who put their own self-interest on hold in order to serve the common good.

We see something akin to this in Luke 7 when we read about the centurion.  The Jewish leaders say he is worthy.  He is a good man.  He enters into community service.  He has helped us, now he is in need, so he should receive help himself.  I hope people would say this about me.  In fact, I doubt there are many well-adjusted people who wouldn't be pleased to be known as those who are worthy of kindness when they are in need.  And doubtless we can think of many people whom we think worthy of help and support.  Jesus makes no move to contradict the opinion given him by the Jewish leaders.  "Sure, sounds like someone who needs help.  Let's go!"  What is the centurion's reaction?  He knows who is coming.  Despite the fact that he really does want help and is unable to deal with the situation in a pleasing way on his own, he requests that Jesus not come into his house.  He is not worthy to have Jesus come and attend to his servant.

Do we see ourselves the way the centurion does?  When we see God's provision do we stand back and wonder, knowing that we are not worthy of divine providence but that God has chosen of his own accord to bless us? If we do, then we begin to see God's great love for us even more.  We confess that we are not worthy, that we are sinners who are in need of a savior and who have never done anything to deserve such salvation.  Then God's wonders are even more exalted in our understanding.

May the Lord make us see him clearly in all his kindness and mercy.

Lectionary for 4/23/09

Today's readings are Exodus 25.1-22 and Luke 5.17-39.

Today we see God's tabernacle in Israel as well as Jesus, God dwelling among us.  Here we are brought face to face with the fact that God has chosen to visit his people in every age.  As he came to walk with Adam in the garden, so he comes to show himself in glory as the provider of forgiveness in the tabernacle.  Likewise he has come in the person of Jesus Christ to dwell among sinful men.  And in these days of Easter which we celebrate, we see that Jesus, after the resurrection, continued to be with his people.  Since the ascension Jesus has come to be with his people wherever they may be scattered, as he is present by the Holy Spirit in Word and Sacraments.

In the final analysis, the only way of getting away from God's presence is to die in unbelief.  May the Lord create in us a living faith, a desire to dwell in his courts, and a loving fellowship with this redeemer who visits us with his mercy.

Lectionary for 4/20/2009

Today's readings are Exodus 22.20-23.13 and Luke 4.16-30.

Yesterday our Exodus passage contained the Ten Commandments, typically seen as God's summary of all the commands.  Today notice how God applies a number of those commands.  We can find this message in a nutshell in verses 20-21 of chapter 22.  We are to love only the true God as God and we are to serve our neighbors out of love.  God goes on to apply the commands in multiple ways throughout out reading.

How far afield are we to go in our love for our neighbors?  Who is our neighbor?  When we turn to our New Testament reading we see that Jesus is asnswering this very question by pointing out that God cared for various people who were not of national Israel.  These were the people God poured out his blessing upon, a widow in Zarephath, a leper from Syria.  This message filled Jesus' hearers with such anger they tried to kill him.  Why would that be?  

It is very easy for us to assume our neighbors whom we are to love are those people who are just like us, those people who are socially acceptable, who fit into "good society" and who we find it easy to get along with.  Those are the people we would gravitate to love and serve.  But our Lord makes it clear that while we love and serve those people, we are also to love and serve our neighbors to whom we would not naturally gravitate.  In Christ I am called to care for the people I don't particularly like, as well as those I really like a lot.  It's not a matter of seeking out those who are similar to me.  For that matter, it is not a matter of seeking out those who are dissimilar to me.  It's a matter of loving our neighbor, whoever that neighbor happens to be.

Let us go forth today, loving our neighbor.

I'll be on the road for a couple of days, loving some neighbors who are far away.  I'm going to try to figure out how to have some posts happen automatically.

Lectionary for 4/18/09

Today's readings are Exodus 19.1-25 and Hebrews 13.1-21.

Hebrews 13.14 (ESV) says, "For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come."    I'll be going to a funeral of a very elderly relative in the upcoming week.  What is our response to the fact that people die?  We do, of course, confess that death is a bad thing.  It's the wrenching apart of body and soul, and is the result of sin.  Yet we also confess that after death the soul is restored to a body in the bodily resurrection, both the resurrection to heavenly bliss and the resurrection of damnation.  In each case there is a bodily resurrection and the body and soul will be reunited.  But earthly life is over.  Death, in fact, is a reminder of the fact that this earthly life is in no way all there is.  It is a reminder that we do not have a lasting city here.  So how do we respond when someone dies?  Of course we are sad.  We are sorry for the fact that that person will not be there for loved ones.  Hopefully we look back on the person's life fondly.  We remember the fact that earthly death is the result of Adam's sin and the curse which he brought on the world.  We realize we also are subject to the curse.  We look to the facts of Jesus' perfect life, death, and resurrection on our behalf, and we look in faith, believing that Jesus is the resurrection and the life.  We look to an eternal home.  And if we are looking to an eternal home through eyes of faith in Jesus' work on our behalf, we look to a blessed eternity.

This earthly life is not all there is.  Let us look forward by faith in Christ to a resurrection of blessing.

Lectionary for 4/17/09

Today's readings are Ex. 18.5-27 and Heb. 12.1-24.

I wonder today how many people have felt overworked in life and ministry.  I expect there are plenty who have.  No doubt Moses felt the same way, judging problems and struggles among the people of Israel all day, day after day.  In this fallen world there is plenty of strife and confusion.  After all, what are sinners especially good at doing?  Sinning against one another.  In the life of the Church, we can expect, day after day, that we will sin against others and that they will sin against us.  

What relief do we have for this condition?  we have a great promise of relief in every way.  We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses to God's provision.  We are given leaders within the body of Christ, undersheperds who serve Christ to strengthen the flock, to proclaim forgiveness and grace, to exhort us into righteousness.  And most of all, we have a promise of an enduring kingdom.

In thanksgiving to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, "let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12.28b-29, ESV).

Lectionary for 4/14/09

Today's readings are Exodus 15.19-16.12 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Ex.+15.19-16.12 ) and Hebrews 10.1-18 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Heb.+10.1-18 ).

 

In today's reading we see how quickly the people of Israel are to grumble against God.  He has rescued them from a marauding army.  He has provided them with food and drink.  He has promised to continue providing them with what they need.  And the people of Israel quickly begin grumbling and distrusting God again.  These ancient people of Israel are not so much different from us.  We see God's hand of provision and we immediately start to think that things will be bad again.  We see God's care for us and claim the glory for ourselves.  We see the good surrounding us in our world and look as carefully as we can for the evil.  We see the silver lining and curse the cloud.

 

What is our Lord to do about us?  He makes a covenant with the people.  Look how one-side the covenant is.  God says, "I will provide what the people need.  I'll show them that I will take care of them.  They will see it is from me when they follow the directions I give them."  It doesn't seem to require much of the people, right?  Of course, we will see when we read on that the people don't manage to follow the directions. 

 

So what can the Lord do to bless his people?  We see Jesus enter into the scene.  Here Jesus comes in Hebrews, making an offering for sin, once for all, wrapping up that sin problem for good.  He fulfills God's law since we aren't going to do it.  He makes God's covenant of blessing even more one-sided than it was before.  God says someone needs to fulfill the law and atone for sin.  Someone needs to obey.  Someone needs to live in perfect righteousness and die for sin.  No descendant of the first Adam could or would.  So God the Son chooses to do it for us.  Someone has in fact done what it takes for God to deliver his matchless and boundless blessing to mankind. 

 

What are we to do about this?  There's nothing we can accomplish.  It's all done for us.  It is ours only to look, wonder, believe, and receive the repentance and forgiveness our Lord has provided for us.

 

Lectionary for 4/12/09

Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!

I've had difficulty posting lately due to some health issues which have interfered with nearly all areas of life.  Last time I posted I thought I was well recovered, only to find I was quite mistaken.  This time?  May the Lord raise me up for now, as well as on the last day, in the power of his own resurrection.

Today's readings are Exodus 15.1-18 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Ex.+15.1-18 ) and Hebrews 9.1-28 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Heb.+9.1-28 ).

In today's reading we see that God will in fact judge his enemies, trampling and destroying them.  God is a God of vengeance and retribution.  He repays evil by destroying it.  He hates sin, and in his hatred of sin the sinner bears the penalty for his sin.  No, there is no element of loving the sinner but hating the sin as we read today's lesson.  God hates the sin.  And both sin and sinner are destroyed in God's all-consuming wrath.

What is the gospel promise then?  What hope do we have?  See how Jesus, who became sin for us, bore the penalty for all our sin as he was destroyed physically and forsaken by God the Father.  He himself has become the offering for the sin of the world.  He has been subject to the full force of the wrath of God.  And this is of  his own accord, from his love not for sinners, but for those he proclaims righteous through his sacrifice on their behalf.  The sinner is destroyed.  That is Jesus, who became sin for us.  The righteous one stands.  That is us, the righteousness of God in Christ.

In this time immediately after Easter, let us rejoice to see the provision Christ has made.  He is risen.  And we who have been baptized into him, by faith are raised to newness of life with him, to live as his righteousness, his pure and holy people in this world.  That's how Jesus loved the world.  He gave himself so that we would not perish.  

Lectionary for 4/1/09

Today's readings are Exodus 4.1-18 and Mark 15.1-15.

Today's reading in Exodus points out the tremendous difference between God's call and man's opinion.  Man's opinion of himself ultimately fails to grasp God's plan.  But in God's mercy he can take our weakness and work through it to accomplish his purpose.

 Moses firmly represents man's opinion.  Maybe he represents us.  We have some natural abilities, some talents, some training, and we may recognize some areas in which we think the Lord has given us special gifts.  This is well and good.  There are some things I can do that you can't do.  There are some things you can do that I can't.  All the members of the body are valuable and serve their purpose, then the body is complete.  Yet when he encounters God, Moses runs to the end of his abilities.  How does he react?  He reacts very much like you and I react.  The Lord gives him a specific task to do, one which he knows he is not prepared for, which he is not well suited for at his best, and which will not be received well.  So Moses essentially refuses the task.

How many times have we been looking at our abilities then looked at Scripture or looked around us at the need in this world and concluded that we simply aren't fit to do the tasks which our Lord has placed before us?  We then often quietly shrug our shoulders and walk away from the opportunity our Lord has given us to bring him glory and honor.  We'd rather live the life of a successful (popular, victorious, you pick the adjective) Christian than try to do something which is destined to fail.  So we live a life of things not accomplished, choosing to work in the small realm in which we feel comfortable.

What was God's perspective on the whole situation with Moses?  God has a job to do. He knows exactly how he wishes to accomplish it.  In fact, since God is timeless, he knows exactly how he does accomplish it.  He knows the dynamic going on with Moses, as well as with Aaron, Pharaoh, and all the countless other actors and spectators.  When Moses confesses his inability, it would have been just as simple and straightforward for God to say, "You know, Moses, you're right.  You aren't the person who can accomplish this.  And since you refuse, I'll choose someone else who also can't accomplish it and do it through that person."  But the Lord didn't do that.  He persisted with Moses, lovingly allowing Moses to be confronted with his own inability and with God's great ability.  

In the final analysis, whatever we do is not done by us, but is done by God working through us.  As we serve the Lord, loving our neighbor as ourself, let us always be mindful that this is our Lord working in and through us.  May we be sensitive to his calling, never fearful of our own inability, but confessing that our inabilty is yet another opportunity for us to show God's great power.

Lectionary for 3/31/09

Trying to get posts moving again . . . 

Today's readings are Exodus 2.23-3.22 and 

In our Exodus reading we see God's lovingkindness and care for his people.  Look how in today's reading our Lord knows the struggles of his people.  He is mindful of our trials even before we complain.  He has a plan to deliver his people from their trials.  And he works in that plan through human, earthly means, such as Moses, Aaron, and even the Egyptian oppressors who will provide money and clothing for the people of Israel in their departure from Egypt.

As I am writing this I am striving to resurrect this blog.  I've hardly posted recently due to some severe trials which I have been undergoing.  So there's some personal encouragement that I take from reading and reflecting on God's care for his people who are in difficult circumstances.  Sometimes we may be tempted to question whether the Lord is really for us.  Sometimes we may be tempted to question if he knows our trials.  Sometimes we may wonder if the seemingly little means of grace God has provided in our life are adequate.  We would like our Lord to come in majesty and power, wiping out those obstacles and exalting us to his right hand in glory.

Like it or not, God more often works through someone like Moses, a hot-tempered guy with a speech impediment who walks around looking ragged and smelling like sheep.  Come to think of it, maybe he works through someone like each of us.

Lord, may we be your instruments of mercy, grace, and deliverance to your people.  Work in and through us.  Rescue your people.  Show us the riches of your true salvation.

Lectionary for 3/26/09

Hopefully we're back on an even keel after some travel and some illness.

Today's readings are Genesis 45.1-20, 24-28 and Mark 13.1-23.

When Joseph reveals himself to his brothers he makes a bold statement.  Look again at verse 5b (ESV), "God sent me before you to preserve life."  Joseph shows all the signs of forgiving his brothers for their sin against him.  he shows all the signs of understanding that he is an instrument of God's mercy.

We often have instances where people sin against us.  We pay the consequences for someone else's sin.  And we don't like that.  It's wrong.  It's very bad.  Yet it happens time after time.  We look at Joseph and see that his life seemed to be ruined by the sin of his brothers.  But in fact his elevation was prepared by his brothers as well.  God took what was evil and worked it for good in Joseph and in the lives of many others.  This passage of Scripture reminds us that we are to forgive when we are sinned against.  We are to see ourselves as instruments in God's hands accomplishing his purpose.

There are two very important issues I still wish to mention.  First, I look at this passage of Scripture and I say, "Fine, Joseph had years and years to get over the fact that his brothers were trying to get rid of him.  Maybe I can bear a grudge for a while then let it go later."  In fact, we don't know how soon Joseph's attitude changed.  God doesn't tell us.  So we would only be speculating to say it took a long time for Joseph to get over it.  Second, Joseph was not able to look back through history at Jesus, the one who was sinned against and did not retaliate, te one who bore the penalty for Joseph's sin, bringing reconciliation between God and man.

We find ourselves sinned against frequently.  Day after day, we pay the penalty for someone else's sin, whether in a small way by picking up the piece of trash someone threw from a car window into our yard or in a bigger way by having our life changed due to other people's foolish decisions.  When we are tempted to grumble about bearing with other people's weakness and sin, let us look to our Lord and Savior who bore our weakness and sin. 

May the Lord turn our sorrow into rejoicing, our mourning into laughter, our hunger into feasting, as he works in us his purpose and plan.

Lectionary for 3/17/09

Today's readings are Genesis 35.1-29 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Ge.+35.1-29 ) and Mark 9.33-50 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mark+9.33-50 ).

 

Reading in Mark 9 today I'm struck by how much temptation there is to sin.  My question is whether we add temptation to sin when we enter into interactions with other people.  Do we add it to ourselves?  More importantly, do we add temptation to sin to others?  Of course, we could bind ourselves by a law that says when we are around someone who is tempted to sin we have caused it and we are thus responsible for the sin of others.  That isn't right.  Yet how many times we surely add to people's sin!  Are we impatient?  Do we spur them to grumble and complain?  Do we give people reason to be discontented in some area?  Do we influence people to rebel against the authority God has placed them under? 

 

Lord, it isn't even breakfast time yet.  I've been awake under an hour today.  Yet I see my tendency to sin, my desire to sin, and my ability to spur others in that direction.  I confess that my sin is always before me and that it rises before you as an offense.  Grant your cleansing and forgiveness, your healing and grace.  I pray you will use me this day to spur others to righteousness, not to offense.  Amen.

 

 

Lectionary for 3/16/09

Today's readings are Genesis 29.1-30 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Gen.+29.1-30 ) and Mark 9.14-32 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mark+9.14-32 ).

 

At the very beginning of our reading in Mark today we see that there is an argument going on.  The scribes seem to be arguing either with the disciples or with a crowd of people who are around or with a father who brought a child to Jesus and the disciples.  We don't know the exact content of the argument.  But notice it does not appear to be an argument between the disciples and the father.

 

What kind of arguments happen around the Church?  We are committed to doctrinal purity.  Fine.  Whose version of doctrinal purity?  When there is a controversy, when one group of believers is acting in a way that another group doesn't quite agree with, look how we react.  All too often we over-react in one of two ways.  We may decide that doctrine is a secondary matter so we don't pursue an understanding of Scripture in which we can say one thing is definitively right and another is definitively wrong.  On the other end of the spectrume we may pursue such a rigid theology, making issues in which historically many believing Christians have disagreed and proven their points of view well using Scripture into issues which divide us to the point of proclaiming someone a heretic.

 

What is Jesus' response to the argument which is raging when he arrives?  He heals the child.  End of agrument.  What are those arguments we are going to engage in today?  What happens to those arguments when we see Jesus actively at work, saving and preserving his people? 

 

Lord, work among your people today.  Let us be one in you.  "I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church."  Amen.

Lectionary for 3/13/09

Today's readings are Genesis 24.32-52 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Gen.+24.32-52 ), Genesis 24.61-67 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Gen.+24.61-67 ), and Mark 8.1-21 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mark+8.1-21 ).

 

It's fitting, at least to me, that today our reading in Genesis is about Rebekah going to marry Isaac.  If you've been reading this blog for a while you will know that I rarely talk about personal events.  But here's one that fits.  Some time ago a young man contacted me wanting to build a relationship which could ultimately lead  toward marriage with my daughter (who still is my baby girl though she will be 19 soon).  Today my daughter is going to visit with his family for about a week.  I think of how Laban may have felt.  His daughter was going to a family he could trust.  They were part of his clan.  But his little girl was going away from his household.  Instead of marrying someone who lived a mile or two away she was going to a place where he might never see her again (not like my daughter). 

Today it seems popular to bash the idea of arranged marriages and courtship.  In fact, it seems odd to many in our society that anyone would get married at a relatively young age and expect to spend a long adulthood growing together, having children, and centering interests around the family and community.  People seem to want their children to become older, more set in their ways, have time to grow in selfishness and their careers before deciding if they want to settle down in marriage.  And to suggest that parents have any influence in the person someone might marry is almost like suggesting you want to lay seige against the local community college and make it into a prison camp.

Look at the loving way negotiations, for that is what they are, take place over Rebekah.  The trusted slave is sent to bring back a bride.  He trusts that the Lord will provide him with the right bride for his master.  He looks for the woman of appropriate character to match his master, someone who is willing to come, someone who is willing to serve in the family.  He talks with her father and makes the arrangements clear.  The father confirms with his daughter that she wants to get married to this master, living far away.  He gives time for her to be sure.  And when Rebekah gets to her new home the servant points out Isaac, who marries her, loves her, and is comforted by her.  This doesn't sound like some sort of forcible kidnapping or marriage by shotgun.  It sounds much more like the careful and loving intervention of those who are older and more experienced, helping the young people find appropriate marriage partners.

What a good and gentle Lord we have, who draws his people to himself for protection and nurture, for we see that we, the Church, are the bride of Christ.  He has made his purposes clear.  He has called poeple to himself.  We respond in love because he gives us a love for him.  He receives us and cares for us.

 

Lectionary for 3/11/09

Today's readings are Genesis 22.1-19 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Gen.+22.1-19 ) and Mark 7.1-23 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mark+7.1-23 ).

 

There are so many places we could go with today's reading!  I suppose that's true of any day.  But several are jumping out at me.  I think the one I will land on will be the washings that Jesus talks about.  Let's notice a few important issues Jesus brings up in Mark 7.

First, there are lots of different special washings.  The words used here denote special ceremonial purifications, including "baptizing couches."  The terminology isn't just that of getting something wet.  Jesus uses the "baptizein" word, always used in the New Testament to denote a washing with ceremonial importance and effectiveness.  For a sense of contrast, at the Last Supper, when Jesus dunks the piece of bread in the wine, he uses the word "baptein" which does not have that importance, but merely denotes dipping.  But here the emphasis is on washings which do accomplish purification.

What does Jesus say about those washings, special offerings, special prayers?  He says that they are nothing apart from faith.  They are nothing when they are continued in disobedience to God's word.  They are nothing when they are shown by disbelief to be things which don't matter.

God has given us concrete things to do.  He has given us baptism, he has given us communion.  These are mighty sacraments.  They are effective.  They have ceremonial importance and effectiveness.  Yet through our disbelief, through our treating them as something common, through our assumption that they are something we do which is of only symbolic importance or of no importance at all, we defile them.  We make them ineffective.  We show that what comes out of a man is what defiles him.  We bring forth unbelief and therefore are able to make the promise of God have no effect.  Let it never be.

Do you doubt God's forgiving work?  Look to your baptism.  You have been washed, and it was not of yourself.  It was of God's command, according to his promise.  Do you doubt Christ's love for you?  Approach the communion and realize Christ's words that his body and blood are given for you.  This is the reality which our Lord has proclaimed.  It is ours to receive it with thanksgiving and praise.

Lectionary for 3/10/09

Today's readings are Genesis 21.1-21 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Gen.+21.1-21 ) and Mark 6.35-56 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mark+6.35-56 ).

 

How many of us actually understand what the Lord is doing in redeeming the world to himself?  I would observe that none of us understands.  We have in today's readings examples of people who don't understand what God is doing.  Abraham doesn't understand how the care God has lavished on Ishmael fits into the plan, especially now that there is Isaac, the child of promise.  The disciples don't understand that Jesus can and will feed the people who are gathered around him.  They also don't understand Jesus' way of crossing the lake.  The people who flock to Jesus don't understand that he is providing them with what they need eternally.  They like the food so they come.

 

How we are like these people.  Our Lord and Savior is redeeming the world to himself by doing what we don't understand - dying for sin, having people baptized into his name, feeding them true bread and true drink which does not perish.  We substitute our own plans, our ideas of what Jesus must mean, our impressions of which people Jesus really came for and which he did not.  We are stubbornly unwilling to let God's plan be God's plan.

 

Lord, grant us a spirit of repentance.  As you have said, let it be.  May we rejoice in the works of your hands.

 

 

Lectionary for 3/9/09

Today's readings are Genesis 16.1-9 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Gen.+16.1-9 ), Genesis 16.15-17.22 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Gen.+16.15-17.22 ), and Mark 6.1-13 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mark+6.1-13 ).

 

We read today about God's great care for those who reject him, the people who are not of promise.  See how Ishmael, not the child of promise, is given a promise out of the Lord's great mercy and grace.  This child who was born of strife, born of man's plan to bring an heir rather than God's plan to bring an heir.  He is the child of human striving, bringing salvation by works, not by grace through faith.  Let us however stop and consider for a moment whether we act like children of God's promise or children of man's striving.  Do we in fact try to work out our own salvation?  Do we try to earn sufficient merit to be counted as worthy of God's favor?  Do we even think in our hearts that we are good people and deserving of God's favor in Christ?  Are we like the people Mark talks about, people who take Jesus for granted, who deny his power, his authority, his divinity?  Do we in fact despise and reject him, showing a preference for our own plan and our own goodness?  We confess that this should never be the case but we must realize that it is all to frequently exactly the way we consider our Lord. 

 

What love the Father has shown, that we should be called children of God, adopted according to his promises, not through our own works but by belief in the righteousness of Christ for us.  May we ever live in light of this love, realizing that all else is nothing but God's common grace shed on a sinful world, even the grace he shows to Ishmael, the child of human effort.

 

 

 

Lectionary for 3/3/09

Today's readings are Genesis 711-8.12 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Genesis+7.11-8.12 ) and Mark 3.20-35 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mark+3.20-35 ).

Two things strike me in today's readings.  First, the ark of safety in which Noah and his family are preserved.  The whole world is taken but Noah, his family, and the animals are left behind, in a vessel which only God can steer, preserved by the hand of God.  Is it any wonder that in historical church building design people sit in the "nave" (Latin for "ship") and look all together toward the area where they celebrate communion with the one who gave himself for the Church?  Is it any wonder that this Church is seen as an ark of safety?  The second thing that strikes me is the high opinion Jesus has of those who believe on him.  Those who believe on him are his mother, his sisters, and his brother.  He will call no man "father" and it appears that Joseph is gone by the time Jesus is an adult.  What an honor to have your Lord and Savior look upon you and call you his brother, his sister, even his mother.  He has brought us into this safe community, gathered in him, as one family.

Lord, guide your people this day.  Continue to give us the perfect safety in life and salvation you have shown us before and which you have promised us.

Lectionary for 3/2/09

Today's readings are Genesis 6.1-7.5 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Gen.+6.1-7.5 ) and Mark 3.1-19 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mark+3.1-19 ).

What is the right time to protect people?  When is the time for healing?  When do we preserve life?  In Mark 3.4 Jesus points out that it is always the right time to heal, preserve life, and do good.  Today's political climate, at least in the United States and apparently in many other parts of the world, values death over life.  Our governments pass legislation which encourages people to end their lives when they are no longer perceived as useful to society.  Our governments would tell us that the unborn do not have human rights, nor do the very young children, the weak, the disabled.  We hear of the ending of human life as a cost-saving measure.  This ought not to be.  It is not time to save money by harming people.  It is always time to save people by doing good.

Lord, I have no idea what opportunities you will place before me today, opportunities to build up or to tear down, to harm or to heal, even to kill or preserve life.  Remind me, Lord, how you, in giving your life so we might life, valued human life.  Give me your heart, your mind, your priorities.  Amen.

Lectionary for 3/1/09

Before entering the reading, as I go through a computer transition in the next couple of weeks I may not be posting as frequently.  I hope we can all keep up with Scripture reading as we work our way through this Lenten season.

Today's readings are Genesis 4.1-26 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Gen.+4.1-26 ) and Mark 2.18-28 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mark+2.18-28 ).

People often ask where all the people came from for these cities which are founded in Genesis 4.  I want to make just a few quick observations.

1)  We need to assume that here, as everywhere, the Bible is not completely exhaustive in its genealogies.  We can assume that Adam and Eve continued having children other than those who are mentioned.

2)  Genetic problems are not always immediately caused by family members marrying one another.  We need to assume that these earliest people married people who were close relatives, as there were not other people to marry

3)  Often when we think of a city we think of a very large number of people.   This was not the typical view throughout antiquity.  Think of a city as a group of a few married couples and their offspring.  As people reach an age when they can marry, considering that people were fruitful as God had ordained, the families and cities grow rapidly.  

4) Recall that a woman will typically bear children for about 20-30 years.  And recall the kind of life spans people seem to have had near the beginning of Genesis.  The life spans were quite long.  This may indicate that the childbearing years were likewise quite a bit longer than they are now.

Once there was not such urgency to populate the world, and as the family trees spread, God instructed people not to marry their closest relatives.  By the end of Adam and Eve's lifetime there was a fairly wide spread of different generations and a wide variety of people to marry.

Once again we see God active in making provision that people could fulfill his command to populate the world.