31 January 2018 - astonishing

Today's Readings (Audio)

When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished. 

When we are astonished at what Jesus tells us do we try to downplay it?

Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? 

Do we try to excuse ourselves from the full implications of his words?

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil (see John 3:19).

We are invited to step into the light that the words of Jesus shine into our hearts. We must be like David, willing to have the problems of our lives exposed to God. We must be honest with the LORD for him to heal us. We must not run from him. We must not seek to justify ourselves in our own eyes.

Afterward, however, David regretted having numbered the people,
and said to the LORD:
"I have sinned grievously in what I have done.
But now, LORD, forgive the guilt of your servant,
for I have been very foolish."

This honesty honors the LORD who judges justly. It frees him to do the mighty deeds he desires to do in our hearts.

So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,
apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.

The LORD preaches hope to us. But we tend to hear condemnation wherever change is required of us. We really want to hold on to our idols even though it is those very idols that cause our deepest pain. Let us welcome the LORD. Let us hear him with fresh ears, ready to listen to whatever he tells us, knowing that it is for our good.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, "I confess my faults to the LORD,"
and you took away the guilt of my sin.

30 January 2018 - hope beyond this age

Today's Readings (Audio)

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.
She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors
and had spent all that she had.
Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.

We must never give up on Jesus. We must believe that he wills our good even when twelve years of our life seem to prove otherwise. What if today is the day Jesus is passing by? What if we'll have the opportunity to touch his garment and receive his power at any moment? Our faith and hope must stay alive or he will pass by without releasing his power. We must believe that the truth of the healing power of Jesus is greater than whatever present circumstance afflicts us.

The child is not dead but asleep."
And they ridiculed him.

The LORD can raise us up. He desires to say to us, "Talitha koum," and "I say to you, arise!" But we have to believe for it. We have to hope for it. We have to at least be willing to touch Jesus when he passes by. We should welcome him into our houses even when hope some lost and despair consumes us. We walk by faith, not by sight. Delays and impossible circumstances, to us, should merely be opportunities to exercise our faith (and by necessity so too our patience) and our hope. They should not be occasions of despair because with God all things are possible.

God wants to heal us even though we don't deserve it. Even while we are enemies Christ loves us and gives his life for us. We don't need to think twice about whether we deserve it before we believe for a miracle. We don't deserve it. But he delights to do it nonetheless. Even more than David wished he could give new life to his rebellious son Absalom does God wish to give sinners new life in the Spirit.

"My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom!
If only I had died instead of you,
Absalom, my son, my son!"

In fact, Jesus does die in our stead, to give us his own life. What confidence this should inspire! How can we limit our hope when we know this is true?

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.

29 January 2018 - mercy met

Today's Readings (Audio)

What do we do when we are afflicted?

"Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?
Let me go over, please, and lop off his head."

Do we respond with pride and entitlement? Or do we show the humility of David?

Let him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.
Perhaps the LORD will look upon my affliction
and make it up to me with benefits
for the curses he is uttering this day.

David has come to terms with his own brokenness. But he hasn't given up on the LORD. It is a genuine blessing to our have our egos realize that they aren't all powerful. They can make mistakes and they can't control circumstances. Knowing this allows us to rely more completely on the LORD. It is entirely possible that the man from the tombs with unclean spirits lived in such a way as to open himself to those spirits. In any case, he certainly was not so perfect as to deserve anything from God. Yet Jesus nevertheless healed him. He had compassion which the man could not deserve. This is called mercy. 

As they approached Jesus,
they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion,
sitting there clothed and in his right mind.
And they were seized with fear.

David, too, realized there was nothing left for him but mercy. Insisting on his own way had entirely failed him. Let us learn to trust in the mercy of God without having to learn the hard ways that David and the man from the tombs had to learn. If we ask Jesus to help us surrender our pride and come to him for all that we need, not because we deserve it, but because he loves us, we will experience the complete transformation his mercy can bring.

When I lie down in sleep,
I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.
I fear not the myriads of people
arrayed against me on every side.

28 January 2018 - words of power

Today's Readings (Audio)

A prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you
from among your own kin;
to him you shall listen.

Jesus is the one raised up for us to speak the to us all that the Father commands him. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one knows the Father except Jesus and those to whom he reveals him. We are among those to whom the Father is revealed. Jesus is so strongly anointed to proclaim the truth that unclean spirits can't help but recognize him and obey him.

Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"
Jesus rebuked him and said,
"Quiet! Come out of him!"

We too are called to listen to the voice of Jesus. Unlike the demons we have a choice about whether or not to heed his words. When we do adhere to his commands we find that the life-giving power of his words are active in us. They transform us and bring about miracles. Yet for us, there is always the risk of distractions. We don't understand the importance of the spiritual realities of life. We get distracted by the mundane and the trivial. But we are called to adhere to the Lord without distraction. We are called to hear and to obey. 

The command of Jesus is not burdensome. His command is love, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Just as the unclean spirit could not resist his so also will the despair and anxiety in our own lives find his word irresistible. That is, it will be so if we listen to the word, agree with it, and obey.

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

27 January 2018 - whom even wind and sea obey

Today's Readings (Audio)

A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,
so that it was already filling up.
Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.

We have certainly experienced situations that feel like this. We've been in violent squalls of circumstance, unsure where Jesus is, and why he isn't helping. Yet the invitation here is not to panic. It is to trust that Jesus, just by virtue of the fact that he is asleep on our boat, is enough to be sure that we will survive the storm.

Then he asked them, "Why are you terrified?
Do you not yet have faith?"

He calms the wind and the waves, but not when we would have him do it, necessarily. We don't need to fear even while we are still surrounded by storm on every side. With Jesus we can weather any storm.

We need to recognize the presence of Jesus in our boats. When we do we can endure the storms of trial and temptation. David is ensnared by passion. But if we remember the presence of Jesus when we feel temptations like that we can persist. We do occasionally fall and give in to temptation. At such times it is easy to be overwhelmed by despair. But if we look for the presence of Jesus we can find forgiveness and redemption even at times like that.

Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.

26 January 2018 - fire flame fanner

Today's Readings (Audio)

Timothy grows and bears fruit in a way that confounds the world. It seems to the world that he is too young, that he hasn't put in enough work to be spiritually mature. But it is God who gives the growth (see First Corinthians 3:6).

This is how it is with the Kingdom of God;
it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land
and would sleep and rise night and day
and the seed would sprout and grow,
he knows not how.

The growth is quite invisible and miraculous. It happens in a hidden way. The world has no way to see the inner workings that make it possible. But it eventually becomes obvious as the land yields fruit.

Yet for us, growth is not automatic. It is behind the scenes and hidden. It is not something we achieve with our own effort. But it a blessing of which we must avail ourselves.

For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame
the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.

Perhaps the world doesn't think we're qualified to make pronouncements about morality or the meaning of life. They would want to see the degrees and certifications to prove we are qualified. But God is the one who qualifies us (see Second Corinthians 3:5).

For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice
but rather of power and love and self-control.
So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,
nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;
but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel
with the strength that comes from God.

Even we ourselves don't behold the inner workings of our growth in the life of faith. But, if we invite the Spirit to fill our hearts, we do experience the results. If we don't see the growth happening perhaps we're looking a little too close at something that is happening below ground level. Instead of that, lets fan the into flame the gift we have in the Holy Spirit. If we do this, we will experience growth that seems impossible.

But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants
and puts forth large branches,
so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.

25 January 2018 - blinded by the light

Today's Readings (Audio)

On that journey as I drew near to Damascus,
about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me.

We don't all got knocked to our feet during an amazing conversion experience. But we all encounter Jesus. We are meant to be changed just as surely as Paul. We may not have been as opposed to Christianity as Paul was.

I persecuted this Way to death,
binding both men and women and delivering them to prison.

But we are meant to become as zealous for it as he became.

The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will,
to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice;
for you will be his witness before all
to what you have seen and heard.

We are meant to know God in the same intense, real, and life-changing way that Paul knew him. Even if we don't see a blinding light and get knocked to our feet we are nevertheless meant to hear the voice of Jesus speaking to us. Can we hear it? Jesus is saying to us what he says to all of his disciples.

Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.

But do we hear it? We won't do it if it is a mere thought, concept, or object of knowledge. But if we listen for his voice and hear Jesus speaking this word to us we will find ourselves filled with the same strength as zeal as Paul.

But Saul grew all the stronger
and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus,
proving that this is the Christ.

When the voice of Jesus is our starting place our lives become filled with the miracles that are the inevitable consequence of faith.

These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

If the LORD does prevent us from seeing things the way we used to see them, if he knocks us to our feet and stops us in our tracks, let us not respond in frustration by closing our hearts. Let us instead do what Paul did.

I replied, 'Who are you, sir?'

Let us get our bearings. Let's realize that it is Jesus doing a new work in us. Let us then listen to his will for us. The LORD will guide us one step at a time into the mission he has for us.

I asked, 'What shall I do, sir?'
The Lord answered me, 'Get up and go into Damascus,
and there you will be told about everything
appointed for you to do.

So let us go with Paul into the world, proclaiming the Good News to all the nations!

24 January 2018 - soil samples

Today's Readings (Audio)

Hear this! A sower went out to sow.

The sower sows on all kinds of soil. Some of it is ill-suited to the growth of plants. But what is the solution? It isn't so much repairing the soil of the path, the rocky soil, or the shallow soil. It is rather such a complete saturation with the seed that it will inevitably find places where it can grow and thrive. If we find shallow soil, let's not waste our time banging our shovels into the clay. Let's rather search for the places that are designed to receive the word. If we have a problem with impatience, with anger, or with lust, and we simply attempt to will those problems away we will likely be frustrated. Instead, when we find those problems we need to receive the LORD Jesus more deeply into the core of our beings. It is there, in the quiet of prayer, that he bears fruit in us. 

Should you build me a house to dwell in?

We can't try to solve spiritual problems or offer spiritual worship according to our own designs and plans. We must rather receive them from the LORD. He is the one who supplies the seed. He is the one who provides the growth. We can be confident that, while we may contain some dry soil and some thorns, we also contain good soil into which offers the seed of his word. We just need to receive it. It is enough to even transform the surrounding soil, making springs out of what were once deserts. Even if the soil has only a few flowers growing through cracks in the concrete we don't need to get out the jackhammers. We can trust in the LORD for the transformation we need. He'll find just the place for the seeds. They'll grow up for underneath and dissolve the resistance within our hearts.

I will correct him with the rod of men
and with human chastisements; 
but I will not withdraw my favor from him

We're worried that we aren't worthy of the seed or the growth. And we aren't. Even the best soil doesn't deserve any seed. But the gardener is pleased to sow. He delights to see us bear fruit.

But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it
and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.

The game plan is to trust in God's love for us, rather than our own skill at gardening (or terraforming as the case may be).

Forever I will maintain my love for him;
my covenant with him stands firm.
I will establish his dynasty forever,
his throne as the days of the heavens.

23 January 2018 - the shout of the King

Today's Readings (Audio)

Then David, girt with a linen apron, 
came dancing before the LORD with abandon, 
as he and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD
with shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn.

David and Israel are right to celebrate in the presence of the ark of the LORD. This is the place where the LORD dwells among his people. They not only sacrifice to the LORD, they do so with great joy because he is worth so much more than all they could ever offer. When they first offer what they have to the LORD they then receive back from him what they need.

Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother.

Much more than the ark, Jesus is the presence of God among us. We should rejoice like the crowds to be near him. Even more than David and Israel celebrating the ark we have reason to celebrate the presence of God in Jesus. The ark itself was a separation. It was placed behind a veil. Not so with Jesus. He unites us even more to God than nearness to the ark could offer, making us his own brothers and sisters. God was like a father to David. But now, in Jesus Christ we can all call God our Father. There is such cause for joy here. And yet it is so easy to just take for granted the blessings of being near to Jesus. This is why Jesus emphasizes the need for transformation.

whoever does the will of God

If there isn't joy in us because of the presence of the LORD we should check to see if we are allowing him to transform us. Do we receive the grace from him to do the will of the Father and to live as good citizens of the household of God? Mary is not only the mother of God biologically. She perfectly obeys the will of God and so is perfectly mother to Jesus, bearer of his presence to the world, in the spiritual sense as well. Mary wants to help us open ourselves to the transformation and obedience. Our old sinful nature rebels at the thought of obedience. We want to be our own masters. But only Mary's way leads to festivities and shouts of joy in the presence of the king. 

Who is this king of glory?
The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory.

22 January 2018 - willing one thing

Today's Readings (Audio)

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a house is divided against itself, 
that house will not be able to stand.

What does it mean to be divided? What are is the accusation they level at Jesus? They suggest that he does good things but has ulterior motives for those good things. We learn from Jesus the importance of integrity. We need to do the right things for the right reasons or we won't be able to stand. We won't have force, will be ineffective, subject to all sorts of external influences. Jesus has power because his Spirit is entirely to do the will of the Father. He is strong enough the plunder all the property of the evil one. He is strong enough to set us free. But in order to receive that freedom we need to recognize that the Spirit in which he acts is the Holy Spirit. If we demean or diminish what he is doing we cannot receive enough of it to set us free. We need to give Jesus a blank check, carte blanche approval, certifying that we completely trust his Holy Spirit and give it permission to work in us without limit. We don't start with the amazing and perfect integrity of purpose that Jesus does. But if we trust his Holy Spirit there is nothing that can prevent us from receiving it.

David was told, "You cannot enter here: 
the blind and the lame will drive you away!" 
which was their way of saying, "David cannot enter here."
But David did take the stronghold of Zion, which is the City of David. 

David grew steadily more powerful,
for the LORD of hosts was with him.

Just as David united the kingdom of Israel Jesus leads the kingdom of heaven here on earth to ever increasing unity. He leads it to the very unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is why we read about the "unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace". Utter rejection of this unity is unforgivable. But we all reject it in small and occasional ways. Let's stop that! Let's allow Jesus to bring us to the full unity of the Trinity that he desires for us and for the world.

“My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,
and through my name shall his horn be exalted.
I will set his hand upon the sea,
his right hand upon the rivers.”

21 January 2018 - from chained to changed

Today's Readings (Audio)

Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel."

Jesus proclaims the gospel of God to us. We need to actively choose to believe and be different because of it. This is the moment for which all people, consciously or unconsciously, have been waiting. This is the truth which sets us free. Our lives cannot be business as usual after this.

I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out.
From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,
those weeping as not weeping,
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning, 
those using the world as not using it fully.
For the world in its present form is passing away.

We were slaves to things that are passing away. Now we are friends of the one who alone abides forever. His gospel sets us free, just as surely as the message of Jonah set the people of Nineveh free from their impending doom.

Jonah began his journey through the city,
and had gone but a single day's walk announcing,
"Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed, "
when the people of Nineveh believed God;
they proclaimed a fast
and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.

Let us be like Nineveh, ready to turn from our old ways when a prophet proclaims to us a better way. Let us not stay where we are once we encounter him. When we encounter Jesus let us follow him in join him in spreading the freedom and peace that is only found within his kingdom.

Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice
and teaches the humble his way.

20 January 2018 - fresh pressed truth

Today's Readings (Audio)

People who see us from the outside might wonder what the fuss is all about. They should be able to
see that something is happening, even if they don't know what.

Jesus came with his disciples into the house.
Again the crowd gathered,
making it impossible for them even to eat.
When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, 
for they said, “He is out of his mind.” 

Our pursuit of the LORD ought to be sufficiently serious that others around us can see it even from the outside. They should see something happening even if they aren't sure what.

Our devotion to the LORD should be even greater than that of David to Saul and Jonathan.

They mourned and wept and fasted until evening 
for Saul and his son Jonathan, 
and for the soldiers of the LORD of the clans of Israel, 
because they had fallen by the sword.

Jesus is the king who never fails us. He never disobeys the Father. He is never defeated. Even his death on the cross is actually his victory over death. With King Jesus only do we discover the truth of the words of the psalmist:

At dusk weeping comes for the night;
but at dawn there is rejoicing (see Psalm 30:6)

This is why we should not be afraid to press in on Jesus, to receive the teaching and healing that he longs to offer. We should not be afraid what the world has to say about the lengths to which we go.

Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

19 January 2018 - growing together

Today's Readings (Audio)

I had some thought of killing you, but I took pity on you instead.
I decided, 'I will not raise a hand against my lord, 
for he is the LORD's anointed and a father to me.'

We may have questions about those people whom God chooses and places in leadership.

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted 
and they came to him.

Jesus chooses disciples and yet includes a tratior.

and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

We may think some of God's choices are downright bad ideas. Even when the people called by God seem to make poor leaders we still need to trust that God is able to work using them even in spite of their own plans and intentions. This is not to say that Saul was a perfect king for Israel. But the solution to that problem is not to lift our hand against the LORD's anointed. We may, like David, need to try to plead the truth of our cause to someone like Saul. It is true that some leaders have been so bad as for us to be right in deposing them. But our first instinct should be to pray for and support the anointed of the LORD, even if they seem rotten. This is actually our best bet for peace and prosperity in the Church and the world. It is why Paul calls Timothy (and us) to pray for our leaders.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way (See First Timothy 2:1-3).

Leaders are often of questionable moral fiber. They tend to desire the power they need to rule and the desire for power is itself a red flag. Yet this is precisely why, rather than simply protesting and tearing down, we must respect, pray for, and build up those who lead us.

This is true for leaders in the Church as well as in the world. Although there is less incentive for the corrupt to desire such positions, we still occasionally get leaders we would not choose. We sometimes get leaders who betray our trust and leave us wounded. The right approach to such as these begins with prayer and the hope of redemption.

The real good news about this message, though, is for us. It is that God is able to work even through deeply flawed people provided they are sustained by prayer. It is a great testimony to how important our prayers can be for others and how important their prayers are for us. Let us join together, than to build this society of solidarity, of justice, and of love.

Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge,
till harm pass by.

18 January 2018 - not a popularity contestant

Today's Readings (Audio)

Jesus is on a mission. He doesn't let popularity distract him. He doesn't allow it to interfere with his mission.

He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, 
so that they would not crush him.

He doesn't accept acknowledgment for its own sake if that acknowledgement comes from demons.

And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him 
and shout, "You are the Son of God."
He warned them sternly not to make him known.

Jesus is about the Father's business. He cures all those with disease and spreads the love of the Father. Popularity does not serve his purpose so he pays no attention to it.

Saul is the opposite. He allows his pride about being popular to drive him outside of the LORD's will for him and for the nation.

Saul discussed his intention of killing David 
with his son Jonathan and with all his servants.

Fortunately, Jonathan is consistently humble. He never begrudes David the favor which he might otherwise expect as the son of the king.

Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him:
"Let not your majesty sin against his servant David, 
for he has committed no offense against you, 
but has helped you very much by his deeds."

The Kingdom comes when people care more about what is right than acknowledgment for our success. The Father's will is done when we set our pride aside and care more about his will than our own self-image. This seems hard at first, but when we actually put it into practice we become invincible. As the psalmist says, "What can man do to me?" (see Psalm 118:6). We become free from the usual slavery to our own egos. There is no longer anything to fear.

I am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

17 January 2018 - against the odds

Today's Readings (Audio)

Jesus strengthens us for battle even when the odds seem stacked against us.

David answered him:
"You come against me with sword and spear and scimitar,
but I come against you in the name of the LORD of hosts,
the God of the armies of Israel that you have insulted.

This is a hard lesson for us to learn. We are so used to trusting in chariots and horses but we are called to trust in the name of the LORD (see Psalm 20:7). It's just that whether it is chariots, horses, or nuclear weapons, they seem so practical and, well, reliable, whereas God seems to be at best hit-or-miss as a solution to ur problems. Is it perhaps possible that this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy for us? We actually trust in horses and chariots and so we don't usually rely on the name of the LORD for help. Then, after the fact, we ask where the LORD was when we weren't trusting in him to begin with. How different things can be if we trust in the LORD from the beginning. This trust is the key to a victorious life.

All this multitude, too,
shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves.
For the battle is the LORD's and he shall deliver you into our hands.

When we refuse to trust in him Jesus looks around "with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart". He isn't mad because he doesn't get his way. He is mad because we're hurting ourselves. He wants us to trust in him and choose good over evil, life rather than destruction. If we trust in ourselves we won't find the life and victory that Jesus offers us. But if we just stretch out our hand to him...

Jesus said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."
He stretched it out and his hand was restored.

This is a blessing Jesus wants the Pharisees to know but which they themselves choose not to receive. Anyone who stands on their own, with their own armies, may feel powerful, they may feel secure. Only those who trust in the LORD for their strength are victorious over illness, over enemy, and over sin.

My refuge and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust,
who subdues my people under me.

16 January 2018 - into the heart

Today's Readings (Audio)

Not as man sees does God see,
because he sees the appearance
but the LORD looks into the heart.

We easily get lost in the externals. These things cloud our judgment and prevent us from seeing a situation as God sees it.

At this the Pharisees said to him,
"Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?"

We judge situations on criteria that are less than fully human. We look at appearances, shared in common with paintings and flowers, rather than people. We look at the letter of the law rather than the human purpose for which it exists. But the LORD looks into the heart!

Maybe we have trouble with this. After all, God made the beauty that attracts us. He gave the law which we strive to follow to the smallest jot and tittle. It often seems like ignoring beauty only results in ugliness. It seems like if we don't take the law at its literal meaning we will twist it to justify sin. And perhaps we will. There is still a solution, which has none of these risks. We must wait for the LORD to lead.

Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I myself will tell you what to do;
you are to anoint for me the one I point out to you.

As we hunger for the grains of the field we must look to Jesus for his approval and to be ready to withdraw our hands if we see his frown.

Have you never read what David did
when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry?

The LORD understands how needy we are. The law doesn't exist to help God. It exists because we need it to live happy and free lives. Beauty doesn't exist to trick us. It exists that we might appreciate and rejoice in it. But everything should be in its proper order. If these things were just abstractions they wouldn't matter to Jesus.

The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.
That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.

But they are made for us. When they are ordered according to his good pleasure we thrive and become more truly human.

I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong.

We find ourselves anointed with this same anointing. We find the Spirit rushes upon our hearts.

15 January 2018 - a time to fast and a time to feast

Today's Readings (Audio)

Does the LORD so delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as in obedience to the command of the LORD?
Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission than the fat of rams.

We are called to obedience. It's tough, and we often have better ideas. When an area of obedience is a struggle for us we're really good at rationalizing our behavior in that area. We know that God says one thing, but we in a particular case we find reasons why that word should not apply or why there is something better we can do. On the other hand, if there is something we are good at, we tend to be inflexible about it. We tend to not consider the circumstances and specifics and just charge blindly ahead so that we can feel good about our good performance. Getting past all of this is no great secret. It is the result of obedience that does what God wants, for the reasons he wants, in the situations in which he wants it done.

Obedience means we need to hear from the one whom we obey. It may be time to fast and it may be time to feast. But if we do not know the whereabouts of the bridegroom we cannot be correct about this. We need to draw near to him.

Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast on that day.

Jesus gives us the new wine of the Holy Spirit. It cannot simply by injection-molded into our old paradigms without becoming a lifeless parody of itself. We are given new cloth for our baptismal robes. If we try to put it on anything else we'll find ourselves with holes and tears. Obedience means we cannot co-opt the gifts we are given to do with as we like. We must put them to the uses for which they are designed in the Kingdom. The bridegroom does not hold us accountable for areas in which we are ignorant. But he does offer to reveal himself to us, and we need to avail ourselves of that revelation.

I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.

14 January 2018 - comprehensive listening

Today's Readings (Audio)

We are called to recognize this voice and presence of the LORD. Those who are more mature help us to identify him.

John was standing with two of his disciples,
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God."

Other people who know the LORD teach us how to respond to the LORD when he does reveal himself to us.

Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
So he said to Samuel, "Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening."

These other people cannot replace our relationship with Jesus. We don't get his words or his presence from them. But they can and do help us to listen when we aren't sure what to hear. They can help us to recognize the Lamb of God when we don't know how to recognize him. And then, perhaps, we can share this wisdom with others.

It is so important to learn to recognize the voice and the face of the LORD. It begins as a call to follow Jesus, to be near him, to learn and discover who he is.

They said to him, "Rabbi" — which translated means Teacher —,
"where are you staying?"
He said to them, "Come, and you will see."

Listening is only the beginning. We are called to move from merely seeing where the LORD is staying, from merely hearing his voice in the temple, to becoming temples of his presence ourselves. This is the conclusion of recognizing him. It allows us to welcome him fully into our hearts.

Do you not know that your body
is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

We have a good place to start given to us in the readings today. Let us speak to him, "Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will."

13 January 2018 - the levi gene?

Today's Readings (Audio)

Let's be ready to hear the LORD when he calls us, even if we've got other things going on. Even if we're pursuing our own work let's be ready to drop it if he has a better anointing for us. Lost donkeys may seem important at the time. But they are passing things compared to building the kingdom.

Then, from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul's head;
he also kissed him, saying:
"The LORD anoints you commander over his heritage.
You are to govern the LORD's people Israel,
and to save them from the grasp of their enemies roundabout

Sometimes Jesus will pass us by and call us out from the old and familiar routines of the life to which we are accustomed. We don't usually respond as immediately as Levi. But why not? What is so good as an invitation to follow this one who is passing by?

As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus,
sitting at the customs post.
Jesus said to him, "Follow me."
And he got up and followed Jesus.

We sometimes exclude ourselves because of a false humility. We tell ourselves that the LORD can't use us to do anything great. But we say this to let ourselves off the hook. The LORD does not call the gifted, he gifts the called with what they need. It doesn't matter that we are sinners. Sinners are the target demographic, here. Because after all, that's everyone. We aren't too broken to be used. We aren't too lost to build the kingdom.

Jesus heard this and said to them,
"Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

12 January 2018 - one true king

Today's Readings (Audio)

Samuel was displeased when they asked for a king to judge them.
He prayed to the LORD, however, who said in answer:
"Grant the people's every request.
It is not you they reject, they are rejecting me as their king."

This is a temptation we find in every age. The problem is trying to solve issues that are fundamentally spiritual with mere politics.  This is not to say that politics doesn't have a part to play or they we don't need to be active and do our civic duty. We do. But we can't try to do this instead of turning to God. It must all originate from our relationship with the one true King. It can't be that we pray for peace on earth, and don't get it, and so set about to bringing it to pass ourselves through our own strength. It is rather the King who tells us to work for peace. In all we do politically we act not apart from God or as a supplement to his involvement in the world, but rather we act politically as the hands and feet of God.

There is a profound desire in the world to separate the realms of the spiritual from everything else. It is safer for business as usual in the world if spiritual things are merely subjective and not allowed any input into the concrete affairs of daily life. But truly spiritual things refuse to be confined. They deal with both praying and working. They deal with soul and body. They deal with both physical healings and forgiveness of sins. 

"Child, your sins are forgiven."

...

"I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home."

The scribes had so isolated God from life that they were unwilling to see the spiritual intervention in the life of the paralytic. But what they were able to ignore on that level they were not able to ignore on the physical.

They were all astounded
and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

This must be our approach. We listen to God and discover his heart. We learn that he desires all to be saved. He longs for the restoration of all things. We must desire this too and refuse to let our desire for it be confined.

Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.

11 January 2018 - battle of the will

Today's Readings (Audio)

Let us fetch the ark of the LORD from Shiloh
that it may go into battle among us
and save us from the grasp of our enemies.

Let us learn this lesson which the Israelites had to learn the hard way, but let us learn it the easy way, by seeing consequences for others rather than experiencing them ourselves. Let us learn not to run ahead of the LORD into our own battles. We have such a tendency to assume our own righteousness that we think we are free to just bring the LORD along with us and attach his name to our own initiatives. It is actually worse to take the ark somewhere we haven't been directed by the LORD than to simply go there ourselves.

Yet now you have cast us off and put us in disgrace,
and you go not forth with our armies.

This probably makes us afraid to do anything, to enter any battle, to seek any favor from the LORD. But this is not the point. The LORD's will is the point. We are not judged based on acting on an objective understanding of his will. He is God. We'll never have that. We are judged based on seeking his will as best we can and acting on what he reveals to us.

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said,
"If you wish, you can make me clean."
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched the leper, and said to him, 
"I do will it. Be made clean."

The leper wasn't sure of the will of Jesus for him. He suspected, he hoped, but he wasn't sure. So he simply came to Jesus and brought his problem to see what Jesus would do. After the healing the former leper now understands the will of God better. He should be more willing to go to Jesus again and again with his needs. He can see that it is possible to seek God's will for himself without running off ahead of God to his own will. He comes to trust in the compassion and love of Jesus. This becomes central, rather than his own understanding. This new trust in God's desire to be involved, to heal, and to give victory causes him to spread and report the matter abroad.

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.

Let us not enter into our own battles, marked by pride and self-will. But let us not be afraid to enter the battles to which we are called, marked by humility and compassion for all people. The former leper isn't supposed to spread his healing abroad but we are. Let us publicize the whole matter to bring fame to our God and king.

10 January 2018 - ready to hear

Today's Readings (Audio)

At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD,
because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.
The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time.

We can benefit from help in learning to recognize this voice of the LORD. He does speak to us but we sometimes misunderstand what we hear to be our own mental noise. We need to learn to distinguish that noise, of which there is doubtless plenty, from the genuine speech which comes from the LORD and which is heard within our hearts if we listen. Other people can't do the listening for us. But they can help us to fine-tune our attention so that we know when we should listen.

Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

We sometimes don't reach the point where we are ready to hear God because we don't recognize when he calls us. He speaks our name and longs to say more. But we need to recognize him calling and invite him to speak. He longs to speak to our hearts but he sits and patiently knocks. He awaits our invitation.

When the word of God has priority within us our own words become more impactful.

Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him,
not permitting any word of his to be without effect.

No longer do we accidentally harm others with our words or just fill up silence with noise. Our words become effective. They gain power.  Without God's words within us we don't have much to contribute. But he gives us his words in our to grasp us by the hand and help us up, so that we can get to work.

They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

We become able to offer this same healing to others. It is precisely the word that makes this possible. It is the word which builds the kingdom.

He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come."
So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons 
throughout the whole of Galilee.

It begins in us with a receptive heart when we invite God to speak to us. We can't expect to keep lying on our sick beds after that. We need to allow Jesus to lift us up and send us out.

Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."

9 January 2018 - famous one

Today's Readings (Audio)

The people were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.

The very God who grants Hannah's prayer at Shiloh is now here in the flesh, teaching and preaching. The one who can give daughters to the barren has himself become the son of Mary. The people of Israel are familiar with a God who has power to work miracles. But they've never seen such close connection between, a life, a message, and power. They've never seen anything like Jesus before.

A new teaching with authority.
He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.

It is easy to see how his fame spreads through the land. It isn't just a compelling message. The people have heard compelling messages before. It is that this message carries within it the obvious power to change the world. It has the power to release those in bondage to darkness.

Hannah is willing to offer so much to a God she can't see through a representative that misunderstands her.

Eli, thinking her drunk, said to her,
"How long will you make a drunken show of yourself?
Sober up from your wine!"
"It isn't that, my lord," Hannah answered.
"I am an unhappy woman.
I have had neither wine nor liquor;
I was only pouring out my troubles to the LORD.

How much more should we be ready to bring all of our needs to Jesus? How much more confidence ought we to have than Hannah? Infinitely more. We will not be misunderstood by Jesus even if the world can't make sense of our sorrow. He understands us and remembers us.

"He raises the needy from the dust;
from the dung heap he lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage."

8 January 2018 - thirsty

Today's Readings (Audio)

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee 
and was baptized in the Jordan by John.

The one who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit is first baptized. Jesus, who has no need of baptism because he is without sin, identifies with sinners so that we may be united to him, born again in him, through water of the Spirit.

Thus says the LORD:
All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!

We come to the water that Jesus sanctifies. The Holy Spirit comes down upon Jesus in the water and the water is made holy. The waters of the flood give way to new life as the Spirit descends like a dove. We who have nothing are offered everything in baptism, offered a whole new world, the solid ground of a new creation. We who were poor are invited to the feast of God.

You who have no money,
come, receive grain and eat;
come, without paying and without cost,
drink wine and milk!

We are called to seek the LORD while he may be found. We go to him because we know that he offers the living water of the Holy Spirit, not just at baptism, but again and again. Through the Spirit he heals those oppressed by the devil, for God is with him. This living water he gives to all who seek him, all who long to keep his commandments, all who accept his testimony. It is the same water, first sanctified in the baptism of Jesus, that is poured out upon the world from the cross. It is the same living water that rushes upon the disciples in Pentecost, and on disciples in every age. This, then, must be the point for us. We have been baptized. But there is more of this sacred water for us. We need to be refreshed by these currents of grace today. Where do we find them and how ought we to seek them?

For just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
and do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
so shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
my word shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.

God's very word has the power to refresh us, to heal us, and to unleash his Spirit within us. May we allow the word to rain down upon us so that it can reign within us. May we drink deeply of the word so that we can enjoy times of refreshment which God so longs to give.

The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic. 

7 January 2018 - your light has come

Today's Readings (Audio)

Our light has come! A star shines in testimony to the newborn king of the Jews. A sign in the very heavens themselves is fitting because it calls not just one nation but all nations to come and walk in the light of the LORD.

It was not made known to people in other generations 
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

The magi are the first to offer worship on behalf of all of the Gentile nations now called to walk in the light of the LORD. They bring gifts to honor the king of kings. What can we learn from these magi? They are attentive, waiting for the signs of the coming of Jesus. They are waiting for him. They are willing to journey to find him when at last he comes. We should understand even better than them how great an event is the coming of our LORD. We should be able to wait with even more rapt attention. We ought to be willing to seek him out with gifts of worship.

The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.

It's true that many rulers of the earth see Jesus as a competitor. They try to silence him. They aren't wrong to sense that he is a threat to their power.  All kings will serve him. He is the name above every name. Herod is nevertheless unable to cling to his power forever whereas Jesus still reigns from heaven. It is better for us to lay our crowns at the feet of the newborn king than to try to cling to what power we may have. He is the light of the world even more than the sun and the moon and the stars. His presence is worth more than all we have and all we are. Herod does not realize this but the magi do. They want to show us the way.

They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures 
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Let us follow the star. Let us lay all that we are down before the feet of the newborn king.