Monday, March 18, 2024

Psalm 118:25-29

Psalm 118:25-29 

  Today is simply a reminder to rejoice in all that God has given us.  Monday mornings can be hectic and busy and rushed, and we too easily forget that life itself is a gift from God, whose steadfast love overflows into every corner of our lives.  May we drink deeply from the wellspring of joy, and have confidence that God is with us, no matter what today may hold.  The Lord has made the light to shine upon us, and as a result, we are never alone and the darkness is kept at bay.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

James 2:8-13

James 2:8-13 
English Standard Version 

  Truly, it is harder to enter the kingdom of Heaven then for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle!  Imagine keeping the entire law and then missing one tiny point -- it invalidates the rest of your efforts.  Imagine driving from New York to Los Angeles and then driving 56 in a 55 mph speed limit near the destination, and realizing the entire trip was in vain.  You'd go nuts with that kind of pressure!
  Thanks be to God that Jesus wipes away our sin, that Jesus recognizes our weakness and take the punishment we rightly deserve.  We have broken the law, but in Christ, we receive the glory that is due to him, and he receives the punishment that is due to us.  What a priceless gift!

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

James 2:1-7

James 2:1-7 
  It's so hard to fight the innate tendency within us to gravitate towards the things of this world that are the most appealing.  I followed a car in to work yesterday that was very high end, and I paid attention to it over all the other cars.  I probably thought impure thoughts.  I made distinctions.  
  The world wires us this way, and we often don't even think about it.  We automatically show favoritism towards those who are dressed the best and appear the most successful.  Others... we pay less attention to.  
  But the Gospel invites us to think about the world and our relationships differently.  The Gospel invites us to join with God in understanding a different economy, one far truer than the economy of this world.  In God's economy, riches are not material, but they are lavished from God in heaven, and they do not accumulate in those with the largest houses, but rather with the most room in their hearts.  
  May we lean towards that economy and let God transform us, showing us the innate value in every human heart, treating each and every soul with gentleness and humility.

Monday, March 11, 2024

James 1:22-27

James 1:22-27 

  Mark Twain said that it wasn't the parts of the Bible that he didn't understand that worried him, it was the parts of the Bible he did understand that bothered him.  At times, the language is so high and lofty that it's hard to grasp.  At other times it is clear and direct.  This is one of those times.  We have a choice, James tells us -- we can opt to hear the Word, pray for it to transform us, and let it lead us into the world, or we can listen, think about how nice it is, and leave it at that.  Either is a choice.  One is faithful to the calling of Jesus Christ, which is meant to transform us and the community around us.  To be idle... is a different choice, a worse choice, for it means that the Word hasn't changed us.  To hear the Gospel is to be changed.  And if we are not changed, we must continue to listen and pray for the Holy Spirit to illumine us, to lead us out, for the Word always changes, always transforms, always challenges and comforts and brings new life.