Month: March 2019

Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness. (1 Corinthians 10:5)

This is a difficult verse to read by itself, and I encourage you to read the entire lectionary passage for this week – 1 Corinthians 10:1-13. However, Paul faithfully and painfully recounts the sin of the people after the escape from Egypt, a warning to all of us that while God is a loving God, there is judgement and justice for our actions.

God doesn’t want us lost to sin, and through Jesus has saved us from its evil. We must recognize our failure and turn to Him for forgiveness. We must also forgive those who sin against us, just as God does.

The focus here is not on sin itself, but restoring the relationship that has been marred by sin. God wants us back as part of His family, active workers in His kingdom.

Loving Lord, Jesus taught us to pray “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”. May we be ready for a renewed relationship with You and our brothers and sisters through Christ’s sacrifice for us. Amen.

So those who think they are standing need to watch out or else they may fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12)

Paul writes a lot of straight talk to the church, but this verse is a warning we all need to heed – even those of us who consider ourselves upright need to watch out. As humans, we are vulnerable to temptation, often when we least expect it.

Paul says that we can be caught unaware if we focus on ourselves rather than God. The church in Corinth he wrote this to had become proud of how well (they thought) they were living. He reminds them (and us) that we can’t accomplish anything spiritual on our own and to think we have is to ignore God’s goodness to us.

Even when we feel our lives are going well and that we’re following the plan laid out for us, we must give God the glory, claiming none for ourselves. Only by His blessings do we grow in grace.

Heavenly Father, thank for for Your loving care that leads us to a relationship with You. Help us remember it is You who has made us and we can do nothing without You. Amen.

These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.
(1 Corinthians 10:11)

It’s a sad fact that we learn from our mistakes. It’s a sadder fact that we sometimes don’t learn from our mistakes! We often commit the same errors time and again, either not seeing the failure, or willfully ignoring it. Why are we so hardheaded?

Psalm 32:9 tells us “Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.” Why must we be compelled to do what is right? It would be so much easier if things just worked the way God intended and we didn’t mess them up!

But that’s not what God intended! His plan was for us to be His special creation, “a little lower than the angels”, endowed with reason and free will to make our own choices. God was sad when we fell into sin, but He sent us Jesus as a savior and model, and gave us the scriptures for guidance. If we put our trust in Him and not the things of the world, we may always choose the right.

Gracious God, we are sorry when we stray from Your plan for us. Help us to see the wonderful blessings You intend and live in the light of Your Word. Amen.

No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The apostle Paul writes instruction originally intended for specific churches he led, but it is amazingly applicable to all of us today and we would do well to heed his guidance. This verse speaks of temptation or testing as it is translated here. I don’t believe God “tests” us to see if we will fail, that’s not the way love works. I’m sure we’re all more than capable of finding our own wrongs to choose.

However, as Paul writes, we are all “tested” in similar ways, everyone faces being tempted. What matters is how we come through the situation – sometimes falling and asking forgiveness, sometimes choosing the path God has for us and offering praise for His help.

Even Jesus was tempted, but He knew to rely on God for the love, strength and guidance He needed to be able to choose right over wrong. God is there for us as well, offering us the “way out” as Paul tells us.

Gracious God, thank You for the blessing of Your Word, which instructs and guides us through times of trouble. Let us always prays as Jesus taught “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil”. Amen.

Jesus was already indicating the sacrifice He would make for us in this week’s passage (Luke 13:31-35). He tells us He will complete His work in three days, a reference to His Crucifixion, burial and Resurrection. Jesus was well aware of what God called Him to do, and was willing to do all of it for us.

What are we willing to do for Him? He asks us to take up our cross and follow Him, knowing that we too may have to sacrifice our wealth, our pride and even our lives. That’s hard to hear for many of us, but it is the reality of God’s call. Jesus says “I gave everything for you, are you willing to give everything for me?”

As we worship today, may we remember His coming and His eternal love for us, so great that He was willing to suffer to win us back from sin. May we be willing to go where He sends us and give as He gave for us.

Lord, open our hearts and minds today as we observe your Sabbath. Help us to see the needs of the world around us and be the change You call us to be. May our lives show what Your love has done for us and help others find that connection for themselves. Amen.

In this week’s scripture passage (Luke 13:31-35), Jesus laments over Jerusalem and prays for them, despite their rejection. He shows us that praying for those who oppose us is not just something He says as a “nice thing”, but a spiritual discipline He practices Himself. How hard it must have been to hear from the Pharisees that came to warn Him “Herod wants to kill you”, but rather than reacting in fear or anger, Jesus responds with prayer.

We are not likely to encounter a death threat because of our faith, but we meet opposition to His work everyday. We hear ugly words spoken, sometimes by those we consider brothers and sisters. We see hunger and poverty and all the ills we have allowed in the world, while we argue with each other rather than working to alleviate them. The old hymn tells us “Are we weak and heavy laden? Take it to the Lord in prayer!”

We need God’s help and guidance in all we do. Prayer is an essential way of sharing the issues we face – not that God doesn’t already know, but through prayer we let go of our troubles and lift up those who need help, even those who strive against us. Pray today, however and wherever is your practice, but go to God and ask for His strength as Jesus taught us.

Heavenly Father, we come humbly to ask for the things we need most – Your love and relationship. Help us to see that if we are together in You, all things are possible. Make us strong and reliable servants who pray earnestly “Thy will be done”. Amen.

“See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’” Luke 13:35

Jesus warns those who listen that they are on the wrong path, not the way He has come to show them. He says that we will inherit what we do in disobedience if we don’t hear His teaching and turn back to God.

How often is this the case in our world? We think we are in charge and plunge ahead, thinking that God is behind us; when we should be behind God! Our selfish behavior will be judged in the last days, and we will be called to account for our actions.

Gracious God, help us to see the plan You have for us. Let us hear the lessons and follow the example Jesus gave for us. May our love for others show them we are all Your children. Amen.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Luke 13:34

What a heartbreak we must be to Jesus! He longs to bring us together under His love and protection, and we are not willing. God has felt this before, when we turned away in disobedience at the very beginning. But He was willing to come after us with what scholars call “prevenient grace”, God’s love that seeks us out before we even know of it.

Can you feel God reaching out to you today? He is always ready to welcome you as a valued member of His family. While our resolve is weak, God’s is strong and constant, His love for us unchanging. When we turn to God for the peace we so desperately need, He comforts us. Trust God to gather us under His wings of love forever!

Loving Lord, forgive our selfishness and our wayward behavior. We want to return to You, to be part of the work of Your kingdom. Bless us as we go into the world in Your name. Amen.

‘Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’  Luke 13:33

Jesus tells those who have come to warn him of King Herod’s threat against Him that He will be going about His ministry as usual. He also makes reference to the fact that Israel has a poor record when it comes to hearing prophetic wisdom and following it. Additionally, He foretells that His death will come in Jerusalem at their hands.

We don’t like hearing bad news. It makes us unhappy, often indicating we have done something wrong and it usually makes us angry at the one who tells us. I’m sure the Pharisees who came to warn Jesus felt this way. They thought they were helping, but Jesus warns them that they are part of what’s wrong in Jerusalem specifically and Israel generally.

Scripture can make us feel this way sometimes, pointing out our failures, but that’s not the last word! The rest of the glorious story is that we can repent and be forgiven through our relationship with Jesus. He came with a message of hope for us, that God loved us so much He was willing to come to be one of us to make us understand.

Loving Lord, we are grateful and humbled at what You have done for us. Help us to live in ways that are worthy of Your sacrifice for us and share the Good News of Your salvation with all the world. Amen.

Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal. (Luke 13:32)

Some Pharisees had come to warn Jesus that King Herod was plotting to kill Him, but in today’s reading Jesus responds that He will continue His work just the same. Even in the face of threats on His life, Jesus was undeterred. He knew that His mission was more important than any earthly opposition and He would continue to do God’s will.

How do we handle obstacles to our witness? In our society it is rare that we risk our lives for ministry, but there is contention and discord facing us every day, often within the body of Christ itself. Jesus warned us that evil would do its best to prevent us from reaching people, and when we are distracted from our goal, evil succeeds.

Now more than ever, we must focus on the essentials of what we are called to do and not let anything get in our way. As Jesus taught us, we must continue the work in spite of what the world says about us. We are commissioned in His name and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses to everyone.

Heavenly Father, make us bold to go where You send us, telling everyone the Good News of Your salvation in Jesus Christ. When we face trials or temptation, give us Your strength that we may stand firm and accomplish the task You have given us. Amen.