May 31 - Pentecost

Ecclesiastes 8:1-17 - The author seems to distinguish between sinners and the wicked. Both do bad things, but the sinner who fears God is better off than the wicked who does not. Is this a helpful distinction or a distraction? In some ways it can be the latter, especially if we're constantly asking ourselves which one we are. But in other ways it can be helpful, in that it makes our identity before God not about our works (which aren't any better than the next guy's), but about our fear and trust in Him. What makes Christians unique is not our goody-two-shoes behavior, but the recognition of fact that Jesus has redeemed us.

John 9:1-23 - There are many things we could focus on in this text, but I like that Jesus spits and makes some mud. We know from other parts of the Gospel that Jesus could have simply spoken and the man would have been healed. Why does Jesus choose to do such an earthy thing? How does this help us to understand his incarnation, death and resurrection? How does it affect our view of Baptism and the Lord's Supper?

May 28 - Pentecost

Ecclesiastes 5:1-20 - In this section we are warned about the vanity of many words and vows, and of seeking after wealth. In both instances our attempts to prop ourselves up are in vain. All our promises and eloquent words are meaningless compared to a single, powerful word from God. All our toil to establish ourselves in comfort is a waste compared to finding joy in the labor that God gives us from day to day.

John 8:1-20 - There is only one person who can bear witness about himself, God. Throughout the Old Testament, Yahweh swears by Himself. His promises hold true. Jesus points out that he can indeed bear witness about himself, but to do one better, he also has the testimony of God the Father. This may seem like some obscure stuff to us, but it is yet another example of Jesus saying very plainly who he is. His claim to be God in the flesh still causes trouble for people in our world, but it is in fact the Gospel we proclaim.

May 26 - Pentecost

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 - The words of this section may be known to most people because of the band The Byrds. Though the author says that God makes all things beautiful in their own time, I also get the sense that these too become a vanity under the sun. Man may find some joy in his labor, but only God's work endures forever. How does the resurrection of Jesus make our work more meaningful? Who can bring us to see what will be after us?

John 7:14-31 - "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." What does this mean? Is Jesus basically saying, "Don't judge a book by it's cover?" If only we could make his words so general. In context, Jesus is speaking about his healing on the Sabbath. The "appearances" are the rules set by men, and right judgment is the will of God. According to their rules, Jesus needed to have been educated. According to their rules, he should not have healed on the Sabbath. According to their rules, they should not have known what town he came from. What rules are blinding people you know from seeing who Jesus truly is?

May 24 - Pentecost

Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 - Happy Monday to you!! Alright so the beginning of this book of wisdom certainly comes across as a downer. All is vanity. All is meaningless. Our labor brings us nothing new. Our history is bound to be forgotten and repeated. There is no new thing under the sun. And this is coming from King Solomon, the man granted wisdom by God. In many ways he is exactly right. Our own efforts are quite futile. There is no new thing under the sun. Just look at politics, entertainment, etc. And yet, in these words Solomon is crying out for something new. Something promised to generations before him and fulfilled generations before us. Jesus says, "See I make all things new!" How do the wisdom in this first chapter and the reality of Christ both help us to relate to people in our lives?

John 6:60-70 - So Peter and the disciples stay with Jesus because he explained everything in a way that made sense to them, right? I certainly can't blame the many of his disciples who left after the "hard saying". Jesus was talking about his sacrifice and the need for people to eat him as the bread of life. Despite these difficult words, Peter and the others practically say, "Where else can we go? Your words may be impossible to understand, but they are the only words that give eternal life." What should come as a shock to us is not that we have difficulty with some things that Jesus says, but that we can understand the words of God at all, and that He would speak words of life to us.

May 21 - Easter

Numbers 20:1-21 - I get used to seeing the Israelites complain in the wilderness, but this complaint actually seems legitimate. It's not that they shouldn't expect God to care for them, but that they truly do need water and they aren't finding any. Most of our complaints come from selfishness and impatience, but is there ever a time when we should complain to God? Is there such thing as a complaint of faith?

Luke 20:19-44 - The most absurd thing to me about the Sadduccees' question is that they think it's more mind-boggling to figure out marriage in an after-life than it is to comprehend resurrection. Jesus doesn't get caught in their rhetorical box, but instead highlights the power of God. How do we often find ourselves arguing in other people's rhetorical boxes? How can we confess Jesus in these situations?

May 19 - Easter

Numbers 16:1-11, 20-40 - Moses is accused of placing himself above the people. When he's confronted he falls down on his face and says that the Lord alone will judge who is right. I have to hand it to Moses. Any time I've been accused of building myself up or exercising too much power my first reaction is to defend myself. But Moses doesn't even bother trying to be his own advocate. God has placed him where he is, and God can decide whether Moses has over-stepped his bounds. Pray: God, teach me to fall on my face rather than to defend myself. You alone are my sure defense, Your plans cannot fail. Amen.

Luke 19:29-48 - "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out." Jesus Christ's redemption goes beyond just you or me. The whole creation cries out for new life. This is obviously very powerful, but it can also make us realize how insignificant we are. If we do not cry out, then mere stones will. God can accomplish his plans regardless of us. And this is what makes His choosing of us so profound. We are not simply cogs in the wheel, but partners in the proclamation of the Gospel. Jesus claims us, who are too often more mute than rocks, as brothers and sisters. He invites us to be a part of his work of redemption, to speak of his death on the cross, to speak words of forgiveness, to point to his resurrection and reign. Christ can call any thing to cry out words of praise, and he has called you.

May 17 - Easter

Numbers 14:26-45 - A clear struggle for us is God's harshness with His people. The promise to Abraham still stands, but this particular generation will not share in it as they thought. Even as they are told this news they do not seem to understand what it means. Earlier in the chapter they were complaining and claiming that God had just brought them out to die. Then, as they are told the bad news, they decide that they will try to go into the land anyway. Rather than repenting and seeking the Lord, they try to take matters into their own hands. Why is it hard for us to hear harsh words from God? In what ways do we try to take matters into our own hands? Why is it necessary for us to hear God's harsh word in light of Jesus Christ?

Luke 18:35-19:10 - Nobody wants to eat with sinners (aka outcasts) let alone tax collectors. But Jesus invites himself over. In what ways has Jesus invited himself over in your life? For me it was through parents who raised me in the Church. It was also through friends, reminding me either directly or through their mistakes, of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. It has also been through failure and the reminder that I cannot go it alone. I need Jesus and his people. We often talk about "letting Jesus in" but Jesus seems more interested in "binding the strong man" and this is what he does with Zacchaeus. The response is powerful, and the life renewed by Jesus is hard to ignore.

May 7 - Easter

Leviticus 26:1-20 - The contrast between obedience and disobedience is stark. In order for Israel to be the people of God, they cannot go chasing after other things to worship. Is our situation that different in this regard? What idols have we erected as individuals and as the Church? What is God's solution to our idolatry?

Luke 13:18-35 - How are we to understand Jesus' words about the "narrow door"? How are these words received by people who like Jesus, but not his Church? What is it that allows a person to enter through the door?

May 5 - Easter

Leviticus 23:23-44 - You shall not have any other gods. You shall not kill. You shall have a huge party for seven days every year. I was laughing to myself thinking about the commands in this section of Leviticus, because we tend to think of God's Law only as restrictive or negative. Psalm 16:6, "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places." It is so easy for us, because of sin, to see God's Law as something to avoid rather than as the good thing it is. Certainly because of sin it is bad for us in many ways, because it reveals our failure. But as the redeemed in Jesus Christ we can also look on it as a positive. God tells us to avoid behaviors that will cause us harm, and he commands us to rest, and to celebrate. These latter things seem like no-brainers, but how often do we refuse to take God up on this offer. "Yeah, yeah rest. Not a bad concept but this needs to get done now." God in His mercy established rest and celebration for our good. Let's make use of it.

Luke 12:35-53 - This is a difficult section if we have a one-dimensional view of Jesus. What does it look like to be ready, and why is readiness important? How can Jesus say that he did not come to bring peace, but rather division?

May 3 - Easter

Leviticus 21:1-24 - Leviticus should be called "Rules for Holiness." Perhaps the toughest section for us comes at the very end. It describes all kinds of people with "blemishes" who cannot approach the altar of God. What's difficult for me in this section is that many of the blemishes described would not be the result of some decision made by the individual. For us, it is one thing if a person misbehaves and suffers for it, but the person born blind is a different matter. Jesus dealt with this very specific issue, and in effect encouraged all such "blemished" people to come to him. How are we to understand this passage, for its own day, and in light of Jesus?

Luke 12:1-12 - "Do not fear those who kill the body." "Fear him who, [...], has authority to cast into hell." "Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." Fear is a strange thing. It causes us to avoid certain things. Some of us seek it as a thrill. It often comes as a result of powerlessness. In this short section, Jesus says, "fear not, fear, fear not." Don't bother being afraid of other people, they are essentially powerless. Fear Satan, and avoid him, because he has real, though limited, power. But even in that case, do not remain afraid, because you are in God's hands. Do you have it all figured out? Fear can be a powerful motivator, but ultimately Jesus is pointing his disciples, you and I, toward faith.