Daily Lesson for August 10, 2018

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Judges chapter 9 verses 1 through 16:

Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s kinsfolk and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family,2‘Say in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem, “Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?” Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.’ 3So his mother’s kinsfolk spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem; and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, ‘He is our brother.’4They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the temple of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him. 5He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone; but Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, for he hid himself. 6Then all the lords of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar* at Shechem.

7 When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and cried aloud and said to them, ‘Listen to me, you lords of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. 

8 The trees once went out

   to anoint a king over themselves.

So they said to the olive tree,

   “Reign over us.” 

9 The olive tree answered them,

   “Shall I stop producing my rich oil

     by which gods and mortals are honoured,

     and go to sway over the trees?” 

10 Then the trees said to the fig tree,

   “You come and reign over us.” 

11 But the fig tree answered them,

   “Shall I stop producing my sweetness

     and my delicious fruit,

     and go to sway over the trees?” 

12 Then the trees said to the vine,

   “You come and reign over us.” 

13 But the vine said to them,

   “Shall I stop producing my wine

     that cheers gods and mortals,

     and go to sway over the trees?” 

14 So all the trees said to the bramble,

   “You come and reign over us.” 

15 And the bramble said to the trees,

   “If in good faith you are anointing me king over you,

     then come and take refuge in my shade;

   but if not, let fire come out of the bramble

     and devour the cedars of Lebanon.”

Yesterday a high ranking Dallas city councilman confessed to taking bribes in exchange for votes.  The day before a New York congressman was indicted on insider trading. 

Though the guilt of the congressman has not been proven, the allegations against him along with the councilman’s confession are deeply troubling and call into question the good faith and trust our citizenry has placed in its public servants in the highest spheres of federal government on down to the local. 

Who is leading us?  What is their character? What is their motivation?  What lines are they willing to cross to serve themselves rather than the public good?

Today’s Lesson tells of all the great trees of the forest who refuse to be anointed king. Left only is the worthless bramble bush — a tangled, prickly shrub with nettles which sucks life from the ground and adds quick-burning fuel to a forest fire. The bramble bush eagerly says yes to the anointing. The forest knows it’s in trouble. 

Pray for our leaders. Pray also for the future of our country. Without quality leaders we will slip further into democratic crisis and cleptocracy. We need honorable public servants, people willing to serve others and not just themselves. We need to encourage and even plead with the olive and fig and even the mighty oak trees to consider running for office. For if we keep getting bramble bushes, not only will the public be in greater danger of being pilfered, but the whole 242-year-old American forest will be at risk of being lost.

Daily Lesson for August 9, 2018

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Acts chapter 4 verses 1 through 4:

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them,2much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. 3So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.

Brian McLaren many who believe in the afterlife view resurrection as a kind of “spiritual evacuation plan” of escape from this world. What that kind of thinking ends us us with is an utter disregard for this world and a carelessness towards and perhaps even embrace of major threats to the wellbeing of this world, including nuclear holocaust and mass environmental destruction. Those who hold to that understanding of the resurrection think this world is not their home and so take no responsibility in its care. 

But that’s not Biblical resurrection. Biblical resurrection is, in the word’s of Job a belief, “that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.” Biblical resurrection is not a rejection of earth, but rather a love for and value of it, and a hope in its ultimate redemption.

Spiritual evacuation plans do not get people arrested as the disciples were arrested in today’s Lesson. Promises of pie in the sky in the sweet by and by are not a threat to the powers of the earth today. Biblical belief in the resurrection loves and values the earth, its people, and believes in the power of God to restore and redeem them all — whether in this age or in the age to come. 

Believers in the Biblical view of resurrection are not careless about the things of this earth. They are not, as the saying goes, “so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good”.  No; they are present and they work for peace and for justice “on earth as it is it is in heaven”.  And, they do this boldly and without fear because of their believe in the power of God to raise them up again.

The Sadducees had the disciples arrested for proclaiming resurrection because the Sadducees thought a people who believed in resurrection could not be controlled. They were right about that. 

Daily Lesson for August 8, 2018

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from John chapter 1 verses 35 through 39:

35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples,36and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ 37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ 39He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.

I read this Lesson and have to wonder if the disciples even know what it was they were looking for.  Here they are — probably in their early 20s — wandering about the Jordan wilderness, trying their very hardest to emulate this wild-eyed radical named John the Baptizer, when suddenly another man shows up whom John says is the “Lamb of God”.  

What does that mean?  Who is this John is speaking of? “Behold, the Lamb of God.”  What are they supposed to do with that?

They do the only thing they know to do. They follow — tentatively and at a distance. And then Jesus turns and pops the question: “What are you looking for?”

My sense is they really have no idea. All they know is they are looking for something. They don’t know where they might find it. But they are looking; and they are following whatever clues life gives them. They are going where the light leads them. They are going wherever life takes them. 

“What are you looking for?” Jesus says. 

“Where are you going?” one answers.

The answer to Jesus’ question isn’t an answer at all. It’s another question. It’s a question that will change their lives forever. 

“Where am I going?” Jesus says, “Well, come and see.”

Note that that’s not an answer either. It’s an invitation.

I know we want answers. And surely there are many religious leaders who like to give them. But the Jesus movement didn’t start with answers. It started with questions — two unanswered questions. 

I think maybe that ought to tell us something about this thing we call faith. 

Daily Lesson for August 7, 2018

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Acts chapter 3 verses 1 through 10:

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. 2And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. 3When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms.4Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, ‘Look at us.’ 5And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6But Peter said, ‘I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.’ 7And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.8Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Perhaps what we most need to do for those in need is learn to see and look at them — to make eye contact with them. 

It is so easy to avert the eyes or turn the head when we see someone in need. We pretend not to notice. We send the message that we don’t care. It’s like we put up a force field to try protect ourselves from their humanity. 

Today’s Lesson says Peter looked at the beggar — intently. Peter saw him, not just the lame beggar but also the human being. Peter saw the man and allowed the man to see him also. 

Silver and gold we may not have as we walk the streets of this world. But what we do have is a glance, or a nod, or a smile, or a simple, “Hello.” 

There lies the real miracle, in me and between us — in the I and also the Thou.

Daily Lesson for August 6, 2018

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Judges chapter 6 verses 25 through 32:

25 That night the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s bull, the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Ba′al which your father has, and cut down the Ashe′rah that is beside it; 26 and build an altar to the Lord your God on the top of the stronghold here, with stones laid in due order; then take the second bull, and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Ashe′rah which you shall cut down.” 27 So Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had told him; but because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night.

28 When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Ba′al was broken down, and the Ashe′rah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered upon the altar which had been built. 29 And they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And after they had made search and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Jo′ash has done this thing.” 30 Then the men of the town said to Jo′ash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has pulled down the altar of Ba′al and cut down the Ashe′rah beside it.” 31 But Jo′ash said to all who were arrayed against him, “Will you contend for Ba′al? Or will you defend his cause? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been pulled down.” 32 Therefore on that day he was called Jerubba′al, that is to say, “Let Ba′al contend against him,” because he pulled down his altar.

Today’s Lesson is a deeply archetypal story about one generation’s rejection and reform of a previous generation’s idolatry.  Gideon plays the role of the reformer — though because of fear, he performs his actions against his father’s altars at night.  He is an archetypal son indeed!

What is interesting in the story is the way in which his father, when faced with the possibility of losing his son, is willing to stand against his own community in defense of him. Jo’ash is willing to face the hostility of the people for the sake of Gideon. Jo’ash is willing to change and to see; the community’s gods — Baal and Asherah — are no gods at all. They are idols.

Every generation needs help from the next in seeing its idols. I believe this is the central aspect of the great youth movement now sweeping our nation and calling for gun law reform. I was ambivalent towards these efforts in times past until I, like Jo’ash, realized they were revealing to us our own idolatries and that in not listening we will surely lose more of them.

We need to listen to our youth. They have something to say to us about our false gods. To hear and stand beside them may subject us to ridicule from our neighbors. But to not do so risks a fate even worse. 

Daily Lesson for August 2, 2018

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 27 verses 62 through 66:

62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63and said, ‘Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, “After three days I will rise again.” 64Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, “He has been raised from the dead”, and the last deception would be worse than the first.’ 65Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.’ 66So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.

No matter how hard they try, the powers of this world cannot contain the hope of resurrection life.

Pilate sealed the tomb, set guards upon its perimeter, and laughed with contempt at the fantasies of Jesus’ followers. “Imposter!” he said about the Galilean. And without even a hint of the consciousness of irony, the official statement released from the Praetorium said that Jesus of Nazareth was “dead for good”.

But no one and no thing can be dead for good forever. The third day rolls around; and so does the stone. 

The Pharisees thought they were conspiring with Pilate to put an end to a rumor. But what they were actually up against was the truth. And the truth would not and could not be concealed. The truth has a way of popping even the most official of seals and making its appearance yet again.

Jesus was the way, the truth, and the life. He was the Resurrection and the Life. And so wherever he was there were all things — even in death. 

No death can hold back the things of life. No power of darkness can keep shut the power of light. 

In the end, all the seals are broken, and there is night and then morning then the new day. The seventh seal is broken, and there stands the angel, ready to trumpet the day of resurrection. 

Notice: there will be no Lesson tomorrow as I will be away at children’s camp and without communication service. 

Daily Lesson for August 1, 2018

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Acts chapter 1 verse 14:

“All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.”

The early church began as a great movement of prayer. Jesus taught his disciples the need for prayer. He also taught them how to pray. He taught them to believe in the power and the glory of God and to ask for daily bread. He taught them to ask for forgiveness even as they forgave others. He taught them to pray for the kingdom to come on earth even as it is in heaven. 

So when Jesus departed and they knew not what to do next, they did the only thing they could do: they prayed.

Yesterday the prayer ministry at our church set aside a day for prayer at our camp on Eagle Mountain Lake. Our organist Al Travis, who is well known for the discipline and depth of his prayer life, gave a brief talk between times of guided prayer. 

Al spoke about how prayer has sustained and grown him over the years. He shared a quote from Richard Rohr which made me think of Martha and Mary, “Prayer is not one of 10,000 things. It is the one necessary thing.”

In all our busyness and activism and good works and planning and planning and more planning, we cannot neglect the one necessary thing. This thing called life is a struggle and the struggle is real.  The powers set against us are real. They are formidable. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms,” (Ephesians 6:12). This means we are up against a mighty mountain. We can’t move it on our own strength. We can only move it by God’s strength. As Jesus said, “This kind can only come out through prayer,” (Mark 9:29).

We can’t be too busy to pray. For prayer is the one necessary thing. It is the “sine qua non” — “the without which there is not”.

The disciples devoted themselves to prayer right there in the beginning of the book of Acts. Without prayer there would have been no Acts. Sure, there would have been a little huddling and perhaps a little sharing. But there would have been no great movement of communal transformation, no great comprehension of God’s love for all — even enemies, and no great coming of the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. It would have been about a year’s worth of do-goodism before everybody went back to fishing for fish. 

Prayer sustained the early church. It strengthened and empowered the church. It was the one necessary thing. And they didn’t start without it. 

Neither can we.