Way of Life

James 2:1-13

2:1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

I learned more about how to talk to others in an assertive yet loving way by sitting and listening in the back seat of a carpool driving to divinity school than I did in any class I took. When we refrain from talking, we allow ourselves to be merciful. We can take things in better. We can hear both sides of the argument. We don't allow ourselves to be wrapped up in the semantics of the talking. Sitting back and listening, made me a better listener and often helped me gain insights into the material we were reading discussing. It brought the conversation from the black and white of the page to the gray area in which we all live. By reserving judgment, I learned by listening. For three years, that became a way of life.

When it comes to interacting with those who Jesus calls the poor, we should reserve judgments as well. Yet we want desperately to find safety and comfort in the places familiar to us. We seek the comfort of wealth, of stuff, or the hope for more wealth and more stuff. The author of James calls us out. We think that the poor are the ones who are doing us harm, when it is actually the rich who oppress, who blaspheme, who make a mockery of the world that God has created.

Yet, this is not a diatribe against the wealthy or the poor. It is a stern reminder that mercy, not judgment is a way of life. We are not called to live as the world lives, to distinguish ourselves between the have's and the have not's. We are called to live according to the law and to show mercy. We are all sinners in need of daily renewal. We are all sinners in need of grace. We are all sinners in need of mercy, rather than judgment. How can we live lives full of mercy? Only by the continued grace of God. It is our way of, and our way to, life.

Prayer: God, throughout this week, help me to live mercifully to those around me, rich or poor, sinners or saints, that I may live a life of mercy. Help me to refrain from judging others. Let me live a life of mercy that reflects your love for all your children. In the merciful name of Christ, AMEN.

G. Thomas Martin

Hope for Today

Mark 14:27-31
27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

Do you remember how the story ends? It ends with denial. More emphatically in Mark, we get no telling of the resurrection. Kind of paints a bleak picture. As I write this, it is 4:30 in the afternoon. It is bleak and dark, with a threat of rain.

We can focus on the negative, get caught up in our own misery, or hope for the resurrection. We can read about the promises we make to Christ, like the disciples. Then we can either focus on our past failures and knowing that we will probably get it wrong again, or choose to look at Christ for the forgiveness that only he can give. Jesus calls it like he sees it, like it really is. Yet Christ still loves us and cares for us.

There are times when we focus on what is wrong, what has been wrong, or what is going to be wrong. As Christians, we celebrate the fact that our faith is not based upon our successes or failures, but Christ's love for us. As God continues to carry us through another work-week, or to the beginning of a restful weekend, let us give thanks for the joy that comes in the morning, even though the sorrow may last for the night.

Prayer: God of love and forgiveness, mend my attitude. Let me see the hope that though the darkness comes, the sun also rises. Amen.

G. Thomas Martin

Wise Counsel

1 King 3:16-28

16 Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. 18 Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. And we were alone. There was no one else with us in the house; only we two were in the house. 19 And this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on him. 20 And she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me, while your servant slept, and laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast. 21 When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, he was dead. But when I looked at him closely in the morning, behold, he was not the child that I had borne.” 22 But the other woman said, “No, the living child is mine, and the dead child is yours.” The first said, “No, the dead child is yours, and the living child is mine.” Thus they spoke before the king.

23 Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead’; and the other says, ‘No; but your son is dead, and my son is the living one.’” 24 And the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So a sword was brought before the king. 25 And the king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.” 26 Then the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because her heart yearned for her son, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means put him to death.” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him.” 27 Then the king answered and said, “Give the living child to the first woman, and by no means put him to death; she is his mother.” 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.

On the surface, this story seems to be about King Solomon's wisdom. It is a story to persuade the hearers and readers that Solomon was a wise king, ready to deal justly. However, I think it also tells us something about how we can live our own lives.

When you get in a dispute with another person, with yourself, with multiple people, where do you go? When you get overwhelmed with anxiety or fear, or overcome with joy and thanksgiving, who do you tell? If we look for a moment not at King Solomon, but at the women, we learn a valuable lesson: sometimes things are beyond our control. Decisions, choices, dealing with conflict; we don't have to go through this alone.

The women in the story were dealing with a serious matter, life and death of a child. There are many who have to deal with that trauma. There are others who have not experienced that kind of loss. However, we bring all that we are before the living God, who is our counsel. If you are going through something, good or bad, share it with someone. Go to God in prayer, not only with your grievance but also with an attitude of listening. If the women had been too upset to hear the king, they would not have had resolution. When talking to God, be ready to listen.

Prayer: God, give me the courage to come to you in my time of need. Give me ears to hear, eyes to see, and a spirit to discern your will in the times of joy and the times of fear. Amen.

G. Thomas Martin

Serving

Mark 14:1-11

14:1 It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, 2 for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.”

3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.

Have you ever looked at one of those pictures where you're asked whether you see a vase or two people profiles? Or one of those Rorschach pictures with the ambiguous ink-blots? The idea being that your innermost secrets and desires are revealed. Sometimes, scripture is like that. We read a particular passage and depending on where we are in our journey of life--joy, sadness, anxiety, suspense--we read into the Bible. I think the scripture from Mark is one of those passages.

There are several places to "get lost" in the scripture. That is to say, It starts out with showing the cunning spirits of the leaders. They did not want to arrest Jesus because they knew he was powerful and they were afraid of the people. Perhaps you read the woman's self-less act and acknowledge the generosity of this woman. Maybe you get caught up on the fact that Jesus says, "There will always be the poor," and this puzzles you. Or maybe Judas stands out as a villain, a hero, or someone who was misguided. Wherever your attention gets caught, this scripture speaks to the person of Jesus Christ.

Jesus speaks in curious language, yet is always deserving of our praise. Jesus must die, but we still serve him. Jesus calls us to minister to the the poor, but sometimes it is necessary to orient ourselves in the relationship. And in all things, the story is about Christ, not about us. When we think we know what is right, Jesus is there to correct us and show us the way. When we try to make Jesus into what we want him to be, Jesus reminds us that the stories will be told of those who serve Christ yesterday, today and forever.

Prayer: Jesus, help us to seek you out, to listen to your voice, and to serve you in all the ways we can both now and always. Amen.

G. Thomas Martin

In all things

Psalm 5

5:1 Give ear to my words, O Lord;
consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you do I pray.
3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
in the fear of you.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me.

9 For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongue.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Walter Brueggemann, professor of Old Testament at Columbia Seminary, says that there are three basic kinds of Psalms in scripture. Psalms of orientation that remind us of our place in the relationship with God. Psalms of disorientation that speak to the fears, failures and hurts that we experience in life. And Psalms of reorientation that start off lamenting, but result in giving thanks to God.

What an amazing thing to consider the places where we all meet the experience of the Psalms. There are times when we feel good, when we want to sing praises to God for all that God has done for us. Other times, we feel like cursing the creator of the universe. And then, when we become transparent before God, we find ourselves being made right with God. From our pain comes joy. Though the sorrow may last for the night, joy comes in the morning.

The Psalmist in Psalm 5 finds himself in a place of despair. He is under attack from physical enemies and he cries out to God. It sounds familiar, as if this isn't the first time this has happened and it won't be the last. Yet the Psalmist finds himself praying to God in the morning, preparing a sacrifice and a watchful attitude of prayer before the Lord. For the Psalmist, this isn't the first time he has prayed this prayer and it won't be the last. He knows that through the ebb and flow of life, we come to God in various places. God meets us where we are. May we too, have the assurance and confidence that in all things--the day to day routine, the waking and the sleeping, even when enemies are all around us--that God is our refuge and strength.

Prayer: God, as we go through this day, help us come to you with our joys and our sorrows, and hopes and our hurts. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear your presence with those who seek your righteousness. Amen.

G. Thomas Martin

Living Witnesses

Acts 26:12-23

12 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Growing up in the church and youth group, we would often spend time giving our testimonies at various church events. To most, a testimony is something that you give in defense of yourself. Much like what Paul is doing in this scene in Acts. He is giving his defense to King Agrippa. He is simply saying what happened. However, he does not end up pleading his case, but instead offering to those listening the Truth. "That Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."

Most of us will not be able to live lives of Paul or witness or testify in the way that Paul does. Paul uses his words and his actions, and ends up dying at the hands of the emperor's guards. So where does that leave us? Our living does not have to be dramatic, but it has to be authentic. It has to be genuine to who God has called us to be. Paul's words from Galatians 5:22 remind us what fruit we bear when we live lives full of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We don't have to speak before rulers or crowds, write treatises or letters of great inspiration as Paul did, but there is a way that we are supposed to live. In your living this day and this week, will you simply tell of your life in God, or will you live a life full of the fruits of the Spirit?

Prayer: God, help me to live as a witness. May my testimony be one lived and spoken. May my life be filled with power of the Holt Spirit, bearing much fruit. Amen.

G. Thomas Martin

Big Faith, little change

Mark 12:41-44

41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Big faith, little change. That is not to say that big faith can't come with big change. In fact, most of the time it does. But we're talking about two different kinds of change here. One is the little bit of money that the widow put in the offering; merely coins. The other is a kind of change is the kind that drastically alters your life; like seeing a poor widow put all that she has into the offering for others. Both require faith.

This faith may not always be something that we think about or are aware of, but when you see something like Mark is describing, that is faith. For it takes the faith of the woman to speak to the faith, however small it may be, of the people watching. You've heard the expression, takes one to know one. Well, it takes one person's faith to recognize the faithfulness of other.

Through our faith we may not always have understanding, but as Anselm (an early church Father who argued that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine) says, we have faith that seeks understanding. As we are all on a journey, we must open ourselves up to Jesus' teachings. When Christ speaks to those who merely watch on the sidelines, we must ask ourselves, do we have the change of the widow? Are we willing to give what we have to God? How much faith do we really need to know? As we grow in faith, we grow in God's graces. Our little change takes big faith.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, move in me and help me make the changes in my life that will grow my faith in you. Amen.

G. Thomas Martin

Commands

Mark 12:28-34
28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

It's not very often that we give the religious leaders a good reputation in the gospels. We always want to point to their doubt, their disbelief, or the inability to follow Christ. I think we do this to remind ourselves of Christ's invitation to follow. If we can simply demonize our opponents and strip them of their humanity, then it makes it easier not to love them. At least, not to love them as much as we love ourselves.

There is a humility required to admit when one is wrong, but also to recognize good teaching when one hears it. The scribe knows good teaching from the Good Shepherd when he hears it. Then, he adds something to his praise of Jesus' answer, "to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." This scribe has put together the instructions given to God's chosen people, Israel, with the fulfillment of Christ's proclamation. And yet, this was not the highest achievement that he could reach.

In Mark's gospel, we do not see Jesus praising this scribe. Jesus simply tells him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." In other words, "You still have work to do." Chances are you are reading this out of choice. A choice to know God's will and to do good. But take comfort in Jesus' words to the scribe. There is always more to do, but to those who are on the path of discipleship, we are never far from the kingdom of God.

Prayer: God, surround me with your steadfast love as we move ever closer to your kingdom with your grace. Amen.

G. Thomas Martin

Tough Sayings

Mark 12:13-17
13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.

Do you ever wish you could ask Jesus, "Why?" Why did you have to explain it like that? Why couldn't you make things easier? Could we have multiple choice? Unfortunately, Jesus gives no formula for a fair tax. He simply tells his questioners opponents, and trapsters to give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's.

That is not enough explanation. That isn't even possible in our current state. We base everything on money. Dollars and cents do the talking. Jesus, how can we have any power or say when we give all of our wealth to the government? Shouldn't we be giving to the church as well?

I know the politically charged climate which we exist in as Americans, but Jesus isn't making the issue about money or government. The Pharisees are. Jesus is calling them out on their vision for the world. For while they want to create discord and reduce Jesus to saying something that gets him and his followers in trouble, Jesus calls them on their arrogance and says simply, "It's not about the money, the taxes, or the wealth. It is about the relationship that you have with God and with neighbor."

In our world full of tension and turmoil, the Christian is one who looks past the green and silver, past the presidents and leaders, past the money that jingles and the money that folds. The Christian is one who sees people and their need and goes to serve God where God leads. That is what it means to give to God the things that are God's. We are the God's creation, let us give ourselves over to God.

Prayer: Take my will and God, and use it for thy good in this world, so that we may not simply transform, but be transformed. Through the grace of your son Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

G. Thomas Martin

Glass Half Full

Psalm 124

1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side—
let Israel now say—
2 if it had not been the Lord who was on our side
when people rose up against us,
3 then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
4 then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone over us;
5 then over us would have gone
the raging waters.

6 Blessed be the Lord,
who has not given us
as prey to their teeth!
7 We have escaped like a bird
from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
and we have escaped!

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

How often do you stop to give thanks? What is your perspective on life? Is your attitude based upon what you have to do and what you cannot do? Or do you have the optimist's attitude which says, "All things are possible with God."

I remember in second grade, Mrs. Hankins (the greatest 2nd grade teacher in the world) one day showed us a glass of water that wasn't empty, but it wasn't full either. This is when I was introduced to the concept of the glass being half empty or half full. Pessimism or optimism; the choice is ours to make. How we approach everythin in life depends on whether we see our limitations as restrictive or an opportunity to grow with God's grace.

The Psalmist of 124 is definitely an optimist, a glass half full person. The Psalmist has gone through trials, temptations, anger of the people, snares, hatred like rushing waters. He has every reason to complain about everything. To whine and moan and do nothing about it. Instead, he begins with an acknowledgment: "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side."

Today, will you be grateful for what God is doing and has done, or will you continue to think about what cannot be done? Will your attitude be one of frustration, or will you take your fears and anxieties to God? The hope that we all have, and the thing which we can cling to, is that it is the Lord who has been, is, and will be on our side.

Prayer: God, forgive the times when I complain without giving thanks. Give me the hope to know that you are on my side. Amen.

G. Thomas Martin

Perseverance

Acts 21:27-36
27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”

Paul Harvey's famous tagline, "And now you know the rest of the story" came after what seemed to be a little anecdote about a person, place or thing. He would start out his narratives talking about some little boy, a teenage girl, or an ordinary housewife. But usually that boy, girl, or mother would turn out to be Walt Disney, Helen Keller, or Susan B. Anthony. There was always more to the story then what was origionally presented.

Paul the Apostle is the main character of Acts. We often find Paul being accused of stiring things up; of getting people riled up. Usually, it ends with people trying to kill him. At the very least, Paul is brought before councils and sometimes beaten. But do we know the rest of the story?

Paul had witnessed something unique in the synagugues that he visited. He noticed that the non-Jews who worshipped in the synagogue were getting inspired and filled with the Holy Spirit. It wasn't so much that Paul was doing something new, God was. Paul knew that God was at work and made himself available to God's service. What happened next was life changing for Paul and world changing for those who would seek to follow what the book of Acts calls, "The Way."

The question that we need reminding of is this, "What brought us to this place where we are serving God?" We may not know what is to come, but we know "twas grace that brought us safe thus far, and grace will lead us home." Whatever trials, temptations, frustrations, or angry mobs (real or metaphorical) await us, we go because God has called us to follow.

Prayer: God, when times get tough, help me to remember your amazing grace that keeps me going in the bad times and the good. Amen.

G. Thomas Martin

Humility

Mark 10:17-31

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

There are several life lessons that we must learn, several of which involve being humbled or humility. Conventional wisdom says these are lessons learned the hard way. If you take the time, there are several things which you have learned the hard way. All of which, I would guess, involve some sort of personal or public humiliation (same root word as humility). So how do we avoid learning things the hard way?

One way is to not take risks. Don't stick your neck out and you won't get hurt. Another option is always put on the "ashes and sack-cloth" of mourning, making people believe that you are destitute, when really you are not. Yet another option is false humility: "Really, saving three children and two family dogs from the fiery building was no big deal. I do it all the time."

I don't think these are the proper perspectives to bring to the idea of Biblical humility. Christ calls us not to be masters, but servants of one another. Humility is not something which we attain, it is a state of being. In the scripture this morning, Christ says that it is not about you, your things, your wealth, or saving yourself. Instead, the life that is built for eternity is one that is lived in service to others.

Prayer: God, help me to lay down my pride and selfish ambition, for the sake of your kingdom and my salvation. Amen.

G. Thomas Martin

How Great is our God

Psalm 97:1-12

97:1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
4 His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;
worship him, all you gods!

8 Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O Lord.
9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.

10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!

Psalms are interesting. When reading them for devotion, they sometimes read like an order or command: "O you who love the Lord hate evil!" Others times, that same sentence could be a statement of fact: "O you who love the Lord hate evil!"

Whether we come to the Psalms with our questions, our concerns, or looking for authority, in almost all cases the goodness and glory of the Lord is affirmed. If nothing else, the Psalms help ascribe God's majesty and our humility in approaching God's throne. All of creation--earth, coastlands, lightning, mountains--cannot endure the greatness and splendor of God. In our modern minds we read the Psalms with an attitude that mountains do not melt. Fire does not burn up God's adversaries for us like it did for Moses and the Israelites.

Yet all this talk about God's majesty once again serves to remind us of God's sovereign nature. Sometimes, it takes the hyperboles and exaggeration to remind us just how big God is. Today, take time to reflect on the depths of God. Try to find a moment today to pray to God and write your own comparison of just how big the God we serve is.

Prayer: God, thank you for your greatness. Help me to love you and hate what is evil in your sight. Amen.

G. Thomas Martin

Salt

Mark 9:42-50

42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Long before artificial preservatives or additives, salt was used to preserve meats, fish, and other food. There is something about the saltiness of sweat which lets you know that your work has been good and fulfilling. Salt matters in an important way.

Jesus call us to have salt within ourselves. In such an obvious metaphor, we know that we cannot be salty. But like our sweat produces a salty flavor, we know that we can have salt within us. For sweat is a product of our work and when we work for God's kingdom, it is a different kind of sweat entirely. There is a distinct saltiness to serving others and serving God's kingdom here on earth. It is a work that take time to develop. However, we we work for God's kingdom, we find that we have salt within us.

When you do for others, you are working. You may not always sweat, but you will find that if your work is pure, your salt is pure. There are things that do occur naturally in our lives. May our work produce a saltiness worthy of our Almighty God.

Prayer: God of the earth, give us strength to do your work that we might not only produce fruits of your labor, but be the salt of the earth. Amen.

G. Thomas Martin

What is your response?

2 Samuel 12:1-14
12:1 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”

7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’” 13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”

How do you take bad news? How do you take rebuke? How do you respond to chastisement?

There are certain times when we learn life lessons, but we have to learn the hard way. My greatest life lesson came when I was working at Sweet Mama's on St. Simons Island, GA in high school. This was a part time job and most days in the beginning I would give part time effort. One day, as I was sweeping up the front, half-heartedly, one of hte regular customers came in. He saw my efforts and very bluntly said, "If you're going to do something half-way, don't do it at all." As a 16 year old, I was very impressionable and appreciated what he said...much later. But at the time, it didn't quite sink in.

David is being rebuked by Nathan and rightly so. David exacts his own punishment before he realizes that he is at fault for killing Uriah and sleeping with Behtsheba. All he can do in the face of such behavior is confess. "I have sinned against the Lord." So how do you respond when someone lets you know that you could be doing better? What is your reaction when someone demands better of you?

As Christians, we should always be striving for good and the better way in this life because we believe that the next life will be even better. Today, confess to God what is holding you back from giving him your all. If you're going to do something half-way, don't do it at all.

Prayer: God, thank you for your grace in our lives which continually allows us to be better followers of you. Amen.

G. Thomas Martin

The Transfiguration

Mark 9:2-13

2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

The Transfiguration of the Lord can sound embarrassingly magical. Jesus goes up onto a mountain and his clothes become dazzlingly white. Prophets appear and talk to him. And then it is all over and Jesus tells his disciples to say nothing.

We should hold on to the absurdity of the incident. There is simply no reason for all this to have happened. In particular, there is no reason to put it into a gospel – the evangelist makes no capital out of it, it is simply there.

And this is the strength of the Transfiguration as an historical incident. There is no reason for anyone to have invented it. It is not central to the Christian case. It is not used to win arguments. There is only one reason to put it into the Gospel, and that is because it happened. It is one of those cases of the evangelists writing things down without knowing why they were important, and their very puzzlement is what makes the story so convincing.

Why, then, did it happen? Surely so that we could see and understand that Jesus is at once one of the prophets and the one that was prophesied by them; and that he is God, and lives for all eternity in a blaze of dazzling and unapproachable light.

The true miracle of the Transfiguration is not the shining face or the white garments, but the fact that for the rest of the time Jesus hid his glory so well.

Prayer:

O God, at your only-begotten Son’s glorious transfiguration you confirmed the mysteries of faith by the witness of the prophets of old, and you miraculously prefigured what would happen when your adopted children were brought to perfection.

Grant to us, your servants

that we may hear the voice of your beloved Son

and so desire to become co-heirs with him.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

Amen.

--From "Universalis" http://www.universalis.com

Carry your cross

Mark 8:34-9:1

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

9:1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

Jesus says some hard things, at least, they seem hard to hear on the surface. When we hear Jesus say, "Take up your cross and follow me" we know what Jesus will do for us. We have images of the already violent, brutal, and untimely death of Christ. Christ bids us come, follow, die. Not easy sayings at all. It gets even more harrowing when we see that Jesus has already assigned to each of us a cross to carry; a burden to bear.

In the times of crucifixion, the part of the cross that people carried was cross beam, often through the crowd of people. It just gets harder, not only do we have our own cross to carry, we have to do so in the face of scorn and ridicule. "Great" he says sarcastically.

But that's not the end of the story. For as Christ calls us to take up our own cross, he too knew he would have to take up his own cross. Not only that, we know that the gruesome end is not there. It is only the gateway to eternal life. Jesus is not speaking merely in the terms of this world, but he is speaking of gaining eternal life, all for carrying a cross that resembles, but in no way is equal to the one he has to bear. It is God's kingdom, not ours, that comes in power. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: God of the easy burden and the light yoke, give me the strength to do your will and walk in your way. Amen.

G. Thomas Martin

The Apprentice

Acts 18:24-28
24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

How open are you to teaching, to rebuke, to correction? How willing are you to listen when someone else comes along to offer a better way?

You know the old jokes and sayings about women who ask for directions and men who will stay lost? Well, yesterday, while in a gas station, a man came in and asked for directions while the wife stayed in the car. It breaks the mold a little bit. But in our Christian walk, we should not be afraid to ask for directions, to ask for help, or ashamed that we don't know the way. Like Apollos, we too, can have an effective ministry while striving to learn more about ourselves and the God we serve. We don't have to do great works of convincing or arguing like Apollos, but we should be open to receive criticism when someone says, "You can do better."

Today, think of someone you can go to for directions, for guidance, or for hope. And if you are not ready to go to that person, say a prayer for them and for you, that the Holy Spirit will guide you into that person's path.

Prayer: God, help me to have the mind of an apprentice who learns from those willing to teach, that I may better know your will and walk in your way. Amen.

G. Thomas Martin

Restoration

Psalm 80
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up your might
and come to save us!

3 Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved!

4 O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
6 You make us an object of contention for our neighbors,
and our enemies laugh among themselves.

7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved!

8 You brought a vine out of Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
9 You cleared the ground for it;
it took deep root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches.
11 It sent out its branches to the sea
and its shoots to the River.
12 Why then have you broken down its walls,
so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?
13 The boar from the forest ravages it,
and all that move in the field feed on it.

14 Turn again, O God of hosts!
Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
15 the stock that your right hand planted,
and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.
16 They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down;
may they perish at the rebuke of your face!
17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
18 Then we shall not turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call upon your name!

19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts!
Let your face shine, that we may be saved!

In restoration, you must honor the integrity of the original work. This is true for furniture, for cars, for antiques, and especially for people. In order to restore anything, you must understand it's original nature. You cannot replace a rocking chair with model balsa wood. You have to have some idea of what the original maker had in mind.

We know when it is time to restore our souls because something isn't working right. Perhaps things aren't going our way. And it doesn't always involve a major overhaul to fix things. I submit that it takes us, as the creation, getting to know what our Creator had in mind. It is not something that is always clear or that comes to us overnight, but the restoration is not up to us. When the face of God shines, there is room for correction, for newness, for restoration. For to know our own virtues and integrity, is to catch a glimpse of what our God designed us for. Today, maybe it is time to take a look at where we need restoration.

Prayer: Creator, Preserver, and Redeemer, create in us clean hearts, and restore within us right spirits. Amen.

G. Thomas Martin