Sunday, February 15

“and people came to him from every quarter.”
Mark 1:45

Have you ever watched a group of very young children play soccer when they are first introduced to the game? The coaches will usually start by explaining the different positions, their place on the field and the role that each position plays in the strategy of the game. However, the minute the ball is rolled on to the field, all concepts of position, field placement and strategy are immediately forgotten and all of the players from both teams gather around the ball and follow it wherever it is kicked. I refer to the soccer ball as a “kid magnet.” Wherever it goes, up and down the field, it is followed by this mass of children, moving as one body in their excitement and enthusiasm.

Jesus had that magnetism in his ministry. In this part of the Gospel according to Mark, Jesus cleanses a leper and sternly warns him to “say nothing to anyone.” Of course, the newly cleansed leper cannot contain his excitement and enthusiasm and he “spread the word.” Jesus immediately became a “people magnet” and crowds gathered around him and followed him up and down the country-side, wherever he went.

Dear God, the emptiness within us is drawn to the power and promise of your word and ministry. Keep that as our focus as we live out our lives in service to you. Amen

Monday, February 16

“And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”
Matthew 5:41

Most of us resent being told what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. Our response is often to either not do it, or to put forth reluctant and minimal effort. We see evidence of this all around us. We also see the results, or lack of results, of this attitude in our family life, in our work relationships, in our national politics, and in conflicts around the world.

In Jesus’ day, a representative of Rome had the right to force a non-Roman-citizen to carry a load for a mile. It was a custom most folks found humiliating and demeaning. Yet Jesus said his people should voluntarily go a second mile. Jesus wasn’t telling us to be nice only to people who are nice to us or who are paying us. He is telling us to treat everyone, even those who oppress us, with care and kindness.

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for going the second mile, and beyond, to deliver us from our sinful existence. May I follow your example from the cross and forgive those who might wrong me. Amen

Tuesday, February 17

“Now when Job’s three friends heard of all these troubles
that had come upon him, each of them set out from his home…
They met together to go and console and comfort him.” Job 2:11

Bad stuff happens. Bad stuff happens to good people. Whether it is sickness, a tragic accident, a natural disaster, a broken marriage, or some other calamity, there always seems to be something happening that makes life hard to endure. Lately, a significant downturn in the economy makes it feel like the bad news is just piling-on. It seems like everyone knows at least one friend or relative who has lost employment within the recent past. Every day the media tells us of yet more layoffs, sometimes by the tens of thousands. People ask, “Why?” “Doesn’t God care?”

Yes, God does care. And he is present with us, even when bad stuff happens. Understand, the Lord didn’t say bad stuff wouldn’t happen. What he does promise us is that he will always be there with us and that he will have the last word in our life. One of the ways he is present with us is by surrounding us with friends and family that care. Each one of us is the presence of God at work in this world when we reach out to console, comfort and help those who need to feel the love and compassion of God.

Dear God, thank you for being there when I feel alone. Open my heart so that I may be your presence in the lives of those who long to feel your love and compassion. Amen

Wednesday, February 18

“But, let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
Amos 5:24

“Without justice there can be no peace,” is a familiar phrase. Yet, it is a phrase that seems to be forgotten when we begin to address the difficult issues at work in the world in which we live. We long for peace in the Middle East. Yet, the headlines tell of demands, pre-conditions, and violations more than they tell of efforts for justice that will deal with the root causes of the conflict. We long for a solution to the immigration mess in this country. Yet, most of the debates and efforts concentrate on addressing the symptoms and few with the justice issues deeply interwoven into the fabric of the problems. We wish for an end to poverty and the terrible toll it takes on individuals and families, in this country and in the world. Charity is good, but there would be less need for it if there were more justice and equity.

God of justice and charity, we confess that we are more comfortable with charity than with justice. Justice and equity amongst people seems almost impossible. But, you are a God of justice, and we want to follow your way. Motivate us to support those actions that increase fairness, justice and equity amongst us. Amen

Thursday, February 19

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 11:1

The following story by Tony Campollo helps to explain what Paul meant by this verse.

Joe was a drunk who was miraculously converted at a Bowery mission. Prior to his conversion he had been drunk all the time and lived his life unwashed, unkempt and incoherent most days. Then one night he gave his life to Jesus and was completely transformed.

They gave him a job at the mission and Joe was willing to do anything. He cleaned up the vomit of drunks that threw up. He scrubbed the toilets left filthy by careless men. He tenderly cared for the helpless and fed the feeble. Nothing was beneath him and he was genuinely grateful for a chance to serve.

Each evening the mission held a service. Most of the men considered it the price they had to pay for a free room and meal. One night the director had just finished speaking when one of the men came down to the altar and began to beg God to change him. The repentant drunk repeatedly shouted, “Oh, God! Make me like Joe! Make me like Joe!”

Finally the director felt a little uncomfortable and said, “Son, I think it would be better if you prayed, ‘God, make me like Jesus.’”

The man paused, then looking at the director asked, “Is he like Joe?”

Dear Jesus, thank you for the saints in our lives and for their witness. Teach us to be more like them and hence, more like you. Amen

Friday, February 20

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts
of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
1 Peter 2:9

As a lover of sports growing up in a small town, I played a lot of “pick-up” games. This is where informal groups of kids gathered to play whatever games were in season; no adults, no uniforms, no leagues. To get started we selected 2 captains and they made alternate picks to choose their team. The captains, of course, made their picks based on their perception of someone’s skill, ability, size and even popularity. I was always one of the smallest kids in my class and of no more than average athletic ability, so I was never picked first. My hope was to NOT be one of the last to be picked. I always wondered what it would feel like to get chosen first.

I have been chosen first. And, you have too. God has chosen each of us to be his own people that we might praise and glorify him. It feels exceedingly good to be chosen first.

Dear God, we thank you that you have first chosen us to be your people. Open our hearts that the Spirit may fill us with light that we might call others out of darkness. Amen

Saturday, February 21

“For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom,
and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.”
1 Corinthians 1:25

We learn early on in life that strength is most often the key to success, be it physical, mental, financial, emotional or some other form of strength. Strength is what matters. Even if we are not personally strong, we want to be connected to strength. It might be the strength of a parent who can protect us, the strength of a football team that can win championships, or the strength of a country that can impose its will on others. We also want the strongest God and often call on him to “back us up and bless us.”

We know that the God we worship is not only the strongest, but truly the only God there is. Except God doesn’t necessarily show his strength in ways we would expect or want. By human standards, God often acts like a big softy. Many of the people of Jesus’ time were expecting a different kind of Messiah. They were expecting one that would conform to human standards of strength and who would restore his people to positions of human power. Jesus turned our carefully wrought human systems of logic and power upside-down.

Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you for showing strength in weakness, self-giving, and compassion. Amen