Sunday, September 20
Luke 3:7-18

“What then should we do?”

If John the Baptist came and did pulpit supply at any of our congregations I wonder if he would be invited back again! To be sure we would wonder about his inappropriate clothing which consisted of clothing made of camel’s hair. We would also look at him strangely when, at coffee hour, he asks where the locusts and honey are. But most of all we would be uneasy with the fiery sermon he just delivered- especially the part about us being a “brood of vipers.”

There is a part of us, however, that likes to hear the truth in church, even when it hits us a little too close to home. I think we like it because the Holy Spirit lives inside us and makes us yearn for the truth of God and for the freedom in which we believe He wants us to live. I think it a good reaction for us to ask the question, “What then should we do?” when we hear a sermon or read the Bible on our own.

The people out at the Jordan River the day John was there were deeply affected by his preaching, if not a little bit scared! John gives them some pretty concrete directions about what they should do: start with what you know to be wrong and a sin. Notice how sharing is commanded for those with more than enough. See how honesty is commanded for those whose business practices have been less-than-fair. See how extortion is prohibited by those who are called to serve and protect. Listen for how today’s sermon and readings reveal a sin with which you need to part ways.

Monday, September 21
Matthew 5:21-26

“But I say to you…” (v. 22)

Our readings for the next three days have a common element to them: Jesus teaching that, “You have heard that it was said…but I say to you.” It is not that Jesus is undoing any of the Law that Israel received in the Wilderness- indeed we would find it shocking if, for instance, in today’s reading Jesus told his audience that it was now OK to kill! Rather, Jesus goes in the opposite direction by giving the Law a deeper and fuller meaning. It is good for us to read these sayings in Matthew 5:21-48 in light of 5:17: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”

Murder is one that most of us have not struggled with. It has become a bit of a cliché’ to hear someone say, “Well, at least I haven’t killed anyone,” as if that makes us good people. While we may have never technically taken a life Jesus teaches that the seeds of murder begin with anger. He is getting us back to the root of the problem and teaching us how to deal with it there instead of letting it fester and spread and grow into something deadly.

Jesus’ teaching on anger: take care of it right away. Before you go to worship talk to anyone you may have offended. Take the first step. It will allow you to worship God with a clean conscience and, he also mentions, it will improve your relationship with your neighbors!

Tuesday, September 22
Matthew 5:27-37

“Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No.’” (v. 37)

These three teachings concerning adultery, divorce and oaths have a unifying element to them- they are about keeping our word.

It might help to start with the third teaching concerning oaths. Jesus simply teaches that if we must make grandiose statements or swear “on my mother’s grave” that something is true then we might have a problem with our credibility. Instead, simply say “Yes” or “No” and then stick with that answer. Our integrity and actions should do the talking, not our claims.

In the first two teachings Jesus is dealing with that powerful part of us that is our sexual life. Both of these teachings are aimed at people who are in marriage relationships- people who have said, “Yes” to each other. Again, “Yes” is to be yes- “Yes” to fidelity between spouses and “Yes” to the wedding vows that they exchanged. Jesus again goes to the root of the problem to prevent further decay or damage to the relationship. “Don’t look lustfully” at another woman (these teachings are both directed at males but I’m sure the same goes for women harboring lustful thoughts for men other than their husbands). And in the case of divorce Jesus teaches that the old way of “making sure the paperwork is in order” is not honoring of marriage vows. Since marriage is a lifelong commitment Jesus calls sex after divorce “adultery” with the exception that adultery has already occurred. Nonetheless, Jesus is mostly concerned with us honoring our commitments without searching for loopholes.

Have we broken our word to anyone? Go to that person and seek reconciliation (see Matt. 5:24-25 from Monday, September 21).

Wednesday, September 23
Matthew 5:38-48

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (v. 48)

These words can quickly strike terror into our hearts because we know full well that we are anything but perfect. But this statement is a good capstone for what Jesus has been teaching about fulfilling the true spirit of the Law.

The root word in Greek of “perfect” is telos which means “goal.” A goal is something that is set that we work towards. Jesus has been teaching about Christian maturity and ends this section with the encouragement to keep maturing towards the fullness of God. We do that by obeying his teachings.

In today’s reading one of the things we are to “grow up into” is a mindset that not only has given up on revenge and retaliation towards those who have wronged us, but actually taking the next step of loving those very people. It is Jesus’ way, after all, to fully give himself to love for those who don’t love him- it is the very thing that has won us to him! Jesus’ love for us on the cross sets the goal. This perfect love is the goal. We who enjoy the salvation of Jesus will look like him more and more until that day when we shall actually be made perfect in the Kingdom.

Heart set on revenge? Pray and ask Jesus to give you strength to be obedient and a will to love especially those who have sinned against us.

Thursday, September 24
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

“And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (vv. 4, 6, 18)

In Greek hypocrite is the normal word for “actor.” The New Testament, however, expands this definition to include “moral” or “spiritual” pretenders. Jesus is not looking for pretenders or actors so he calls on Christians to be the exact opposite of an actor- someone who “never takes the stage.”

Jesus teaches about how it is we should give alms (donations to the poor) or pray or fast in ways that doesn’t draw attention to us. He goes even further to suggest that not even our left hand knows what our right hand is doing (v. 3)!

There are reasons we like attention. We want to be recognized as good and faithful Christians. Maybe we think we want to set an example for others. And, to be honest, we crave the affirmation and the knowledge that other people respect us. But Jesus’ way takes away the temptation for us to perform on stage and instead redirects us to fulfill the law in its fullest sense- by offering true worship to God alone.

Want to do something fun today? See a need in the world around you and meet that need in the most secret way possible. Allow the satisfaction of knowing that you served another totally without strings to be your reward.

Friday, September 25
Matthew 6:7-15

“Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (v. 8)

So much can and has been said about the Lord’s Prayer that one almost doesn’t want to add their two cents worth to the good things already in existence concerning the prayer Jesus taught us to pray. But it is worth us taking a moment to read the verse before Jesus dictates the recipe for a good prayer, for in it Jesus reminds us that God already knows what we need before we ask for it. I love that promise because I don’t always pray for what I need. Some days I don’t even know what I need! I might pray for an easy day when I should pray for strength to make it through a hard day. I might ask for peace from my sins when I really need fear for them. I often pray for life and healing when the true need is to let go and begin the work of grieving. And I never really know from day to day what specific things God wants to work in my life or in the life of my congregation.

Even so, Jesus commands us to pray anyway. The Lord’s Prayer is both prayer and teaching at the same time. It gets us thinking in God’s ways and it leads us into connection with our Heavenly Father. And God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, knows how to get things done, including how to speak to us as we pray.

For those of us who like to talk to God in prayer and tell him how to run the universe (I sometimes do, I must admit!): maybe we should try listening in trust a bit more to our Father who already knows what we need.

Saturday, September 26
Matthew 6:19-24

“If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light” (v. 22)

Jesus often healed the blind. It was a sign of the coming of the Kingdom of God in places like Isaiah 35:5. And while a blessed few did actually receive the eyesight back many others of us have been and still are undergoing “spiritual Lasik surgery.” I like especially the man from Bethsaida in Mark 8:22-26 who has his vision partially restored and sees men walking around “who look like trees.” Jesus touches his eyes again and he saw clearly. Jesus is still doing this corrective work on us each time we encounter him in the Scriptures.

What do your eyes delight to see? What do your eyes actually see? Jesus says that the latter is a very important question for us because they are the gateway to blessing or curse, health or lack thereof. How many hours a day do our eyes view the internet and television, and are those images bringing us closer to God or presenting us a different gospel? What kind of treasure are we setting our hearts on as our eyes scan the world in which we live?

Jesus reminds us today that we cannot serve two masters. He gives the example of God or money but I don’t think it would be improper to also say “the things of the Kingdom” or “the ways of this world.” That being so, watch where your eyes wander today and make sure they spend time gazing at Jesus in his Word.