Assessment

"God is testing the children of man," Ecclesiastes 3:18.

We kind of got this, didn't we? That life was some kind of test. OK. But what kind of test? To assess how much further we need to go? Or to sort us into categories by certain criteria? Or by norms? To examine the degree to which the universe trains us? To predict how we'll do next time around? Well, the Preacher here doesn't really tell, except to note that the test compares humans and beasts: They're all alike. Have the same fate - death. Have the same breath. Made from the same dust. Go back to the same dust. Neither has advantage. And who knows about their spirits? Nothing has value. (Yipes! what cheery thoughts.) But wait! Look now: the son of man, Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, who shared in our own flesh and blood, we see him now crowned with glory and honor. And without shame Jesus calls us family.

So God crowns his son triumphant ... then Jesus glorified says, Here am I, with the brothers and sisters you gave me! And we worship. Remind a brother or sister today of this highest assessment God assigns to us all.

Blessings

"It is more blessed to give than to receive," Acts 20:35.

This, Paul's last record spoken to the Ephesian elders. Interesting, isn't it? He reminds of his 3-year ministry with them, of their ministry's nature, of the comprehensive life in Christ teachings, of his own heart's passion for God's congregation, of warnings against their future wanderings. And then, this, directly from Jesus' lips, found in none of the gospels! Paul reminds that his own hands worked hard to help the weak. That's exactly the instruction to former thieves, to work hard with their hands in order to have something to give away where needed. And here I always thought my hard work was for my own self-supplied blessings.

We give thanks to God for the Lord Jesus Christ, the wealthy one whose work made him poor but made us rich. Amazing! Where there is need share the good with a brother or sister today and find Jesus' blessing.

Whispering

"Whoever speaks against a brother or judges his brother speaks against the law and judges the law," James 4:11.

What does this mean? How does judging somebody be the same as judging the law? Well, the law referenced earlier (the royal one, remember?) says, Love your neighbor. When we get into the criticizing habit (you know, whispering behind their backs) we set ourselves up against royalty's expressed imperative. In fact, we rise above the law and decide (that is, we judge) that we don't have to follow it. This superior position over brother and over law, gives a wonderful sense of righteousness. But, there is only One Lawgiver and Judge. He alone is able to save and to kill. And He's coming. Better believe it. That's why James asks, But who are you? So he says, Stop it!

Chastened, we repent and give thanks to our God the only one able to save. Bless a brother or sister today as you whisper their good qualities to others.

Worthy

"Put up with one another in love," Ephesians 4:2.

Tired of tolerating? Finally had enough? Come to the end of the rope? Have done with put up with? Give us a break! No more mr(s). nice guy (gal)? Well, goodness, who hasn't gotten to that point in relationships? We've all found ample familiarity in the sentiment. So why in the world continue patiently with such a burden? Because Scripture says this: Live worthy of your calling. But why, why, why? Because God in Christ calls you to it. Because there's no other place to go. Because God in Christ undoes your mess. Because God in Christ integrates you into family. One Body. One Spirit. One Hope. One Lord. One Faith. One Baptism. One God ... and Father. Of all. Over all. Through all. In all. There's no other conduct worthy of the Father's call.

We give thanks to God that he puts up with us, gratefully. Join a difficult brother or sister today and share joyfully in the Father's call.

The Fulness

"That you may be filled with all the fulness of God," Ephesians 3:19.

The goal of the prayer that believers be filled with God's fulness ... what means this? The fulness of God? Is he serious?! Perhaps, the phrase is, you know, just Paul overstating the point to make a meeker point, like, be sure to be religious and be nice to each other. Or, maybe, he's talking big picture here, when we're all dead and gone and living blissfully in heaven, then God's fulness finally fills us? No and No. On our behalf, Paul requests the Father for the Spirit's inner strength. Now. For Christ to dwell in hearts. Now. To be rooted and grounded in love. Now. To know the beyond-understanding love of Christ. Now. And in this Spirit-strength, in this heart-dwelling Christ, in this love-rootedness/grounding, in this knowing the love of Christ: here we find the fulness of God fills us. Now.

So we worship and give thanks to God, creator of all that is, to God, filler of void souls. Pray today with a brother or sister thanking our God, filled with his love.

Efficacy

"Of his own will," James 1:18.

It all rests on God's will, right? us having the word implanted ... getting born by the true word ... having souls saved ... becoming some kind of first fruits ... receiving all good gifts ... getting wisdom to endure trial ... receiving the crown of life. And so on. Blessings arise from God's hearty nature, his character. His desire. His will chose, before the aeons, that every single good thing ever that was, is, or will be, to actualize through Jesus his designated Christ. His purpose does the whole of his own counsel's will. God pre-chose for us to find redemption, holiness, unity, in and through Christ. In his love. But wait a minute! Don't we have anything to do with it? That's like asking, Must a baby suckle to thrive? (Of course!) Must man explore, pursue to wisdom? (Of course!) Our efforts merely highlight dependency upon the efficacy of His own will.

Willingly, humbly, we kneel before Christ, overcome by his love; he stands us up with himself before God, whose purpose never fails. Worship today with a brother or sister and give thanks to such a willing God.

Resurrection

"The dead will hear the voice of the son of God and those that hear will live," John 5:25.

Oh, Yes! Having heard his call, all the dead will come out of their graves. One of two outcomes await. Outcome one: Resurrection of life. Outcome two: Resurrection of judgment. Those who do good to the former, those who practice foul to the latter. Definitions are in order. Resurrection: raising up to life (rising from the dead, grave). Resuscitation: action to revive (from unconsciousness, apparent death). Reincarnation: dead person's spirit transmigrates to life in new body. Does Jesus speak of resuscitation? No. Resurrection! Does Jesus speak of reincarnation? No. Resurrection! More definitions now. Life: well, eternal life! Pretty excellent stuff. Judgment: sentencing to meet up with death and Hades in the lake of fire. Pretty bad stuff. One more definition. Doing the works of God: believing in Jesus his son.

We consider the marvel of God's work in Christ and find hearts aglow with confident expectation that abundant life, not death, has the everlasting outcome. As we visit with a brother or sister today, we speak of faith in Jesus, living out that faith thankfully.

Expert Witness

"The dead in Christ will rise first," 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

Wonder what happens to believers in Christ who died? besides bodies in graves? Do they have consciousness? Can they look down on us (a favorite expression among the living about the dead)? Or, is it when you're dead, you're dead all over? Well, who knows? (God does, of course!) Seems anybody who's been dead 20 minutes and comes back is considered expert witness for the millennia dead who never made it back. Dismissive of our question, Scripture affirms the dead in Christ will be brought back to life before anybody else, but not until the archangel yells the command. They, made alive, no longer dead, resurrected, join Jesus coming in clouds. After this, all believers in Christ, who had not yet died, will be ripped away to join the resurrected living in the sky. And, from that moment, all the believers, countless, together, will be with the Lord for always. That's what it says. Believe it or not.

As we wonder at God's powerful might to raise the dead and transform the living, we marvel. Speak with a brother or sister today humbly grateful together in God's mighty love.

Will Live

"I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me will live even if they die," John 11:25.

Even if they die ... Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. Will live. even if they die ... WILL LIVE.

So, brothers and sisters: press on steadily relentless, over-the-top in the Lord's work, fully conscious such mission is never worthless. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Unseen

"When Christ, your very life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory," Colossians 3:4.

So Christ works to make all things new. He acts powerfully from the right hand of the the One seated on the throne in the skies. Now, we don't see any of this. Clearly, Jesus is hidden in God. How do we know? We walk by faith, not by sight. Not by sensory experience. Yet, comes a day (The Day) when the now invisible shines. Suddenly, Jesus shows up in the skies, every eye will see, east to west. No more faith: simply direct, incontrovertible, sensory experience. And every knee will bow. I mean, what else is there to do? Well, except for those that wail ruefully at the sight? But here's the really cool part: Jesus sends out his messengers to collect every single person who didn't see, yet believed, to make his unseen congregation glow in overwhelming, evident glory! wow.

Though unseen presently, we give thanks to God, King of ages, and to his hidden Christ, who gives us life. As you participate today in the life of a brother or sister, remember to joy in the Day when, together, we shall see the eternal, forever. Brilliant.

Unresolved

"I go to prepare a place for you," John 14:2.

Ever wonder what Jesus is doing right now? I mean this very instant? Sure, you know he's seated at the right hand of God. Scripture asserts this pretty clearly. In fact, you know God has made everything in the skies and earth his subjects. Well, almost. You know sin's been taken care of once for all in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. But its consequences are not quite resolved ... getting there, but not quite yet. You know that death and dying still loom on our horizons. So much the order of the day, that folks talk about death as though it were our friend, native of mother nature's natural grand marvel. (What kind of mother is this?! to deceive that suffering is a wonderful thing? Give. us. a. break!) Anyway. Jesus, now, readies a place for you: He's stripping all rank powers of death. Don't kid yourself. This takes a little while. You know he invites you into this preparation: Fruit of the Spirit. Discipline. Mercy. Endurance. Forgiveness. Panoply of God. Gird your loins.

Jesus working until that last enemy of life, death itself, crumbles into dust under his feet. And then he brings us home, death swallowed up. Pray with a brother or sister today in thanksgiving for Jesus' continuing work, and for our integration with him in it.

Coming Out

"He called out loudly, 'Lazarus, come out!' And the dead man came out," John 11:43.

It's a good thing Jesus specified Lazarus. Otherwise every dead person from Adam and Eve onward would have come out, well before their time, obviously. Everybody knows this. God has fixed a day for The Accounting. (Lazarus' resurrection was not it.) Fixed a Day. A Day certain for coming out. Everybody'll be there - most popular place at the end of the universe. Tiny baby to old gramps. The guy nobody ever heard of from ancient wind-swept steppes, or from Davy Jones' locker, to the little, sweet lady down the street everybody loves. And, oh, what a day it'll be. The real graveyard smash. And every one of us gets to account for everything we ever did. Everything. Everybody knows this. And some shall awake to everlasting life. And others not. Everybody knows this. But nobody knows when. Except the one who fixed it.

We give thanks to God; no fear in judgment. Transferring us into the kingdom of his beloved son, God has already passed believers in his son from death to life! As we fellowship with a brother or sister today, we, together, look forward to that fixed day, confident in God's overwhelming mercy.

Realized

"You are God from age to age," Psalm 90:2.

Can God be God without humans to realize him? (spoiler alert! we came pretty late to that party ...) Can God be God before life was old in West Virginia? before those mountains? before an earth existed? Can God be God before the cosmos? before sun and moon and stars could shine out his glory? Can God be God before the skies signed his handiwork? Can God be God before a heavenly court existed over which he might reign as God? (kind of like asking, Can a man, or a woman, be a man, or be a woman, respectively, before begetting, or bearing, respectively, a child? Well, of course, like, Duh!) Oh, Yes! from eternity past through eternity future Thou art God. YHWH.

Here we are, awestruck, this unimaginable God reveals himself in his only son, Jesus, who makes us sons and daughters to the only God beyond all age. As we visit today with a brother or sister, let's marvel with each other in this God of wonder.

Mocked

"God is not mocked," Galatians 6:7.

What goes around comes around. The principle of Karma yields according to how well one has fulfilled one's duty. Status in the next reincarnation (of cycles without count) depends upon the aggregate good or bad you've already done. Scripture is more to the point (this isn't very nice, so the squeamish might want to stop reading here), if you work life pursuing your own ego, you earn more of that rotting self. And then you rot dead. Graves are filled with dead rot, right? Contrarily, if you plant Spirit, the Spirit harvests in you eternal life. One cycle: life, death, resurrection, judgment, eternal life (or Rot). How to plant Spirit? pretty simple, actually: help people. Really. Yeah, and trust in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection to have worked it all. Really. Except the rotting part. That's only for mockers.

We give thanks to Jesus who went around doing good, and we, forgiven, copy that spiritual life. In visits with a brother or sister today, we sow to his Spirit.

Examination

"Examining carefully what is pleasing to the Lord," Ephesians 5:10.

People speak of mindfulness as a centered awareness of this present, simple moment, of right now, excluding all else, in hope of enlightenment. Temporarily, such exercise yields serenity as the mind clears its clutter. Scripture, too, calls children of light to wait on the Lord. What means, Wait? To discern the Lord's pleasure; to understand the Lord's will; to assay whether the fruit of light be found in goodness, righteousness, in truth; to center the mind in the desire to please the Lord. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, kind of thing. To think about, to feel after, to do God's good stuff. Hardly a brainless wait. Rather, a deliberate, intentional, purposeful, perseverant, expectational, thoughtful, watchful, mindful waiting. Doing what we learned that vindicates our Master, Jesus. Until he should appear in the sky.

Thank you, God, and you, Christ, for this hopeful, dynamic wait! Today, we share with a brother or sister a present insight, as we anticipate full eternity tomorrow.

Born

"Born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God," John 1:13.

When Scripture says we must be born again, it's clear that we ourselves do not effect that birth, right? Nicodemus showed the folly of that thought. Nonetheless, lest we forget, the Word tells about a light coming into the cosmos. The enlightening true light. Yet, not recognized by the cosmos he created, rejected by his own culture, he still gave power, right, to become children of God. To whom? to whomever believed in his name. What name? Word (of God). And such power does not arise from culture or ethnicity or pedigree. Such right does not arise from collective human administration, reason, and passion. It does not arise from nature's natural way. Well then, what effects that birth? It's a Who, not a what: The Word become flesh, camping out with us. Glory, grace, truth as the only son of the Father. He (that's Who) makes us children of the same Father. of God.

Remember when you first confessed Jesus as Lord and Christ? not just repeating someone else, but first understanding and believing? of course we do! Sometime today, touch bases with a brother or sister and remind them of the power of God birthing them to a new life.

Shame

"I saw that they did not walk straight with the truth of the gospel," Galatians 2:14.

So Paul must call to repentance none less than the apostle Peter, and others walking hypocritically with him, from their wanderings. What was the nature of this hypocrisy? Did they promote Jesus not to be son of God? Did they teach Jesus failed to rise from the dead? No, none of these. It was what they did. And what did they do? They refused to fellowship in Christ with certain other believers. They separated themselves from such communion. And why did they withdraw fellowship? Because they feared what others might say. Others who saw them mixing with such folk. An equivalent accusation railed against Jesus when he sat at table with sinners and other ne'er do wells. With us. And that's why we practice open communion, we refuse to refuse any wishing to meet at the Lord's table. At the cross.

And so we're overjoyed that Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters! So we worship together. Before too long, call a brother or sister, maybe someone you haven't chatted with in a while, and share our common joy with them.

Assurance

"In the wilderness where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you as a man carries his son," Deuteronomy 1:31.

We have seen such places, indeed, where our God bore us. He carried us, a dad shouldering his kid. In retrospective we recognize God at work, leading the way. Not that it always felt that way at the time. Sometimes it felt as though abandoned, left to the barriers of impossible seas to cross, to the threat of armed chariots in hot pursuit, to the vagaries of waterless wilderness ahead. And, sometimes, it did (and does yet) feel as though carried. A sense of protection, guidance, strength, and even of peace overwhelms the soul as we move into danger. This latter sense usually happens only after knees have touched the earth for a while. After prayer. After eyes open to see what can't be seen: God secures a place to pitch our tents, he gives us fire in the night, he paves the way for safe passage, he leads with assurance through the fog. But more than that, it happens only after hearts open to trust God never to send us ahead of him. Jesus has already pioneered that path.

Remember God worked in the past; believe that God works now. Pray thanksgivings. Today, if possible: Share with an anxious brother or sister the blessed assurance that Jesus is theirs, a foretaste of divine glory. Oh, yes!

History

"I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord," Psalm 77:11.

Remember the good stuff in your personal history? As a child, fun with family? or special holiday traditions? As an adult, sweet moments with a dear friend? adventures into the wild? outstanding experiences with the kids? Remember, perhaps, what makes your culture rich, vibrant? birth of your nation? Remembrance tells where we came from, gives structure to where we're going, speaks who we are. Now we are children of Abraham: Our God is his God. Scripture tells God's action in history, of our God's deeds! When we read of creation, it's our history. Read of Abraham's and Sarah's faith and hope, it's our history. Read of passover? it's our history. Of desert wanderings? it's our history. Of Jesus' life, death, burial, resurrection? it's our history. Of his followers? it's our history. Reading, we remember our God's deeds. Thus, renews a sense of where we've been, where we're going, who we are. Whose we are.

As we also remember the specific deeds God has done in our personal lives, we give thanks. And we take opportunity today or tomorrow to share with a fellow traveler the wonder of our God's mighty love.

Work

"In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision powers anything, but faith working through love," Galatians 5:6.

It's about a new creation! Religious rituals have the trappings of spirituality, they express a form of religion while denying its power. Scripture continues: God's religion makes itself known, like, in visiting orphans and widows. Like in bridling the tongue - what we talk about and how we talk it. Like in honoring (and praying for!) the emperor when we disagree strongly. Loving faith at work. Rites are not ends in themselves. Reading our Bibles and prayer lead to change of our own hearts, our own minds, our own behaviors. We don't read to read, or pray to pray. We read to hear God's truth. We pray to open our own (broken) reality with God. It's not about rituals. It's about a new creation!

We come discouraged, confused, burdened to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; we get new hearts, minds, actions. We give thanks. Remind a brother or sister today that God's at work creating new men and new women. New creation!

Inclusion

"He that is not against you is for you," Luke 9:50.

But then, later, Jesus says: He who is not with me is against me. We like this later one especially when we're drawing lines between the truly righteous versus the less so. Who's in and who's out. You know, like, who's on our team, the vertical striped shirts, our clan, our people, the belongers, the good guys. And who's on the other side, the competition, the horizontal striped shirts, the outsiders, the not-belongers, the bad guys. Not with us? then against us! Jesus' distinction between the phrases shows his distinguishing mark. When people (whatever their stripe) speak admirably of Jesus they're not against us. They're for us. When people attribute to Jesus the work of the devil, they're not with him, they are against him. So, do those folks see Jesus empowered by God, or, by Satan? If the former, then they're with (him, us). If the latter, then they're against. So says Jesus, Lord and Christ.

As we reflect for a few moments now on who's with him and who's not, we give thanks for his inclusion of us. Share good news with a brother or sister today that Jesus includes them, too.

Alive

"If a law had been given which could make alive then righteousness would be by law," Galatians 3:21.

That's the deal with law. Good as it is, it makes no sinner live. To cut out sin (and that's the problem here), law remains powerless. Old law? New law? No matter, Not Able. Can't do it. (We will not confuse law with covenant, right?) Law has no ability to establish righteousness. Law determines extent of failure to meet standards. Law sets standards to justify capital punishment. To end life. Righteously. But not to make a sinner live, righteous. We need a new covenant, not a new law. And Jesus establishes that new covenant with his own sacrifice. That sacrifice erases the writ against us with its righteous judgment. He establishes forgiveness of sin. God's promise in Christ makes sinners live.

We recognize dependence on the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, our life. We give thanks to God, the only source of life. And we take time today to serve a brother or sister in gratitude, alive.

Atheists

"You were without God in the world," Ephesians 2:12.
Without God. Godless. Atheists. (That's what it really says, atheists.) What's a godless person, anyway? Is it someone who doesn't believe in God? having no scruples? without moral compass? somebody worthy of contempt? scorn? Maybe so in customary use. But Scripture connects godless, instead, with being cut off from God. Having no hope. Having no tomorrow worth living today for. Discouraged, peering ahead only to an empty void. Lives of quiet desperation, someone said. No joy. So, to be scorned? not a bit - rather, to be pitied. And thus were we all. But now Christ has come preaching peace - through his blood-sacrifice. He ended hostilities against God (and each other). He brought us near to God. He created us new in God. He gave access to God. He gave citizenship in God's presence. He integrated us into God's very own dwelling place. No longer God-less, now God-full. Hopeful.
As we consider Christ's action we recognize today's troubles are well worth tomorrow's joy. We give thanks. Might you share your living hope with a brother or sister, or an atheist, today?

Proof-child

"With God nothing will be impossible," Luke 1:37.
This, the message young Mary received at the incredible announcement she would bear a son without a man. Yet, no fatherless child, Mary's son: conceived by the power of the Most High, raised by Joseph. But in the moment, where was Mary's proof of God at work? Here: her elderly cousin Elizabeth recently conceiving her only child, by an elderly man. The proof-child born of their age would ready people's hearts for God's new age, a kingdom without end. And what of Mary's child? Eternal king of that eternal kingdom. (Unbelievable -- you have got to be kidding!) And here we are two thousand years later. Millions, countless from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, claim that son of the Most High as King of kings and Lord of lords! What God has wrought.
We marvel, amazed, at God's quiet, and sometimes not-so-quiet, movement of history toward his purposes and goals. Give thanks in fellowship with a brother or sister today that all things are possible with God.

Wonderful Deeds

"We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks; we call on your name and tell your wonderful deeds," Psalm 75:1.
But how to give thanks when tragedy strikes? gratitude, when God's deeds don't seem all that wonderful? Well, we don't. Not at first, for sure. Most folk tune into Job's cry: God, why do you contend against me? Or Martha's: If you had been here, my brother would not have died. If only God acted differently. Then, having vented, we recognize God's still hard at work changing history. So with Job we also say, The Lord gives, the Lord takes away - blessed be the name of the Lord. And with Martha, Yes, Lord; I believe you are the Christ. And then we give thanks in hope for life changes God has wrought and yet does work until the consummation of the age.
As we move from this reading, we acknowledge tough reality, consider God's work, and then we give thanks with grateful hearts. Don't let the sun go down on your gratitude: share troubles with a brother or a sister, and then tell of God's wonderful deeds in your life.

Being Consumed

"Through love be servants of one another," Galatians 5:13.
Christ has set us free from oppressive, cursing detail of law. Right standing before God no longer depends on its meticulous observance. Dead, buried, and raised with Christ, we are now born again to a new life, free at last! Now we can do what we jolly well please, right? (Careful how we answer this. We get in the habit of changing one oppressive law for another.) Well, how did the Lord Jesus Christ use his own unfettered freedom? He had cosmological power and unlimited right to legions of battle angels ... he could have had us for breakfast, devoured worlds at a whim. But rather than consuming, he became consumed. Scripture says, The son of man came not to be served, but to serve. And he calls his own to the same.
Christ living in us, we reflect on our renewed commitment to serve others; and we give thanks. Whom might we serve today? Love them like Jesus.