Welcome to the September 2025 Archive. You are welcome to read the entire archive, or find a topic on the list below that is of interest to you. Just click the link, and you will be taken directly to the day it was written. Enjoy, and may you know God's peace as you read His Word.
You are welcome to use these writings or pass them on. All we ask is that in all things you remember the Author and give Him the glory, and remember this vessel which He has used to bring them to you. Peggy Hoppes
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Scripture on this page taken from the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible which belongs to the public domain.
A WORD FOR TODAY, September 2025
September 1, 2025
“Blessed is everyone who fears Yahweh, who walks in his ways. For you will eat the labor of your hands. You will be happy, and it will be well with you. Your wife will be as a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house, your children like olive shoots around your table. Behold, this is how the man who fears Yahweh is blessed. May Yahweh bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel.” Psalm 128, WEB
Today is Labor Day, an American holiday honoring hard work. We don’t have plans for today. We just got home from a two-week vacation, and we are still working to put our house back to normal. We sometimes think about a day trip somewhere, but it is usually still too hot to go hiking through a park. Even wandering through some historic site doesn’t always sound like fun. On this Labor Day, we refuse to do any labor. I’m not even excited about cooking any food. Funny that we would have a day about laboring, on which we are doing whatever we can to avoid labor!
We use the word labor for the act of physical work, but it is also an economic term that means “to do some sort of service for an economic return.” We spend too many hours each week earning a paycheck so that we can live the life we want to live. It takes money to pay the rent, buy food and clothes, and do all the things we want to do. We would not have been able to take our vacation if we didn’t have the money to put gas in the car, pay for hotels and food, or visit all the fun places we visited.
The first U.S. Labor Day celebration was held in New York City on September 5th, 1882, by the Central Labor Union. It was designed to be a day to show the public the “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations.” The day began with a parade and was followed by a festival of fun and celebration for the workers and their families. The new tradition continued for a second year on September 5th, 1883. It was moved to the first Monday of September by the third year, when the Central Labor Union began encouraging other organizations to join in the celebration. Politicians eventually became involved; they used the day as an opportunity to promote their causes among those who labor in the workforce. The day was made a national holiday in 1894 and according to the Department of Labor is meant to be “An annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers.”
We need laborers; people who work are vital to society and to our daily lives. The best things in life come from those who work hard to create, produce, and provide everything we need, and through them we benefit from the economic and technological progress that we’ve made. We have not always understood the need to respect laborers, however. Those celebrations begun so long ago were part of a movement to make life better for the hard-working men and women who serve us daily in so many ways.
Someone asked young adults what Labor Day is about. The answer was disappointing. One young man answered, “I actually don’t know why we celebrate Labor Day.” Another said, “I have no clue. I was wondering about this the other day. Honestly, I think it’s just a day off work. I have no more info than that.” A young woman asked, “Something to do with America?” The day has become little more than the unofficial end of summer, the transition from the laid-back days of freedom and vacations to the hustle and bustle of school and work. Labor Day is about having fun and relaxing, resting before getting back into the normal grind, not about honoring the importance of work and workers in our world.
Those original Labor Day celebrations were focused on certain people who were part of the union and were even designed to convince others to join the union. We can argue today about whether those organizations still care about the workers or if they have an agenda, but the day is still meant for workers. Whatever it was, and whatever it is, we are reminded on this Labor Day by the words of the psalmist that God cares for the laborer who loves Him. He provides for them. While organizations have provided for the welfare of workers, they are made up of human beings who can lose sight of what really matters. However, we can rest in the trustworthiness of the God who blesses those who fear Him and walk in His ways. He makes our labor worthwhile; He ensures the fruit of our labors will be a blessing. He provides a place for rest, not only one day a year but every day of our lives.
“Therefore Yahweh will wait, that he may be gracious to you; and therefore he will be exalted, that he may have mercy on you, for Yahweh is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him. For the people will dwell in Zion at Jerusalem. You will weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the voice of your cry. When he hears you, he will answer you. Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers won’t be hidden any more, but your eyes will see your teachers; and when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way. Walk in it.’” Isaiah 30:18-21, WEB
We were on vacation for a few weeks, a trip home to Pennsylvania. The main purpose was for my husband to attend his class reunion. We attended a baptism. We did some hiking and went to a car show. We visited our parents’ graves. I went on a quest to find my favorite cheesesteak. We ate too much, laughed a lot, enjoyed conversations with people we don’t see enough. It was a great trip.
We love road trips, but people always ask why we don’t just fly. I don’t mind flying, but I really like being able to load my car with everything I could ever need during our trip. I always take presents home for family and friends. I took Texas foods to share at the reunion picnic. I took my own favorite pillows for sleeping. I took enough clothes to last for two weeks, and then some. I like the freedom of having my own car when we are at home so we can do things without relying on our hosts. We love road trips because you can see so much of the country (we drove through eleven states.) We took a side adventure on our way home and did more eating, hiking, and relaxing. You can’t do that from an airplane.
There are certainly disadvantages. We ran into lots of road construction and some difficult weather. Our hotels on this trip were comfortable, although we’ve stayed in some shady places. Gas isn’t cheap; thankfully we have a car that gets great gas mileage. Still, there’s something exciting about watching for the “Welcome to” signs for each state, crossing the Mississippi River, stopping at roadside rest areas for lunch, visiting travel centers along the way. We enjoyed seeing the changes in the landscape of our magnificent country, and meeting people along the way.
We relied heavily on our GPS, though we’ve done the trip multiple times before that was even a possibility. We decided to travel in new direction, and it turned out to be a great option. We took some back roads through Texas, which ultimately saved us time and frustration. We came home through Texas the “recommended way,” and by the time it was over we decided we would definitely go the new way the next time. We got stuck in multiple traffic jams, which made our arrival at home much later than expected. The GPS sometimes helped. It recalibrates when it sees an option that will save time or gasoline. We took one of the new routes which definitely saved us time. At another point, however, I could see that many people were getting off the road and that the new route would have taken us through city streets with turns and stoplights. It might have been faster, but I’m not so sure. Sometimes the path that seems fastest is not really the best.
The reliance on GPS makes me think about our relationship with God. You have to trust that the GPS knows what is best, although from experience I know that isn’t true. It will often try to take me on adventures I don’t want to experience around the town where I live. I know the roads that are difficult at certain times of the day or in certain types of weather. I know that I’ll be driving by a school that will cause congestion. I know that a certain direction will make turning into my destination difficult. Yet, when I am in an unfamiliar place, the GPS can help get me to where I want to go more easily. There are times I wonder if I should have paid more attention when I thought I knew best.
Isn’t that the way it is in our relationship with God? We think we know best sometimes about the way we should go. Unlike GPS, however, God really does not know the best path for us to take. Sometimes it is confusing, or scary, or doesn’t seem like it makes any sense. Sometimes it even seems like He is leading us into adversity. But even our troubled times have a purpose in God’s will for our lives, to build us into the people He has created us to be. We don’t have to trust in GPS, though it can be helpful, but God is worthy of our trust always. He will guide is into the right path, to the way that leads us to the place we will glorify Him.
Lectionary Scriptures for September7, 2025, Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 1; Philemon 1-21; Luke 14:25-33
“Therefore choose life, that you may live...” Deuteronomy 30:19b, WEB
We always stop at the Texas Welcome Center in Texarkana when we drive home in that direction from out of state. It usually works out to be a good time to take break, and it is a bit of a joke for Texans to celebrate reentering our home (even though we still had four hundred and fifty miles to go.) The rest area has a cool statue of Texas for photo ops, and the center is filled with information about Texas. I always get the updated travel book and map so that it is available for our guests when they come. It is a stop we look forward to during every road trip.
Unfortunately, there is road construction in that area right now, and we missed the sign that told us that we had to get off early and follow the frontage road to the rest area. We aren’t the only ones that miss it; the parking lot was surprisingly empty. When I complained to the girls at the information desk, they assured me that it is a common complaint and that they are trying to get the state and city to make the signage better so that it will be easier for visitors to find them.
This was not the only time we got “lost”. Wrong turns are common when driving through unknown territory, especially when the traffic is heavy or the signs are confusing. The GPS can help, but it is difficult to pay attention to the phone and the traffic and decide which lane is the best option. None of our mistakes were horrible, but I have to admit that I’ve made some scary wrong turns in my life. I have experienced wrong turns that ended on dead end streets in bad neighborhoods. Some wrong turns have added miles to a trip and taken extra time. Of course, sometimes wrong turns can lead to fun adventures, too. Some of the best views are found on the less traveled road.
My daughter never liked when I got lost. She always got nervous if I made a wrong turn. Wrong turns can get a person in trouble, like a time I was driving around New Jersey, trying to find a business. I came to a crossroad that I thought would lead me to the place. I was in the left-hand-turning lane and when I got the green arrow, I began the turn. A drunk driver ran his red light and smashed into my car. I was not injured but I believe that my seat belt saved my life that night. That wrong turn could have meant the difference between life and death.
In today’s Old Testament lesson, two ways lie before the people of Israel, and before us. We are given the choice between life or death, good or evil. Many of our choices have no real consequences. It doesn’t matter if we have hamburgers or spaghetti for dinner or what I wear today. It does matter how we live our life. It does matter if we believe in God or in ourselves. It does matter if we obey the commandments of God or if we decide to walk in His ways. These choices mean the difference between good and evil, between life and death.
Paul gave Philemon a choice. Like my GPS, Paul has a direction he’d like Philemon to go, but it is still a choice that Philemon has to make.
Paul’s letter is a brief snippet of a much larger story. We do not know the beginning or the end. As we read this text, many questions come to mind. We know a little bit about the characters, the time and place where this story is set. Paul is the writer, a passionate Christian who has not only taken God’s word to the world but has suffered for its sake. He is a prisoner, though we do not know from which imprisonment he was writing. We know that Timothy is a friend and co-worker in Christ, a ‘son’ of Paul not in the biological sense, but because Paul was the one who instructed him in the Christian faith. We know that Philemon is a man from Colossae of some means, since he had at least one slave. We also know that he was a Christian. We know that Onesimus was a slave from Colossae who became a Christian under the instruction of Paul.
We do not know how Onesimus became a slave or why he ran away. We do not know how he became friends with Paul. We also do not know what happened to these characters after Paul sent his letter. Did Paul have any impact on the relationship between Onesimus and Philemon? Were they reconciled? Did Onesimus suffer the consequences of his infraction against Philemon? Did Philemon have mercy and receive the slave as a brother in Christ? Did Paul ever see them again?
Paul’s concern was not just for his new friend and brother Onesimus. He was concerned about Philemon. There is a question of a financial matter involved in this story. Was Onesimus purchased or did he owe Philemon a debt which forced him into slavery? Did Onesimus steal from Philemon when he escaped? Paul was so concerned for the welfare of both these men that he was willing to repay the cost to restore the relationship. That is what this story is all about; the details of the lives of the men do not matter as much as Paul’s lesson about the purpose of Christian faith.
The purpose of Christian faith is restoration and forgiveness. Philemon knew the power of God’s forgiveness in his own life because he’d become a Christian. He knew the transforming power of the call of God in the lives of those who believe. Onesimus also learned about the forgiveness that comes from faith through the teaching and concern of his new friend Paul. Onesimus, though still a slave, was something new, he was a brother in Christ to all those who believed in Jesus. He was transformed and willing to serve. Did his good graces extend even to the one who had held him as a slave, and did he return with courage and hope to the place where he belonged?
Along with forgiveness, we see a lesson is living our vocation in and through the faith we have been given. Philemon was master, Onesimus a slave. In Christ the roles of life do not change but the way we deal with one another does. In our churches there are often people who are CEOs of a company worshiping next to employees. That relationship reaches beyond the church door as the CEO is expected to treat the employee with Christian love and respect even in the workplace and vice versa, neither one taking advantage of their position in the church or in the world to set themselves ahead or above the other.
God puts us in a time and place and in relationships to accomplish His good and perfect work. He needs people who are masters and slaves, CEOs and employees, and He calls each one of us to live our Christian faith together not only within the walls of the church, but in our little corner of the world so that others might see how God’s grace is transformative. We don’t know the full story of Philemon and Onesimus, but we see in Paul’s letter the purpose of the church: restoration of relationships for the sake of God’s Kingdom. Those two brothers in Christ were called forgive one another so that they could work together in Colossae with grace to help the church grow in truth and in spirit.
Our drought is far from over, but we have been blessed with more rain this summer than usual. Much of the state is recovering, while a small area is still dry. It is greener than normal for this time of year and there is the promise of more rain to come. I watched a video this morning a man took with a drone of a lake north of us that went from half empty to nearly full in a matter of one storm. Waterfalls that disappear during times of drought are flowing. Though some of the other lakes are still quite dry, you can see how even a little water can make a difference.
This is not unusual for Texas. We only have one natural lake, and that is in the east. The other lakes are reservoirs created by dams on the rivers. It has been so dry that many of those rivers, and the creeks that fill them, have been dry. After years of drought, it is hard to even see that there are creeks in the landscape. There are many of these dry creek beds around the state. When I first moved here, I didn’t even realize they were creek beds because there had never been any water, and yet when it does rain they fill to the brim and flow like rivers. One thing I’ve learned, though, is that those dry creek beds are recognizable by the trees that line them even during the dry times. Those lines of trees often seem out of place, seeming to follow an imaginary creek. They grew there because of the water that occasionally flows in our semi-arid environment. We don’t see it, but those creeks continue to flow underground even when the surface creeks are dry. Those trees have water we don’t see.
The psalmist wrote that the man who lives by God’s Word is like a tree planted by the streams of water. This is not simply a matter of living a life that is righteous according to the Law but is about living in a relationship with God. God does not come to us because we are righteous, but we are made righteous by His presence. We are given all the faith and grace we need; dwelling with those gifts will keep us on the paths which God has designed for us. Dwelling in those gifts means avoiding the things that will bring harm upon us, our neighbors, and the world. Dwelling in God’s grace means that we won’t walk in the counsel of the wicked because we have His council by which to walk. Dwelling in God’s faith means not conforming to the ways of the sinners because we are being transformed by His love. Dwelling in God’s presence means that we will meditate on His Word, day and night.
Does this mean we are to reject the world and become hermits with only the Bible to keep us occupied? No, we are called to take God with us wherever we go. This means keeping His Word in our hearts and in our minds. It means taking time daily for prayer and study, for renewing ourselves by drinking in the waters of life. All too often we think that we are strong enough, faithful enough, knowledgeable enough to live on what is already a part of our lives. We may have read the bible a dozen times, so why do we need to read it again? We go to church and hear a few passages read and expounded, why do we need to read it ourselves every day?
The problem with living in a semi-arid environment is not just that our lawns are not green and our flowers die. Unfortunately, the growth in Texas means there is less water for everyone. When those lakes are empty, the farmers don’t have enough water to grow food. Our water source is disappearing, so we are forced to ration. We still need to use water, but the aquifer where we get most of our water is not being refilled as fast as we are using it. Thankfully, recent rains have helped, but there is still a long way to go.
Have you ever experienced a spiritual drought? Have you had times when you just didn’t feel the living water fill you? Sadly, there are churches where the Word of God is not proclaimed and the people seem to be following that wrong path. The choices they make may not have earthly life or death consequences, but they do affect the eternity of those who listen. They’ve lost touch with the God of the Bible. A friend once told me about a conversation that he had with a person who attended a different church. He questioned the friend about decisions they were making and how they stood in light of the scriptures. “Oh,” his friend said, “The Bible has changed.” While the Bible is a living document that we must interpret to understand, we are reminded that God is the same today, tomorrow, and always. His Word does not change, even as we might hear it in new ways. God has a path He has designed for us to travel, but like me and the GPS, sometimes we decide to go our own way.
I read a lot of commentaries as I prepare the lessons for my classes. It is interesting, however, to note how often the commentaries do not agree. Even trained theologians see the scriptures from different points of view. I follow a gifted teacher, and he’s constantly upbraided by commenters on his posts about how wrong he is about his lesson for that day. Too many people will pick and choose what they want the Word to say instead of seeking what God means. I once attended a “bible study” that never opened a bible. We read books about issues than discussed them from every point of view but God’s. It is no wonder many Christians are living in a spiritual drought.
While it is good to follow good teachers and to read commentaries to better understand, we need to keep reading the scriptures daily on our own, to hear God speak to us through His Word, to pay attention to what the Bible says. We need to do this with prayer, not trusting in the writings of human begins, but trusting God to dwell in our hearts and our lives through the Holy Spirit, filling us with His Word so we’ll follow the right path.
I didn’t write for two weeks while we were on vacation, but I continued my daily devotions and even began working on my next study. I knew that if I set it aside for even a few days, I’d lose touch. This may seem impossible, but it is much easier to atrophy than we expect. For the past few years I have tried to build muscle while I worked to get healthier, and even a few days of riding in a car made my muscles week. Even a few days without God’s Word makes it easier for the world’s ways to creep into our minds.
We need to drink water daily to live; the same is true of the scriptures. After a time without renewal and study we lose sight of what matters, the lines between the wicked and the righteous blur. We lose touch with God. When we live without regular study and reading of the scriptures, we are like the tree that is planted in the dry field far from the source of life. God intends for us to be like the tree that dwells by the streams, drinking in His Word daily for life. We can choose to be satisfied with what we know of the scriptures, but then we will risk losing touch with the God who speaks to us daily when we are willing to listen. When our spiritual muscles atrophy, we are more likely to follow the wrong path.
God has a plan for our life, like Philemon and Onesimus. We might not always like what He is calling us to do. No one wants to be a slave, yet even a lowly position at a company can serve God’s purpose in ways we do not understand. Paul wrote to Philemon to encourage him to receive Onesimus as a brother, to grant him forgiveness, and to be reconciled to him in Christian love. It went against everything he understood about business and society, but for him it was the cost of discipleship. To be a follower of Jesus means more than just words or good deeds. It means more than giving up the easy things like immoral behavior. It means hating your very life, turning your back on everything for the sake of Christ. It went against everything he knew about business and society, but for him it was the cost of discipleship.
Jesus not only asks us to follow Him, but He demands that those who want to be His disciples “hate” everything else. Most of those who were in the large crowds that followed Jesus believed in Him, at least to a point. They believed that He could do great things and that He was a charismatic and credible speaker. He had authority they had never seen in any man.
They followed Him until He told them what it meant to be a disciple. His words were too harsh. Discipleship meant putting Him first. The people in the crowds had not given themselves fully to Jesus. They could leave at any moment, to go home to care for the needs of home and family. They believed but had not committed themselves to Him. It is a very hard thing that Jesus asks. It is hard to give up everything, to turn our backs on everyone we love. I can’t imagine giving up the wonderful life I have been living. It is an impossible request from Jesus.
And yet, does the servant who stays with the master want for anything? No, the master’s servant had everything he needed: a home, food, work, clothes, family and friends. This is what Paul was encouraging Philemon to do: to treat Onesimus as one of his own. That’s what Jesus does for us. He does not call us to live life with nothing. He does not tell us to become penniless wanderers. He asks us to give up our very lives for His sake to be more than just followers. He calls us to pick up our cross and follow Him.
It might not see like a very good path to follow. For two thousand years people have picked up a cross to follow a path that led to martyrdom. Even today people suffer for the sake of Christ, losing jobs because they refuse to give in to the expectations of the world or losing family and friends that do not understand their faith.
Our choices have consequences, and though we will not suffer the wrath of God for poor decisions, we will suffer the consequences of a life poorly lived. We will also miss out on the blessings of grace if we turn our back on the One from whom true life comes. God, in His love and mercy, calls us to put Him first. Following Jesus comes at a great cost, but God already paid a greater cost. Jesus made the greatest sacrifice so that we could follow Him. He paid the debt to set us free. In that freedom we are called to willingly serve Him, to turn our hearts away from the world to become His disciples. As disciples we truly know what it means to be blessed, even if we suffer the wrath of the world. Our sacrifice will last but a season, but we will one day know the blessing of dwelling with Him forever.
We are shocked by Jesus’ comment in today’s Gospel lesson. He said, “If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple.” The word “disregard” in World English Bible is often translated “hate.” It seems like Jesus contradicts himself since He talks about honoring mother and father, loving our neighbors and enemies. How can we both honor and love them but also hate them? In this passage, Jesus tells us to consider the cost of following Him.
The word “hate” is defined in Webster’s as “intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury, extreme dislike or antipathy, loathing.” If it is used as a verb, it means, “to feel extreme enmity toward, have a strong aversion to, find very distasteful.” Imagine the shock Jesus must have provoked with His comments in today’s lesson. Are we really to hate our mother and father?
“Hate,” as it was understood in ancient Israel, had to do with priorities. To hate something meant to turn your back on it, to separate yourself from it. Jacob loved Rachel but hated Leah. Obviously, he did not feel a strong aversion to her since they created several children together. This passage simply means that Jacob put Rachel first, turning his back on Leah for Rachel’s sake. When Jesus calls us to hate our mothers and fathers, our wives and our children, our friends and neighbors and enemies, He is not telling us to abandon them or treat them as if they don’t exist. He is simply calling us to put Him first, setting aside everything and everybody else for His sake. It is a matter of priorities, placing God ahead of everything else, including ourselves. It is a heavy cost and never easy, but it is the life to which each disciple is called.
Jesus told them two parables: one about a builder and the other about a warrior king. He asked what would happen if they did not count the cost of their projects. The builder would be seen as a fool when his foundation lay undeveloped, the king would be routed by the enemy. The builder and the king had to count the cost so that they knew if they could succeed. The cost of discipleship is great. It means giving up everything for the sake of Christ. Jesus wanted the crowds to consider whether or not they wanted to be followers or disciples. It is much harder to be a disciple. “So therefore, whoever of you who doesn’t renounce all that he has, he can’t be my disciple.”
I wonder if it is possible to truly become this kind of disciple, though there are some throughout history that seem to have come close. I can’t imagine giving up everything I own and everyone I love or to turn my back completely on the society in which I live, to follow Jesus wherever He might lead. I praise God for the incredible blessings I have in my family, my home, my work in this world. Perhaps this is an impossible request from Jesus. Yet, this is the demand of discipleship, and by God’s grace we can fully commit to Him.
The crosses we must bear have nothing to do with the suffering we experience in this imperfect world. Jesus gives us a choice but calls us to willingly give up the freedom we think we have and take up a life following His direction, even if it means the loss of everything we love in this world. We will find, in the end, that by hating the world and turning to Him, that we will have so much more love to give to the world through Him. It is, perhaps, the most difficult choice we will ever have to make, but being a disciple will reap the greatest benefits in this life and the next.
“Oh come, let’s sing to Yahweh. Let’s shout aloud to the rock of our salvation! Let’s come before his presence with thanksgiving. Let’s extol him with songs! For Yahweh is a great God, a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth. The heights of the mountains are also his. The sea is his, and he made it. His hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let’s worship and bow down. Let’s kneel before Yahweh, our Maker, for he is our God. We are the people of his pasture, and the sheep in his care. Today, oh that you would hear his voice! Don’t harden your heart, as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers tempted me, tested me, and saw my work. Forty long years I was grieved with that generation, and said, ‘They are a people who err in their heart. They have not known my ways.’ Therefore I swore in my wrath, ‘They won’t enter into my rest.’” Psalm 95, WEB
Our final day of travel was frustrating and exhausting. We missed the exit for our first stop because road construction signs were not well placed. We took a wrong turn as we left that stop and had to turn around to get going in the right direction. We hit severe weather as we approached our second stop, weather that was causing flash street flooding and impossible conditions. I was driving and could barely see the car in front of me. What should have taken minutes too much longer. We waited for the storm to lessen at a rest area, then continued on our way. The rain continued, but it was not as bad. We got through the maze of highway junctions and were well on our way. Then we hit road construction which backed up traffic for miles. The GPS wanted to send us on detours, but those routes didn’t seem much better. We made our final stop to get gas and breathe a bit.
There was a storm cloud to the west as we got on the road for the final leg of our trip. I watched that cloud, uncertain whether it would be in our path. Sometimes it seemed like we would drive right into it, knowing that if we did it would mean heavy rain again. Just as I thought I would have to deal with it, the road turned and we were riding beside the storm. I was almost certain that it would stop over our house when we wanted to unload the car. Fortunately, it always stayed at a distance.
We’ve had similar experiences in the past. On one trip through Oklahoma, we watched a cloud bank for more than a hundred miles. It was one of those experiences that made us realize that we are very small and inconsequential. We are little more than a tiny spot on the big sphere of the earth. This happens when we stand on a mountain top, a beach by the ocean, or a desert at night when you can see a million stars. West Texas offers a view of the sky that seems to go on forever, an airplane flies above the clouds, and rainbows span from one end of the earth to another.
It is hard to remember our insignificance when we are rushing around during our daily life. We seem to conquer the world. We build buildings that reach to the sky and we can travel around the world in a matter of hours. We can see the DNA make-up of a human child before he or she is born and we can send men into outer space. Yet, I learned from experience that we can’t control the weather. We can’t make oceans, rainbows, or recreate the earth that God created. Though we have done and can do, we will never conquer the world completely.
While we do recognize that we are a just a small part of the whole wide world, there are times when we forget our insignificance. There are times when we think that the entire creation revolves around us, especially when we are struggling. When the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, they knew nothing but their hunger and thirst. They did not remember their suffering in slavery or God’s deliverance from Egypt. They knew only their needs, but at Meribah and Massah, God reminded them of His presence and His grace. In the midst of their suffering, God was always ready to meet their needs.
I have been awed by the endlessness of water, land and sky. There are times and places where they seem to go on forever. To experience the vast wilderness of earth is enough to make a person feel very, very small. I am even more awed by the fact that it was all made by God. And though God made the heavens and the earth, though He created the vast oceans, the land and all that lives here, though He controls it all with His hands, He also knows my name. He gave me that name and invites me to call Him Father. Whenever I feel insignificant, I can remember that through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, the God of all creation has given me a share of His eternal kingdom which is even more awesome than anything I can see on earth. We are reminded that even though we are little more than a speck on the face of this earth, no matter what our circumstances that God is near and that He is ready to meet our needs. Thanks to God’s care, we can enter His rest now and forever.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4, WEB
One of our adventures during our vacation was a visit to a state park with waterfalls. I knew the trail was difficult, but I believed that I could handle it. We were spoiled when we visited the national parks in Wyoming because all the trails were easy, paved or lined with boardwalk. There are, of course, much harder trails in the back woods, but we didn’t take those mostly due to time. I had visited this particular state park when I was a teenager, and I only vaguely remembered the trail. I thought I could surely handle it now even better than I did then.
It turned out to be much harder than I ever expected. The trail is inaccessible except at the trailheads, which meant that once you were on your way, you had to finish the trail or go back the way you came. The path we took followed a creek for about a mile, then turned to follow the creek back up to the top for another mile. Then we followed a third mile-long path back to the beginning. The path is mostly rough, except for a few places where they have built rock slab steps. Unfortunately, the stairs were not even, sometimes slippery because of the mist, and sometimes very deep. Some were at least 18 inches. I am short with small legs and my leg muscles are not as strong as I thought, so those steps were nearly impossible. I sat down to negotiate the steps on more than one occasion. It didn’t help that the path had no handrails at all.
Thankfully it was not crowded, so we only occasionally had to step aside and tell the other hikers, “Go ahead, we are old and slow.” They laughed with us and went on their way. I had a few scary moments. I fell once and stumbled a couple times. I was thankful that Bruce was there. He held my hand to help me when it seemed impossible. He patiently waited whenever I had to sit for a moment. He had his own struggles with the steps and the vertigo of the water side cliffs. A kind man helped on one occasion when I just couldn’t navigate the step. Other hikers were kind and encouraging. “You are doing great,” they would tell us. A few assured us that the worst was behind us, though I’m not sure they were telling us the truth. We thought about turning back, but there was a point when it was pointless. “We might as well do it all, since we’ve come this far.” Near the end of the trail we sat on a bench and saw a rock that was painted with the words “You can do it.” We did. It took us longer than it should have, but we accomplished it together, and with the help of strangers. We even had the opportunity to share a Little Jesus with some of the hikers.
Our lives are filled with challenges, some that seem impossible. We face the death of loved ones, illness, financial troubles, unmanaged stress, fear and temptation, perhaps even persecution. We struggle with doubt caused by the expectations of those around us. We don’t always have people who will encourage us, often having to go it alone on those difficult paths. We get frustrated and want to give up. We weren’t the only one struggling with the trail. There were at least a few who turned around. Yet there were some people who seemed to have such peace through adversity, just as there are Christians who can walk in faith through the tough times. How did they do it? They persevered. How did we do it? We persevered. We were exhausted by the end of the trail. Our bodies ached for days, but we accomplished our goal. Getting through the tough times of faith will not be easy, and we may feel the effects for a long time, but with faith we can trust that God will help us to endure.
September 8, 2025
“Yahweh, how many are your works! In wisdom, you have made them all. The earth is full of your riches. There is the sea, great and wide, in which are innumerable living things, both small and large animals. There the ships go, and leviathan, whom you formed to play there. These all wait for you, that you may give them their food in due season. You give to them; they gather. You open your hand; they are satisfied with good." Psalm 104:24-28, WEB
I’ve had a few jobs over the years, but for most of my adult life I have been a homemaker. I worked in retail, taught preschool, and had various part time jobs, but I was blessed to stay home with my children when they were young, and I willingly volunteered at school, church, and with multiple organizations. I like to be helpful. I still give my time in different ways, but the work I do is so much different than it was when I was younger. Sometimes I wonder if I am really accomplishing anything of substance.
A few years ago, I volunteered at a theme park built for special needs people. I only worked a few hours a week, and my job was to open the door for incoming guests. Sometimes, when things got very busy, I helped the paid staff check in the guests. I even did a little entertaining for those who had to wait in line. I answered questions and directed people to where they needed to go.
As with most theme parks, summer was pretty busy. We were also busy during the school year on days when we welcomed students on field trips. There were days, however, when it was quiet. I remember a time when the park was nearly empty; we had little to do, both employees and volunteers. I didn’t have to help the staff because they could easily handle the visitors. The guests arrived in good order, so there was no waiting time. The only thing I could do was the simple task of opening the door, but even that was unnecessary because we had so few people coming in and going out.
I took every opportunity to open the door. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to just stand around for hours. I constantly look for something to do to make time pass more quickly. At one point, one of the directors of the park and the park developer walked outside for the nth time. The director turned to me and said, “You don't have to do that every time, you make me feel like a king when you do!” I know I'm there to take care of the guests, and he probably feels bad that I’m working so hard for him. He knows that I am worthy of far more than a job being doorperson. But my point of view was that my purpose when I was at the park was to open the door, and I was going to do the best job of it I could. That meant opening the door for everyone. It wasn’t a very important job, but it was my purpose during those hours when I was at the park.
I was struck by verse 26b in today’s Psalm, about the leviathan, “whom you formed to play there.” Leviathan was created to play; that was its purpose. It doesn’t seem very important, and it certainly doesn’t seem very productive, but that was its job. We often think we need to have some important and productive work, but the reality is that God has created us for our purpose, whatever it is, and it might not seem like a very big deal. We can’t have a world filled with park directors; there also have to be people to open the door. We are not necessarily created to play, but we do have a purpose. We just have to realize that our purpose might not be something grand or significant. It might not be world changing or lifesaving. It might be something as simple as opening a door.
September 9, 2025
“Do good to your servant. I will live and I will obey your word. Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law. I am a stranger on the earth. Don’t hide your commandments from me. My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times. You have rebuked the proud who are cursed, who wander from your commandments. Take reproach and contempt away from me, for I have kept your statutes. Though princes sit and slander me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Indeed your statutes are my delight, and my counselors.” Psalm 119:17-24, WEB
I am usually very observant. I notice pretty flowers when I am hiking. I notice new construction during my daily drive. I notice new food offerings at the grocery store. I notice spelling mistakes in memes. (My observations are not always positive.) I suppose it is partly because I am an artist that I notice details that most people miss. I see the dead tree in the midst of an autumn forest. I notice cornstalk growing in a field of sorghum. I notice the car which is not parked very well (although I confess that I am quite guilty of terrible parking.)
There are often good reasons why we don’t notice things. We are late for an appointment and do not have time to stop to smell the roses. We are frustrated by a traffic jam, so we pay attention to the new construction on the side of the road. We have ice cream melting in our shopping cart, so we do not take time to peruse the shelves for new products. We don’t see beyond our little corner of the world when we are tired, or scared, or angry. Positive emotions can blind us to things we should see, too. We don’t always see the pain in a friend when we are happy about something in our own lives. We don’t realize our neighbor is struggling when we are excited about buying a new car. There are lots of things in this life that blind us to the reality of our sin and the incredible wonder of God’s grace.
Today’s psalm is a cry and prayer to God during a time of unease. David has noticed his own sinfulness and seeks God’s grace, humbling himself before God and acknowledging His wisdom. He seeks God’s guidance through prayer. We see in his words a reliance on a higher power for clarity and strength in times of trouble. We are reminded that we are never along in our struggles, that God is always ready to hear and listen to our prayers and provide us a way forward.
The reality is that we deserve the consequences of our sin. If God dealt with us as we deserve, we would perish. We are called to lives of service to Him, noticing all the wonderous things He has done and all the opportunities to share His love and grace that He puts before us. The world tends to blind us to all these things. We do not see our pride or our neighbor’s needs. We do not see God’s presence when we are distracted by the good and the bad that we face each day.
This psalm encourages us to be humble and seek God’s help in noticing what He would have us see. We beg God to open our eyes so we will see what He would have us see, both good and bad. By seeing the good, the “wondrous things” we praise God and thank Him. By seeing our sinfulness, we learn how to live according to His Word, transformed by His Spirit into the people He created and redeemed us to be. By His grace we can get through the tough times, relying on His power to overcome that which would harm us, even ourselves. We ask God to open our eyes so that we’ll see what truly matters and live accordingly, delighting in His Word that saves us.
We look not only to the scriptures for God’s Word, however, because we have been given a greater Savior: Jesus. He is the most wonderous thing, the joining of Law and Gospel, of wisdom and mercy. We may deserve to die because of our sin, but Jesus took God’s wrath from us and gives us life in His eternal kingdom. “Open my eyes, Lord” we ask that we understand what He has promised, seeing the truth by His Light. We can’t carry any cross without Him, but with Him every struggle is easier to bear. He comforts us with Himself when all other comforts do nothing. With eyes wide open we’ll not only see the things that catch our eyes in this world, but we’ll accept our need to repent and lean of God’s grace. Through faith in Jesus Christ.
September 10, 2025
Lectionary Scriptures for September 14, 2025, Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Ezekiel 34:11-24; Psalm 119:169-176; 1 Timothy 1:(5-11) 12-17; Luke 15:1-10
“The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1:15-16, WEB
We have a collection of crosses that are displayed all over our home. Some of them were gifts, some were purchased as souvenirs on vacations, and some were given at key moments of our lives. As I look at our crosses, I remember the people, places, and events that are connected to each one.
In the fourth century, Christianity was becoming more widely accepted in the Roman world. The Emperor Constantine was known as the first Christian emperor. He stopped the persecution done by his predecessor and proclaimed an edict of religious tolerance for the empire. His mother Helena was a devoted Christian who set out on a journey to Jerusalem to find the ancient relics of the Church. Helena was placed in charge of the quest by her son, and the journey was paid for by the state treasury. Helena discovered several sights, often hidden beneath buildings from former emperors who put temples to their gods over sites thought to be original Christian landmarks, including the site of Jesus’ tomb and the cross of Christ. She built churches to mark the places that meant so much to Christians, and today we are able to travel to Jerusalem to see those places and remember the story of our Lord. Modern archeologists generally agree that she was accurate in her placement of those churches.
Sunday is Holy Cross Day. On September 13, 335, Helena’s basilica built over the Holy Sepulchre was consecrated in Jerusalem. The day after the church’s consecration, the relic of the cross was exalted for the first time to the people for veneration. Helena was certain that she had found the actual cross, which was carried into the basilica on September 14th. Legend says that she actually found three crosses, but she brought a sick and dying woman to the site and had her touch the three crosses. Nothing happened with the first two, but when she touched the third, she was healed. Helena proclaimed that only the cross of Christ could save a woman from the brink of death, so that cross was installed in the church.
I love thinking about the people, places, and events connected to each one of my crosses, but I love my crosses even more because they remind me of Jesus Christ who died on the cross to save me from death and the grave. They cause me to think about the grace of God that grants forgiveness to those who trust in His promises. We might think that it was a waste of time for Helena to build a church to honor a piece of wood that might, or might not be, the real cross, or for us to have cross collections. To many in our world, the cross is foolishness and God’s way of salvation is ridiculous, but we celebrate Holy Cross Day because the cross is salvation to those who believe.
The Old Testament lesson for Holy Cross Day is about Moses and the company of Hebrews as they traveled to the Promised Land. The people were tired, hungry, thirsty, and frustrated. They grumbled and began to doubt the promise. They wondered why God would deliver them out of Egypt to die in the desert. God answered with venomous snakes that bit the people. Many died. Why would God do such a thing? As happened over and over again in the Old Testament, whenever the people faced trouble, they cried out to God. They asked Moses to pray for them. When he did, God commanded Moses to make the image of a snake on a pole, displayed for all the community to see. All who were bitten by the snakes needed only to look at the bronze image on the pole and they would be healed.
Why? Wasn’t there an easier way for God to save His people? They hoped God would take the problem away rather than offering them a source of healing. The reason God did it this way is because the people had taken their eyes off the promise, off God. They only cared about their needs and desires, forgetting that God was delivering them from a life of bondage and oppression. The snakes and the snake on the pole helped them see God’s power and authority over everything. They turned to Him for salvation from the snakes, but God provides so much more through Jesus Christ.
Just like our doubt about the snake pole in the wilderness, we look at the cross and wonder if there couldn’t have been a better way. How could a loving God be so cruel to His own Son? Sin is a sign and a symptom that something is wrong, that there is brokenness and imperfection in our lives. We fail, We do what is wrong and don’t do what is right. We are upside down and backwards against God’s good and perfect purpose and intent for our lives. Something needed to be fixed. God could, and did, offer forgiveness to His people even without the cross, but the cross offered something far more important than just the forgiveness of sins. The cross provides healing and wholeness. The cross convicts, opening our eyes to the reality of our brokenness and imperfection, but on that same cross was lifted the Son that has saved the world. We see God’s love in both the conviction of our sin, as God calls attention to the things that make us imperfect before Him, and in the promise of forgiveness and healing. It is an object of both pain and peace, an object that shows us our failure and draws us into God’s heart. That’s what makes it so holy, because it is through the cross that we are restored to the God who has loved us eternally.
Still, the cross seems like foolishness to the world. They might agree that Jesus was a person, a teacher, a healer, but they don’t understand how we can put so much of our lives into faith in a man. Those of us who know Jesus can’t imagine what life would be like without Him. We wonder at those people who live day after day without some relationship with God. We can’t fathom the atheist who claims there is no God, especially when we see a perfect rose, a brightly colored rainbow, or feel a cool breeze on a hot day. We see God’s hand in the coincidences that seem to occur at just the right moment in just the right place to answer our prayers. We see Him in our relationships, in our worship, in our lives as we walk forth in faith. So, we cannot understand how they do not see Him also.
Yet, even as we do not understand how they do not see Him, do we show them? Those who hear us speak the Gospel may not believe when they first hear it. They may not even believe it a week, a month, or years after they heard. Unfortunately, those of us who do know the Lord sometimes lose sight of Him. Just like the Israelites in the desert, we get caught up in our own needs and desires, forgetting the wondrous things God has done. The history of Israel is like a roller coaster: they believe, they forget, they turn from God, over and over again. They did it in the age of the judges and in the age of the kings. We do it today. We have good moments and bad moments. We are human and we get distracted by the temptations of this world.
I spent a few years in retail management. When I worked for Woolworth’s as an assistant manager, I had a great boss at a store in New Jersey. A nearby store had an assistant manager that seemed to be doing a great job. He arrived at work extremely early. The district managers assumed he was there to get more work accomplished. They thought he was proving his worth so he would rise more quickly in the company. Quite frankly, we all worked hard proving ourselves because we all wanted to get ahead. One day, however, his store manager discovered that his early arrivals had nothing to do with his career. He was a baseball card collector. We knew this because he had purchased hundreds of dollars of baseball cards. He also stole thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise by walking it out the back door during those early morning hours. He was fired and charged with theft. I was moved to that store to fill the hole created when he was fired.
Unfortunately, he managed to get some of the employees involved with his scheme. The job of an assistant manager is to lead the employees, to teach them to do their jobs, and to ensure the success of the store. He not only stole merchandise, but he also destroyed the spirit of that store. Those who lead others have a responsibility to make sure that they do their best to protect not only their own jobs, but they must care for the people and the institutions for which they were liable. We had to find out which employees were involved in his scheme and let them go.
In today’s Old Testament lesson from Ezekiel, we see that ancient Israel was dealing with something similar. In the beginning, they had God as their King and He provided prophets and judges to lead them. There were also priests, whose job was to minister to the Lord and administer the sacrifices. Eventually they wanted to be like everyone else; they wanted to be a kingdom with an earthly ruler who would guide their lives. God warned them that earthly kings would demand much from the people; that some would be cruel and lay heavy burdens on their lives. Some would lead them astray. They still wanted a human king.
God granted their request. Over the years, some of the kings were cruel and the people were led from the path of righteousness. Israel lost their independence, the line of kings ended, and they were left desolate. By the time that Jesus was born, puppet kings were controlled by the Romans. Even the priests and temple leaders were more interested in their own welfare and position than that of the people they were called to lead.
The LORD knew what was going to happen to His people so He promised that He would search for them when they were lost. He was their Shepherd King from the beginning, and He would continue to shepherd them even when they forgot about Him. He promised that though the priests would abandon them for their own selfish needs and desires, He would never let them go. He promised that He would bring them home, give them all they need and tend them as a shepherd tends his sheep. He would not allow any to be lost and all those who suffer would be healed. He makes that same promise to us today when we stray.
He did this by sending Jesus who is our Shepherd, our Savior. Jesus came to fulfill the promises, to fire the bad leaders, to make things right and to return the hearts of God’s people to Him again. It was not an easy task, for only through the cross of humiliation could God’s people be reconciled to Him once again. But Jesus did it; He died for you and for me. Today, we still face human leaders that will lead us astray and put heavy burdens on our lives. There are even such leaders within the church, those who care only for their own welfare and position and who care nothing for the sheep they are called to lead. But God will never abandon His sheep whether they were led astray or wandered away on our own.
In the desert, the Israelites only had to draw near and look at the snake to be healed. It was a matter of faith that God forgives and makes all things new. Some died because they did not believe. The snake was a foreshadowing of what Jesus would be to Israel, but many who lived in the days of Jesus were not willing to believe in Him. There are still too many today who refuse and reject the God who makes all things right, even when we do not understand why He does what He does.
In today’s Gospel lesson, the sinners and tax collectors were drawing near to Jesus. We normally expect that the faithful will flock to a preacher and teacher, but in Jesus’ case the righteous (the self-righteous) were offended by Him. They saw Him as a threat. They saw Him as opposite of everything they expected in a Savior. He did not appear more righteous than others because He did things that seemed counter to the Law of Moses. He had mercy on sinners. He ate with tax collectors. He touched the unclean and offered forgiveness to all who sought Him. They came to Him because He had something to offer them, something they could not find anywhere else. The righteous, the self-righteous, did not need mercy or forgiveness. They did not need God’s grace, so they turned away from God by rejecting His Son.
They accused Jesus of being unrighteous. Jesus answered with some parables: one about a shepherd and one about a woman. Both were seeking something of value. These were stories about Jesus Himself. He had come to find the lost sheep and the lost coin. The people who came to hear Him, to receive His grace were the ones He came to find. The religious leaders grumbled about how this “supposed rabbi” welcomed sinners and tax collectors and ate with them. They did not understand that those people were drawn to Him because He came for them. The lost sheep heard the voice of their Master and came running for deliverance. The Pharisees and the scribes did not hear that voice. They did not recognize the voice. They did not know Jesus. The tax collectors and sinners knew Him and they knew they needed what He had to give.
The scribes and Pharisees had not turned to Roman gods, but they were drawn away from God by a much less obvious one: themselves. They only cared about their needs and desires; they forgot that God loved them and called them to ministry that would glorify Him. They relied on their self-righteousness, their obedience to a set of laws, and their own interpretation of them. They looked down on Jesus because He willingly lived counter to their expectations. They had forgotten that God is the God of mercy and grace, that He loves all who seek Him and that He seeks those who are lost. They missed that Jesus was the one whom God had sent to bring His people home. Like some of the Israelites in the desert, they refused to look at the One who could save them.
Ezekiel was commanded to give a warning to the shepherds of Israel. “Tell them that they are not taking care of my sheep.” The rulers of Israel were more concerned about their own well-being than that of those whom they were charged with leading. Their lack of care scattered the sheep of their fold, put them in danger of being devoured by the false teachers. The rulers were fat and well clothed, but the people were hungry and lost. God said, “Behold, I am against the shepherds.”
Every warning comes with a promise, and that’s what we hear in Ezekiel. God will care for His flock, searching for those who are missing, restoring them to the field where they will be fed, and giving them rest. There are always some in every group who are weak and those who are strong. Just as it was true in the days of Ezekiel, it was also true in Jesus’ day. The priests, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees had all the power, and they put heavy burdens on the people. They talked the talk but didn’t walk the walk. They did what suited them and expected perfection from others. They didn’t even see their own sinfulness.
Paul had a most extraordinary story to tell. He was passionate for God without even knowing Him, willingly accosting any who stood for the Way, the Christian faith. One day Christ came to him on the road to Damascus in a powerful and frightening way. Paul was changed forever by the encounter. Few of us can tell a similar story. Most of us know about God and have faith in Christ because of the patient and persistent witness of those who came before us. I wonder how many times Paul heard the Gospel before he met Jesus that day on the road to Damascus. I wonder how many people he rejected and harmed out of his zealousness for the old way. I wonder how many people – like Ananias – thought Paul was beyond hope, choosing to give up on him rather than risk his wrath.
In his first letter to Timothy, Paul recognized his sinfulness, admitting to having been ignorant while he thought himself to be wise. We often see Paul as being strong, arrogant, and self-centered because he talks about himself so much, even in letters of encouragement to others. In this passage he writes, “...for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life.” However, Paul was not holding himself up as an example of Christ-like living to follow, but as a sample of a humble, repentant sinner receiving God’s amazing grace. Paul didn’t become the great evangelist by any power of his own, but by the power of God’s love and mercy. He calls himself the foremost sinner, not because he thinks himself greater than others but because he recognized how he never deserved God’s grace because he had rejected God. He looked to Jesus and was saved, healed, and transformed into an apostle who glorified God.
It is good to emulate the work of Paul, to share the Gospel as we are able and to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ in whatever manner and gift we have been given, but that is not the example he wants us to follow. In this passage we are called to see ourselves as sinners in need of a Savior, to recognize God’s grace in the world around us, and to share it with others so that they too might come to faith. We are to look to the cross and point to it so that others will find salvation, healing, and transformation there, too. It takes time. Sometimes it takes a lifetime. However, no one is outside of hope. We shouldn’t give up on any, no matter how much we are rejected. God did not give up on Paul. He never gave up on us. He hasn’t given up on those who are still lost and suffering in the darkness.
There is a time and a place for warning, for speaking the Law, for calling people to repentance. We must remember, however, that we are not more righteous than others just because we are not guilty of their sins. We are still guilty of getting caught up in our own needs and desires, forgetting the wondrous things God has done. We need God’s grace as much as they did. We get lost, too, by turning our back on God or by being led in the wrong direction. We need to repent, to look to the cross to receive God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ. We need to be changed by His Word.
In the texts for this week, we are encouraged to see ourselves as God might see us: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Jesus didn’t tell the Pharisees that the tax collectors and sinners were good, only that they were in need and that they were willing to listen. It was their willingness that Jesus commended: they had been lost and now they were found. He was rejoicing with them that they saw the reality of their sinfulness and had looked to the only one who could grant them true forgiveness.
The psalmist wrote, “I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I don’t forget your commandments.” God’s Word is both Law and Promise. The Law calls us to repent, to turn to God, to look at Jesus on the cross. The Gospel assures us that He has provided for our forgiveness by dying on that cross. We were like lost sheep, but Jesus found us, saved us, and restored us to a relationship with our God. The Great Shepherd will continue searching for those who are missing, restoring them to the field where they will be fed, and giving them rest. When He finds them, He will carry them on his shoulders, rejoicing just as He did for us.
So, let us live in the mercy of God, praising Him for His promises and for His faithfulness. We will fail, one way or another, over and over again. We find comfort in His Word, knowing that God is always faithful even when we are not, and that He will come looking for us. We might be among the strong who take advantage of the weak or we might be among the weak who are led astray. But God will make things right. He doesn't think any of us will be lost forever because He will find us, and He will always bless those who look to Him. As we recognize ourselves in these stories, we cry out to God and ask for His mercy knowing He is faithful to His promises. And we, like Paul, receive His mercy so that we might become witnesses of God’s grace.
September 11, 2025
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas; though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah. There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad, the holy place of the tents of the Most High. God is within her. She shall not be moved. God will help her at dawn. The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved. He lifted his voice and the earth melted. Yahweh of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Come, see Yahweh’s works, what desolations he has made in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear. He burns the chariots in the fire. ‘Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.’ Yahweh of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” Psalm 46, WEB
Twenty-four years ago, on September 11, 2001, I wrote about something incredibly mundane: road construction. I talked about how there was major road construction on the roads leading to our house in Arkansas, making it difficult to get home. I could write on exactly the same subject today, just the names of the roads would be different. I noted how they do much of their work at night using incredibly bright lights so they can see, because lights overcome the darkness. The devotion then spoke about how the Gospel is our light in the darkness, giving us the courage to walk in faith in a world that is losing site of God.
I wrote words then that are still relevant today, “In today’s world, many Christians are concerned about the evil that is seemingly overtaking our society. Books, movies, and music show the things that are bad to be good and vice versa. Children appear to be maturing much too quickly but are making decisions about drugs and sex long before they are old enough to really understand the consequences. Political correctness and tolerance are opening the doors to acceptance all sorts of worship, turning people from the truth that is Christ. Many Christians are afraid to be in this world today, so they reject it and live in a bubble surrounded only by Christian things. Unfortunately, this means that we are not being a blessing to those who truly need to see the light of Christ. We get lost and risk falling prey to false piety and false teachers who teach a false gospel.” The devotion was a call to trust in Jesus, our Light, and to continue to work for His glory.
Just as I finished writing, several planes struck the twin towers, killing and injuring thousands and upsetting our mundane existence in this world and our indifferent attitude.
On the day following 9/11, I wrote, “This is probably the hardest writing I’ve ever had to do. As I sit here today, still in shock with the rest of America and much of the world, I simply do not know what to say. There are a million things that need to be said, but there is no pretty way to put them on paper. It is senseless to rehash the events that have left us dazed, confused, afraid, angry, grieving and in pain. As much as we long to respond to the horrifying things we saw happen in New York and Washington, D.C. yesterday, it is useless to lay blame at this juncture. In the aftermath, I heard much talk about vengeance, salvation, and the coming of our Lord. Many are ready to jump into action, calling for death to the perpetrators, forcing faith on the lost, and giving up on this life and the world our God created.”
The conversations are much different today than they were twenty-one years ago. We know who to blame. We know the effects that the attack had not only on those who died and were injured, but on their families. Twenty-four years ago, we promised not to forget, and today many are remembering. Yet, our world is no better today than it was then. We are dazed, confused, angry, grieving, and in pain, not just in remembrance of an event twenty-four years ago, but because we hear stories daily of hatred and violence in our neighborhoods, schools, cities, and around the world. Too many people are murdered because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Others are murdered because they said the wrong thing to the wrong person. This is not just about one man, it is about all the violence that is taking the lives of people, both innocent and guilty. We want justice, but don’t always know what that means. We are afraid and are tempted to disappear behind closed doors.
We should remember what happened on 9/11 not because of what happened on that day, but because of what happened the next. We became unified. We joined together in prayer. We took care of one another. Roads were still under construction, but for a brief time we were more patient with one another. We set aside our disagreements and loved one another.
Sadly, the attitudes of September 12, 2001 were much too brief, and have long disappeared. We are certainly not unified; as a matter of fact, we are more divided than ever. We post memes about remembering 9/11 but continue to hate those who have different ideas. There is no respect. People celebrate death and condemn their opponents. Hate and violence is rampant. We still help our neighbors, but we are more particular about who deserves our compassion. Sadly, I think we are still dazed, confused, afraid, angry, grieving, and in pain, not from an attack from outside like we experienced in 2001, but from perceived enemies who are our neighbors.
As Christians, we belong to God and we will one day stand face to face with our Savior, basking in His glory and worshipping Him for eternity. But for today, we must continue to do the work we have been called to do, loving our neighbors including our enemies. We cannot allow anyone to cause us to live in darkness, mistrusting our neighbors and condemning them. We cried out to God twenty-four years ago, seeking His grace in our pain. We forget in those mundane moments when our biggest worries are whether we will get caught in road construction that God is still our God, that He has called us to live in grace and compassion, to forgive when we have been hurt, and to live according to His word. We are to remember daily who we are and whose we are, always ready to meet our Master by serving Him in spirit, truth, and flesh. Our work for His Kingdom of grace, peace, and reconciliation is our daily sacrifice and our true worship.
Now is not the time for us to retreat behind closed doors, or to sequester ourselves with people who believe only as we do. It is time for us to glorify God by reaching out to our neighbors, to draw others into His heart, to share the Gospel light with those who are lost in the darkness. Whatever our circumstances, in joy or grief, mundane or extraordinary, God is the One True and Living God whose hand moves mountains and whose love melts hearts. Praise Him, seek Him, pray in Jesus’ name for your every need and walk in faith that He will provide. Turn to the Lord, your God and He will be with you.
“I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different ‘good news’, but there isn’t another ‘good news.’ Only there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Good News of Christ. But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any ‘good news’ other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any ‘good news’ other than that which you received, let him be cursed. For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:6-10, WEB
Are you likely to buy a product just because you have seen an advertisement on television? Advertisers spend a fortune creating incredible “mini movies” to sell their products, with effects that draw your attention and jingles that stay with you long after the commercial is over. Despite the money spent on advertisements, advertisers rely on word of mouth; people do not believe the claims of a product just because the ads are fantastic. Even if the product is supported by evidence obtained through testing and research, consumers want to hear a testimonial, especially from someone they trust. They are more likely to believe someone who says, “I tried it and I liked it” than if the advertisers spend millions of dollars producing a documentary proving its worth.
One of the things celebrity endorsers are often asked is whether or not they really use the product they are advertising. Some people refuse to tout a product they don’t believe in, others are willing to sell their name for anything. However, the people that really believe in the product are the ones who are more likely to make the sale. They have a passion for it; they speak with honesty and integrity. Advertising is much more believable when the speaker tells what the product has done for them rather than what the product can do to others.
Evangelism is the same way, which is why testimonials work so well. A person trapped in the web of guilt and sin is more likely to listen to someone who was in the same position. This is why the former alcoholic can reach the alcoholic much better than someone who never liked to drink. Guilt is often so entrenched that the sinner who needs forgiveness can’t accept Christ’s mercy from someone they don’t realize needed that grace as much as they do. They think it was easy for Jesus to save the goody-two-shoes, but impossible to save them. It isn’t enough to tell the stories of Jesus over and over again. We have to admit our own frailty to our neighbors and show them how Christ changed our lives. We must be like the Centurion (Matthew 8) who was humble enough to admit that he wasn’t worthy, but Jesus knew he had faith enough to be saved. We aren’t worthy, but Jesus sees our faith and heals us anyway.
We are blessed to be a blessing. How can we be a blessing? Is it enough to live quietly and attend church on Sunday? Is it enough to be kind and charitable, to be respectful of authority and those over whom we are given responsibility? Is it enough to be a Christian or do we need to live like Christ?
Can you imagine what the world would be like if we lived daily singing praise and thanksgiving to God for what He has done for us, admitting our unworthiness and shining His light? Those open to the Gospel message will see our joy and want to know from whence it came. We are blessed to be a blessing, called to be His witnesses in the world. It is not enough to tell others why they need Jesus, or even to tell them what He can do for them. We are called to live daily in the reality that He has done it for us, so thankful for His grace that we’ll shout the Gospel out loud and continue His work in this world. Our testimonial will help others to realize their own need and point them to Jesus who can change heal them, saving them from the darkness by drawing them into His Light. They will listen because of your passion, joy, and peace, and He will do the rest.
“I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you. I will bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth; for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all. In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahweh, for they have heard the words of your mouth. Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahweh, for Yahweh’s glory is great! For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but he knows the proud from afar. Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me. You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me. Yahweh will fulfill that which concerns me. Your loving kindness, Yahweh, endures forever. Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.” Psalm 138, WEB
Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Jesus wanted to know what the world thought about Him. He also asked, “Who do you say that I am?” This is a much harder question to answer because to call Him more than rabbi and friend means giving up ourselves. It means following the good and perfect will of God. It means offering our whole selves as a spiritual sacrifice.
Matthew 16 describes a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. Matthew was a brilliant rabbi who did not just report the events surrounding Jesus’ life and ministry; he wove a story that pointed toward the purpose of Jesus’ life. In the first part, Matthew introduced us to Jesus, telling us about His nativity and youth, as well as His relationship with John the Baptist. In the second part, Matthew showed Jesus proclaiming the message of His life, and the crowds that were following Him. He described the parables in action. Jesus taught and then showed the people real examples of His lessons. The second part ends with the confession of Peter. From that point in Matthew’s story, Jesus set His feet toward Jerusalem and the cross.
Jesus wondered about the scuttlebutt. “What are they saying out there about me?” The disciples told him about all the theories. Then Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” For just one moment, Peter saw Jesus clearly and confessed faith in the Savior of the world. It wasn’t his own doing. Peter’s confession of faith was not something parroted from what other people thought about Jesus. It was not from the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees; it was not a fearful assumption or a guess. It was a confession of faith hewn by God’s own hands. And on that rock, Christ would build His church. Peter didn’t confess faith by His own knowledge or ability. It was God Himself that revealed the truth to him.
Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ is only the second time since the birth story in Matthew that Jesus was referred by that title. The first time was when John was in prison; he sent his followers to Jesus to ask if He was the Messiah. Jesus told them to report to John what they had seen and heard. His identity as the Christ, the Messiah, was wrapped up in His ministry. It was the proof John needed. The healings and the stories revealed to the world that Jesus was the One for whom they waited.
Peter confessed his faith that Jesus is Lord, but Jesus’ relationship with the people went downhill from that moment. They wanted something different than what He was there to give. The miracles and stories continue, but they are more pointed as Jesus moved toward the cross. Jesus refused to be what the people wanted: an earthly king that would meet their physical needs. He was the Anointed One that would fulfill all God’s promises.
Peter seemed to stand alone as he made his confession of faith, but while he was the first, Peter was standing for the whole body of Christ. The other disciples except Judas eventually came to understand Jesus and His purpose. After the cross, the disciples realized that Jesus was truly the revealed Word of God in flesh, the Savior, the Son. They became sons of God by faith, hewn by God’s own hand, and so do we.
We are Easter people, living because Jesus finished the work He was sent to do. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ has been revealed to us. We can know who Jesus is and understand what He means to us today. He still asks us the two questions: “Who does the world say that I am?” and “Who do you say that I am?” There are a thousand different answers to the first question. To the world He was a teacher, a rabbi, a miracle worker, and a good man. He was a radical willing to stand up against the injustice of His day. He’s a friend, a comforter, a guide whose example we would do well to follow.
But there is only one answer to the second question: by God’s grace alone we will answer that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Today let us join the chorus of thanksgiving with the psalmist, the people of Judah, Peter and the disciples, and every generation of the Church. We can rest in His promise, for God is faithful. We are sent forth in faith to be God’s witnesses, to tell the world that Jesus is the Christ through whom God fulfills every promise. We don’t do it by our own knowledge or ability, but by the power of God’s Spirit. Sing praise and thanksgiving to God today and every day, confessing faith in the revealed Word of God in flesh, faith that He has hewn by His own hand so that we will go out into the world and share the story of Jesus so they will know Him and believe in Him, too.
“So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us. For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.” Romans 8:12-25, WEB
When I was a girl, my mother used to put my hair up in pink plastic rollers. These rollers made my hair very curly, but they were hard and prickly to wear. To get a really good curl, my mother washed my hair in the evening, put my hair in the rollers and then I had to sleep with them on my head. My hair dried overnight and left behind beautiful curls. With my extremely blond hair, I suppose I looked a lot like Cindy Brady from the television show “The Brady Bunch.”
It was extremely uncomfortable having those curlers in my hair. It hurt as Mom was rolling them because she often snagged a piece of hair and pulled on it too hard. It was impossible to find a comfortable position with those hard curlers on my head. Then, in the morning when it was time to take them out, the hair once again snagged on the prickly parts, unwilling to let go of the curler. My mother used to say during the process, “We have to suffer for beauty.” I liked my curls, but I would have preferred not to suffer the pain of the curlers.
One of the most difficult aspects of Christian faith for a non-believer to accept is found in today’s lesson. Paul wrote that we are joint heirs with Christ, something we like very much. We like that we have been adopted as children of God, that He is our Abba, Daddy. However, Paul then reminded us that as joint heirs in the promise we share in every aspect of Christ s reign, including His suffering. He wrote, “if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.” People don’t want to worship a God that calls His people into a life of suffering, because for most people suffering equals pain. People don’t understand those who rejoice despite their persecution. Yet, it is in our suffering that we find strength, courage, and God’s grace. God is not a masochist who seeks to cause His people to be harmed. But to save the world He came in a manner by which He shared in our suffering and by the blood of Christ we are brought through that suffering to something greater. Sometimes we are called to follow Jesus in ways we don’t understand.
We want immediate gratification. We want immediate answers and solutions. We want heaven to be in the here and now. Yet sometimes it is better to be patient and wait. What good is a hope that is already received? It is no longer hope but fulfilled. There is then nothing to look forward to, and heaven is certainly something that is worth the wait. Our hope rests in the fulfillment of the promises and we can be assured that those promises will be fulfilled because God is faithful. Would it be better if no Christian suffered? Would it be better for God’s plan to be finished today? Perhaps.
What we need to remember is that God uses everything to His glory and for the good of His Kingdom. We want the world to be the paradise that we see at the end of the Bible, but there is so much more life for us to live and so much work to do to change the hearts and lives of those who have not yet heard the Gospel. Sometimes the suffering we experience has a purpose that will make something incredible happen for the glory of God. He knows. He allows it to happen because the seeds that fall will grow into a harvest beyond our imagination.
It hurts sometimes to be a child of God. We will face persecution and pain for our faith. And yet, we are called to live in God’s Spirit, waiting expectantly with all God’s creation for that moment when He finally finishes the work He began in Christ Jesus. We are the first fruits of that work, holy and dedicated to God so that others might see God’s grace and believe in the hope that transforms people and the world in wonderful ways.
September 17, 2025
Lectionary Scriptures for September 21, 2025, Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Amos 8:4-7; Psalm 113; 1 Timothy 2:1-15; Luke 16:1-15
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3-4, WEB
A coffee table book titled “Mort Walker’s Beetle Bailey: 75 Years of Smiles” was released yesterday. It is dedicated to the cartoonist Mort Walker who produced nearly 25,000 strips in the 67 years, 3 months, and 12 days that he drew the comic. His sons have taken over the strip, to honor the life and work of their father who was one of the most prolific cartoonists in the business. He not only drew Beetle Bailey, but several other syndicated strips during his lifetime. Mort’s objective was to create smiles, and after seventy-five years, the character of Beetle Bailey continues to do so. The comic, begun when Mort was just a teenager, had moments of controversy: the army banned it from the Stars and Stripes publication for “insubordination,” but the move doubled his readership. Decades later, Mort’s son Neal said, “Beetle Bailey isn't really about the Army. It just happens to be funny people in that setting. They could just as easily be firemen or teachers.”
Beetle Bailey has been a private for as long as the comic strip has been in publication. The ongoing story of his laziness is what makes the comic strip funny. Beetle Bailey spent decades falling asleep on the job, avoiding every task, and conning others to do his work. He is not trustworthy and has gotten into trouble over and over again for his uselessness. In this comic strip we see the truth of life in the working world: if you can’t be trusted to do the things you are given to do, you won’t be given a promotion. In the military and in other jobs, a promotion means greater responsibility. If a person is unable to complete the lesser tasks, they will never move on to greater things. Beetle Bailey has remained a private for all those years because he has not been worthy of anything greater.
Beetle Bailey is just a comic strip and it would not be nearly as funny if Beetle was a model soldier. In the real world, however, Beetle Bailey would not have kept his job for very long. As a retail manager, I paid attention to the work habits of my employees. Those who proved themselves trustworthy with the little things were the first to be considered for promotion. The same is true in fast food, a new employee always begins with a mop, then they move into food prep, cashier and eventually they might even be considered for a supervisory or management position. Most employers these days hire only entry level employees and then promote from inside the company. They know that the best employees are the ones who can be trusted with little, so they hire people to do the little things until they deserve to be in charge of much.
Luke wrote in today’s Gospel passage: “He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” We can see the truth of this in the real world, or at least in the Beetle Bailey comic strip. He remained a private for decades because he is not a trustworthy soldier. In my retail experience, I knew it was best to choose those who had been trustworthy with the little things to do important tasks around the store. Luke wrote about even more important things: spiritual and eternal riches. If someone is not trustworthy and honorable with the things of this world, how can they possibly handle the things of God? Jesus knows those who can be trusted with the work of His kingdom, He knows the hearts of those who will serve Him well. There are many who take advantage of the power and position they’ve been given to benefit their own lives, but God knows those who have been faithful, and they will be blessed with so much more.
While we understand and accept this lesson from Luke, the passage is also difficult and shocking to us because it seems to condone dishonest behavior. It does not make sense that Jesus would make this type of behavior an example for us to follow. We do not expect Jesus to tell us to be shrewd like those in the world, like the manager of the rich man. We wonder how the rich man could give the manager a pat on the back for doing what seems to be so wrong.
However, let’s look at this story a little bit more closely. The manager was dishonest. He was squandering the property of the rich man. We do not know what was going on. Perhaps he was embezzling or perhaps he was simply a bad manager. I always assumed, as I read this story, that the manager was also cheating the poor, yet there seems to be no evidence of it. All we really know is that there was something wrong and that he was not being a very good manager. The rich man did not even know what was going on. He had heard rumors of poor management and called the manager to show the accounts. He must have given the manager some time to get ready for the audit, because the manager was able to do something to make things right.
The rich man was only concerned about the bottom line and whether his accounts were in good order, so the manager decided to make the books look right. He was fired anyway, so he decided to do something that would put him in good standing with the community and make friends for his future. He knew that he was unable to support himself without a job, so he did whatever was necessary to make use of his limited time and resources. He did not cut the debts out of the goodness of his heart but rather hoped that they would feel indebted to him when it was all over. The reductions were not necessarily equal, or even fair. He negotiated with the debtors to make the debts more manageable. In the end the manager made a good accounting before the rich man, the rumors were put to rest, and the rich man commended the manager for his shrewdness.
Jesus finished this parable with the lesson, “I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents.” I suppose this is why I am bothered by this passage: how could Jesus tell the people to use money to make friends? The Jews were a people of faith, called to trust God and believe that He would provide all they needed. They were called to an attitude of mutual care for one another. Those who had much were expected to share with those who did not have enough. Any money beyond that which was necessary to meet their daily needs was considered “unrighteous mammon.”
The word describing the manager is translated “dishonest” in many versions, but it can also be translated “unrighteous.” Unrighteousness is about broken relationships, about being in ‘un-right’ in one’s associations. The manager was not right in this relationship with the rich man, and not right in his relationship with the debtors. Jesus was not encouraging dishonesty but was inducing His listeners to make the best use of their resources. The manager’s right use of the unrighteous mammon put him in right relationship with the rich man and with the people. The manager is not an example of good or godly living that we should follow. He was an unrighteous man doing dishonest things with mammon.
As we consider this story, however, we are reminded that we are just like him. We are unrighteous people doing dishonest things with mammon. We are not good stewards of the resources God has given to us. We are wasteful and greedy. We fail to use every good gift of God to build up His kingdom and take care of those who do not have enough. God calls us to account. We are put in charge of earthly wealth for a time. Will we use that wealth in a way that makes us right with one another?
This is ultimately a matter of the heart, and God knows our hearts better than we do.
What is our motivation? Why do we do what we do? This is not a matter of salvation because our faith is not dependent on the things that we do. However, as Christians we are called to examine ourselves to determine the state of our hearts. Are our motives good and right and true before the God of our faith? When we are at church, are we anxious to be somewhere else? Are we more focused on our daily troubles than on the eternal promises of God? Is our service to others half-hearted or self-centered? If we live our faith for the wrong reasons, we will not give God the honor He deserves. He wants more than our bodies. He wants our hearts.
Why do you go to church? There are as many answers to that question as people who attend. First and foremost, we go to worship God, but that is a simplistic answer. We are reminded that we can, and should, worship God anywhere. Yet, church attendance is an important part of our life of faith. We go to church to gather with other believers, to raise our voices in praise to our God. Many people feel incomplete if they don’t get a regular dose of Word and Sacrament. We want to be renewed and refilled so they can face the world. It is a place of calm in the storms of life. We want to fellowship with like-minded people. For many the gathering of God’s people gives us a place to find peace in the midst of our storms and healing for our dis-ease. For one moment a week we can set aside the problems and worries of the world and focus on something else.
Other reasons are less spiritual or religious. I once read a blog from a person who went to church because she lost track of the days of the week without spending time with God each Sunday. Some people go to church to network with other professionals or to get customers for their business. Some go to make family happy or because it is “what you do.” Some think that they can use church attendance will guarantee a trip to heaven.
Recent studies suggest that about 40% attend at least once a month, about half that number attend weekly. The number of people who attend church rarely or never is about 57%. Church attendance has gone down since the turn of the century. There are as many reasons why people do not bother to go to church. Sadly, the number of people who identify as Christian has gone down significantly in the last twenty-five years. However, there are many Christians who have stopped going to church. I recently read about a Christian author who is “on a break from church.” Unfortunately, some people do not attend because they have to work. Others work so much during the week that Sunday is the only time they can rest or get things done. Others are busy with sports or leisure activities. All too many think that the church is full of hypocrites, people who aren’t there for the right reasons. Why bother when the other Christians are there to sell themselves or are there out of duty?
This brings us back to the question of our motivation and our hearts. Whether you are a church goer or not, why? This is not a question that will determine the status of our salvation, for our faith is never dependent on the things we do nor do not do. God doesn’t have a checklist for us to complete so we can go to heaven. However, as Christians we are called to examine ourselves to determine the state of our hearts. If we go to church, are we there with our whole hearts? Are we more focused on what will happen after than on the worship? Do we sing half-heartedly or nod off during the sermon? Do we rush right out to get to the restaurant for lunch before the crowds? If our motivation is wrong, we will not give God the praise He deserves. He wants more than our bodies. He wants our hearts.
Even though the numbers seem to indicate it is a modern problem, this isn’t new. Look at the passage from Amos. We don’t know why the people were there, but they were obviously not there in heart and soul. They were anxious for worship to be over, and they did not take their faith into the world. They robbed the poor and cheated the needy. They only cared about themselves. We can’t read the state of someone else’s heart, but we can examine ourselves. Wy do we go to church? What happens when we go out through those church doors into the world? Do we take our faith with us or are we anxious to get on with our lives? God sees the heart and knows when we would rather be elsewhere. Shouldn’t we be honest enough to examine our motivations and then seek God’s help in doing what is right? What happens in our daily lives? Do we take our faith with us or do we keep it hidden and private?
I once did a survey that asked about my spirituality. When do I feel spiritual? Where do I experience the presence of God? How do I describe God? Some of the questions were difficult because they wanted a simple answer to a complex question. For example, the question “How do you describe God?” included the qualifier “One or Three?” I wanted to answer “Yes,” because I do not believe we can understand God as one or the other. He is both. Another question asked whether God was knowable or a mystery. Again, my answer is “Yes,” because He is both knowable and mysterious.
We know God because He has revealed Himself to the world. In the beginning He said, “Let there be light” and there was light. Though there was no one present to see the light that was there in the beginning, that light has continued to shine as God’s presence in the world. God revealed Himself to Adam and Eve in the Garden, and though humankind was cast out because of their sin, God never stopped loving or revealing Himself to mankind. God revealed Himself to the faithful over the ages: to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, the judges, prophets, and kings. He revealed Himself in the Law. He revealed Himself in the deliverance of His people. He revealed Himself through promises and then finally He revealed Himself in Jesus Christ.
We know God because He came to dwell among us. Jesus Christ was a child born in a humble stable in Bethlehem; He was also the embodiment of the divine in the body of man. Through Christ we see the very character of God living and breathing among men. We see God’s love and mercy and grace in action as Jesus preached the good news, healed the sick, and set free those who were bound by all manner of things. Through Jesus we can know God personally, we can even call Him Abba or Daddy.
Yet, despite how knowable God is to us who live by faith, He is still a mystery. God is the Creator of heaven and earth. He is the Deliverer who brought His people out of slavery in Egypt. He is the Redeemer who sets His people free from the great burden of their sin. He is as living and active in our world today as He was in the beginning when He brought light out of darkness. He still creates and recreates this world, guiding His people in His ways, and gifting us with all we need to join Him in the work of His Kingdom.
The greatest mystery is why the God who is described by the psalmist would save His people by His by taking on humble human flesh. The Creator and Redeemer of the world gives authority and power to people like you and me to do the work of His Kingdom. It is His Spirit that does the work in our hearts, but He gives us His Spirit and calls us to join Him. It is His Word that brings peace, but He uses our tongues to speak that Word so that others might hear. It is by His blood that we are forgiven, but He has chosen to institute sacraments and rituals using water, bread, wine, and people to share His mercy. He promised us great things and is ever faithful even though we are unable to be faithful to Him. He sent His Son to teach us how to live and how to die so that we might live forever, a mystery we will never truly understand. This should be our greatest motivation, not only to go to church regularly, but also to take our faith into the world.
Not that the world will always listen. I once read a post from an atheist who wrote, “Do not pray for me.” The author thought prayer was a waste of time because he did not believe there is a God. I’ve seen this same request many times over the past few years. They think “I will pray for you,” is a cop-out, a way to avoid doing the hard work by doing an “easy” thing. What does prayer accomplish for a person who is suffering? I question the author’s premise, after all, as a Christian I believe prayer is never a waste of time, even if the person about whom I am praying does not believe. Yet, I can see how some might think that Christians don’t bother to actively take their faith into the world, that they check off the box “Prayed,” and then go their own way. I don’t think that is true, because the people I know with the strongest prayer lives are those who are most likely to step out in faith to help.
Yet, I do understand the unstated fear of those atheists because they believe we aren’t really praying for what they need. Why would we bother praying for someone like him? Those who do not want us to pray suspect that our prayers are what we think God should do for them, or to them. We may consider our prayers what is best for them, but we are as human as the next guy and our motivation for prayer is not always what is good, right, and true according to God’s Word. All too many of our prayers are spoken to God for the wrong reasons.
We are commanded to pray. That is why we find it so hard when someone rejects our offer for prayer. Prayer is our way of showing our support, of bringing our hopes and concerns before God who is greater than us. It is through prayer that we find some sense of peace. Prayer does not always bring about the answer we want, but we pray in confidence that God has heard and that He will be in the midst of the situation. Most of us want to pray that they will become more like us, because we think we have the solution to the problem.
Yet, as Paul told Timothy, our task is not to pray that God will make them like us. We are to pray “that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence.” In Paul’s day, the leaders were enemies of the Christians. The Jewish leaders were fighting the Way, trying to halt a cult that was causing conflict in families and communities. Rome was fighting because the conflicts were causing strife to the empire. They thought that the Christians were tearing apart the peace that Rome had enjoyed for so long. Imagine how hard it must have been to pray for those leaders who were enemies.
However, this is the life we are called to live: praying for our enemies without an agenda. True prayer builds God’s grace in our hearts, and we can’t help but love them. We see our “enemies” from a new perspective, from God’s heart. Praying our agendas will keep us divided, will continue the hate. The goal of our prayers should never be to ask God to make them like us, but for us to reveal Him to them so that He will work His plan for their lives. It is important for us to remember that God is working in our lives, too.
As much as we think we are right, our point of view might not be what God intends. We don’t know the whole picture. We know only that God is faithful and that He will be with us. He wants all men to be saved. He hasn’t told us how He will accomplish it. He only asks that we live the tranquil and quiet life so that men will see the God of grace in our lives. Our prayers, and the actions brought about by our prayers, will stand as a witness to God’s love in this world. He will take care of the rest. He knows what He intends, He knows hearts, and He is faithful. As we live in this truth we can pray for others, whether they are unbelievers or enemies, with thanksgiving, knowing that God has purpose for them, too.
Jesus said that those who are faithful with little will be faithful with much. Are we living the life we are called to live, or are we more like Beetle Bailey? Are we being faithful with our resources, with our prayers, or are we trying to get our own way? God sees our hearts and knows our motivations. We are reminded by our texts this week that if we are not trustworthy with the things of this world, we can’t be trusted to handle the things of God. Jesus knows the hearts of those who will serve Him well, who are motivated by faith, and who will live to glorify God, not only one hour a week but every minute of every day. There are many who take advantage of the gifts of God for their own sake, but God knows those who have been faithful with their worldly wealth, and He will bless them with so much more. He has provided us with many blessings and opportunities to share His abundance in word and deed. He wants everyone to come to the full knowledge of truth, but He will do it in His time and His way. It is up to us to be His mouth, in witness and prayer, living the tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence, so that God can do His work of salvation through us.
“He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sun light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.” Revelation 22:1-5, WEB
I like chocolate. I really like chocolate. I think most of us would agree that chocolate is good. Chocolate tastes good. Chocolate makes us feel good. Some will even tell you that there are health benefits to chocolate. I am always in the mood for chocolate, although I have been able to refrain from buying chocolate every time I have a craving. I often wander the aisles at the grocery store; I look at all the options. I pick up packages and read the labels but put them down because I know I don’t need it and shouldn’t eat it. Candy. Cake. Ice Cream. Fresh made. Frozen. Make at home. I often keep a cup full of dark chocolate M&Ms on my desk within easy reach. Sometimes I think about stopping at a fast-food place to buy a milkshake. I don’t buy chocolate as often as I used to, although I confess that I do have M&Ms in my cup right now.
Chocolate is good, but we also know that chocolate is bad, especially the kind of chocolate that I really like. Chocolate candy, cake, ice cream, and other forms have ingredients, especially sugar. Those extra ingredients make the chocolate taste good. Those ingredients make us feel good. Without those ingredients, the candy, cake, and ice cream would not be very good. I read the labels and know that I should not buy those products because they aren’t good for me. I still indulge occasionally, probably too often, but I try to remember every time I am tempted to buy something to fulfill the craving that even though chocolate is good, it is also bad.
We are also reminded, however, that some things that have been deemed “bad” also have good qualities.
This is certainly true about human beings. We are good and we are bad. We are bad, but we are also good. One of the great mottos of the Reformation is “simul justus et peccator,” which means “simultaneously saint and sinner.” In the beginning, God created the heavens, earth, waters, land, flora, fauna, and human beings. When He was done His work of creation, He said, “It is very good.” Then Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, making the world a lost and broken place, making death inevitable. We have lived in a world full of sin ever since, including in our own flesh. However, from the beginning God promised that He would make all things right, and when the time was right, He sent His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ to save us from sin and death.
We are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ, but we are still sinners. We need Jesus every day. Sadly, I think we sometimes forget that we are also saints. We are good, even as we are bad.
Sadly, sometimes we need to be reminded that the Bible begins at Genesis chapter One, the creation that was “very good,” and skip right to the part where we are fallen, sinful beings. Our relationship with God is indeed broken, but we also have to remember that when God created everything, He called it good. If you read the account carefully, you’ll see that after He created humankind, the Bible says, “ beI read an article that reminded me that the Bible begins at Genesis chapter One, even though we sometimes look only back to Genesis chapter Three. We begin so much of our understanding of our relationship with God with the fall in the Garden of Eden. But we should also remember that when God created everything else, He called it all good. After He created humankind, however, the Bible says, “God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” We were created good. We fell which is not good, but we are made in the image of God, and God does not lie. Everything He had made is very good.
It is because of this goodness that God did all that was necessary to bring us back from the darkness, to find us when we were lost. He sent Jesus to begin the work necessary so that one day we will dwell with Him for eternity once again in the garden He made for our home in the beginning. He sent Jesus to make things right, as they were meant to be. He sent Jesus to make us good, very good, again. It will take a lifetime, but the day will come when we will walk in the Garden once again with our Father, reigning with Him forever. He created us good, and by His grace we will be good again.
TopSeptember 19, 2025
“Yahweh God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever –’ Therefore Yahweh God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.” Genesis 3:12-24, WEB’
Forrest Gump died and went to heaven. When he got to the Pearly Gates Saint Peter told him that new rules were in effect due to the advances in education on earth. In order to gain admittance a prospective Heavenly Soul must answer three questions: Name two days of the week that begin with T. How many seconds are there in a year? What is God’s first name? Forrest thought for a few minutes and answered, “The first is easy, the two days are today and tomorrow.” Saint Peter said that it wasn’t what he expected, but it was an acceptable answer. Forrest then said, “The answer to the second question is twelve.” Saint Peter wondered how he got that answer. Forrest answered, “January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd...” Saint Peter agreed that it was a good answer. Finally, Forrest said, “God’s first name is Andy.” Saint Peter was shocked, “Where did you get that God’s first name is Andy?” Forrest said, “Well, from the song. ‘Andy walks with me, Andy talks with me, Andy tells me I am his own...’” Saint Peter let him in without further ado!
In the beginning, God created heaven, earth, water, land, flora, fauna, and last but not least, human beings. When He was done His work of creation, He said, “It is very good.” God put those human beings in a beautiful garden, with everything they could possibly need. They had a place to live, more than enough food to eat, and companionship. The animals were their friends, and they had each other, created to be complimentary. Most of all, they had God. They had Andy, who walked with them and talked to them. They were His and He was theirs.
There was only one rule, “Don’t eat the fruit of that one tree.” It isn’t like they would starve, because God provided plenty, but it is a very human trait to want what we can’t have. It didn’t help that the devil came and pointed out how wonderful the fruit of that one particular tree looked. “Besides,” he said, “if you eat that fruit, you will become like God.” As my pastor pointed out in a sermon recently, Adam and Eve didn’t need to become like God, they were created in His image. They were like Him, already. They wanted more, and because they sought more, they got less. They were warned. Andy said, “If you eat of that tree, you will die.”
This seems a bit of an overreach, doesn’t it? Why throw Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden? After all, He made it possible for them to eat from that tree. How is it their fault? The confrontation between God and His creatures is nothing but a blame game. Adam blamed Eve and God, because He gave him the woman. Eve blamed the serpent. The serpent, or Satan, remains silent for the moment. He was just waiting for the right opportunity to twist God’s word again. An opportunity came in the wilderness when Jesus was tested before beginning His public ministry. And though Satan was not in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night Jesus was betrayed, Luke tells us at the end of the wilderness experience that “When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time.” There is no more significant time than in the Garden for Jesus to be tempted from doing the will of the Father.
Jesus faced temptation because He was flesh and blood, just like you and I, but He did not sin because He was the fulfillment of God’s promise in the Garden of Eden. The first Gospel proclamation, or protoevangelium, is Genesis 3:15, “I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.” Satan might bruise the heal of the Savior, but the Savior would destroy Satan, once and for all. Adam and Eve sinned, causing the world to be broken and all humankind to be sinners, but God already had a plan.
There was a lot of time between the first sin, the first promise, and the fulfillment, however. It might not seem fair that God kicked Adam and Eve out of the Garden, away from the Tree of Life. What is the big deal about knowing good and evil? The problem is how Adam and Eve responded to Andy after they had that knowledge. Andy went looking for Adam and Eve, “Where are you?” This is not a call of anger, like our mothers when we stay out too late at night. God was calling His children to hang out, to walk with Him and talk with Him, so that He could embrace them as His own. Adam responded, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; so I hid myself.”
Kicking Adam and Eve out of the Garden was a great act of mercy by God. Can you imagine spending eternity afraid of the God who loves you? God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden so that they could not eat from the Tree of Life that would make them eternal. He did this not as an act of punishment, but grace, and He did it with a promise: He would fix it one day, and He has. We are stuck for a moment in this broken world, where thorns grow and people die, but thanks to God’s mercy it isn’t an eternity. And thanks to Jesus death isn’t the end. Eternity in the Garden with Andy will be ours again one day. This is the great hope of our faith, and it is ours because Andy, our God, is faithful.
TopSeptember 22, 2025
“What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice. For I know that this will turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose. But I am in a dilemma between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Yet, to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake. Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.” Philippians 1:18-26, WEB
One of the tasks I did when I was on vacation last month was to visit the grave of my mother and father. I took some cleaning products and some silk flowers to decorate. I spent time scrubbing the lichen, algae, or moss that was growing on the stone. I even had a toothbrush so I could get into the engraving, to ensure the words would be visible for the next generation to see and remember. I did not go to the cemetery because I thought Mom and Dad were there, but because I want to ensure their memory lasts as long as I can.
I like to wander in cemeteries, especially during wildflower season. There is something fascinating about the words that are engraved on the stones. Though many simply list names and dates, others put words of wisdom and faith, scripture quotes and graphics that remind us that there is hope. There are several local cemeteries that allow the grounds to go wild for a few weeks, leaving them covered with beautiful flowers. The flowers draw butterflies, so in the midst of a memorial for people who have died is an overabundance of new life and peace. I’ve taken photos of gravestones that make me sad, especially those for young children, and yet I’m reminded by those flowers and butterflies that life goes on.
I went to a retreat when I was a teenager, a long time ago. I don’t remember much about the weekend, but I do remember a walk that we took. There was a cemetery nearby, and we went to check out the old tombstones. It was a very old cemetery, with graves that went back a hundred or more years. Some of the gravestones were so worn down that they were unreadable. Sadly, many of those graves were unkempt and ignored. It isn’t that those people were not loved, but because over time there is no one left to clean the stone as I did. There is still a stone but no one to remember because their names have disappeared.
I wandered to a distant corner, a very quiet section of the cemetery. It suffered from neglect with high grasses and fallen markers. Some of the graves were sinking. It is always sad to enter a cemetery, but it is even worse when the people buried are long forgotten. Physical death is dismal, but the finality of being forgotten is heartbreaking. It is a death worse than death; it is tragic to see a place where there is no life and seemingly no hope. Yet, it was worth walking to that sad corner because nestled into the hollow created by a sinking grave, I found a most beautiful sight: a baby deer was resting, hidden from view by the overgrowth. There it was: the hope found in new life.
We are surrounded by death. We all know someone who has died or is dying. We will all die, but physical death is not the greatest tragedy. The greatest tragedy is not even that we are all eventually forgotten, left buried and ignored in an unkempt cemetery. The greatest tragedy is that there are too many who experience a death that is eternal because they do not know where to find hope and life. We have been given the greatest gift: the Gospel which gives us life. We are forgiven of our sin which leads to death, and we are made alive with Christ. Those of us with faith are like that baby deer; we have life in the midst of death. We are called to testify to the hope that does not disappoint because by God’s grace we have been reconciled to Him through the blood and mercy of Jesus Christ.
“If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory. Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. You also once walked in those, when you lived in them, but now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.” Colossians 3:1-11, WEB
Fairy tales often have their roots in the stories we find in scripture. Biblical concepts have a timeless authority that touches the people who read them, particularly when they are written in a language they understand. Many of the parables that Jesus told were addressed to a people who understood farming. They identified with the story in a way that made the spiritual concept real to them. However, those same stories get lost on the streets of a large city because the people do not understand farming.
With each generation, writers take the biblical concepts and rewrite them for the people of their age. “Jack and the Beanstalk” speaks about how the weak can overcome the mighty with the right gift. “Little Red Riding Hood” shows us how evil tries to dress itself up to deceive us, but that we can see the truth through the disguise. Today, those stories would revolve around computers or other aspects of modern life.
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” is a story of transformation. In the beginning of the story, the dwarfs live a life separated from anything else. They are greedy and self-centered; they do not understand about love or service. Their home is messy, and they are hungry because they do not care for each other. They own a diamond mind and apparently have great wealth, but they are poor in spirit. They are transformed when Snow White comes into their lives. She teaches them to love and to care for each other. Then, when she is attacked by the evil queen and suffers, they love her so much that they suffer with her and they fight for her.
The Israelites were the chosen people of God, but they lived like the dwarfs, self-centered and without love. Jesus Christ came, and people were transformed. His death and resurrection change us into new people, and we are to live in a new way.
The dwarfs could have returned to their old way of life when Snow White fell asleep by the wicked power of the queen. Instead, they continued caring for each other and Snow White. They put aside their greed and messy living for that new life. Does your walk with Christ show the same transformation? Have you put aside the practices of the evil nature, or do you still walk in the ways of greed, idolatry, anger, and lies? Paul teaches us in his letter to the people in Colossae how our life should be filled with love, forgiveness, peace, and thankfulness and how we are bound together in unity as Christ’s body, His Church. Whatever we do, in word or deed, we are to do so in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, in thanksgiving and praise of God our Father through Him.
Lectionary Scriptures for September 28, 2025, Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Amos 6:1-7; Psalm 146; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Luke 16:19-31
“For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 3:13, WEB
Timothy was a young man who came from a faithful and faith-filled family. He was the son of Jewish mother and Greek father. Timothy, his mother, and grandmother may have become followers of Jesus during one of Paul’s visits. Timothy became like a son to Paul and was instrumental in Paul’s ministry, often going on important missions to encourage and strengthen the churches Paul established. Today’s epistle lesson comes from a letter Paul sent to Timothy in Ephesus where he was working to strengthen the church against false teaching. It is a letter that shows us that the Gospel leads to practical, visible changes in believer’s lives. False teachers were leading people astray, but Paul shows us what it means to follow Jesus. Faith begets holiness in the lives of believers.
The first letter Paul wrote to Timothy is a charge to ensure that the church’s corporate life embodies certain key elements. As God’s household, the church must order its worship, doctrine, and life in accord with the principles of Paul’s gospel persevered in the church liturgical fragments. He wrote that healthy doctrine is concerned with spiritual transformation and ethical conduct, not with speculation. Unhealthy teaching is preoccupied with minutiae, particularly in this case various aspects of Jewish law and genealogies and ascetic beliers or special knowledge because it doesn’t match up with the Gospel and does not lead to greater virtue. Church leaders are servants who must be mature people of faith with proven character and good reputation in the broader community who also possess the gifts and experience from God to teach, administer, and serve. Paul also addresses the subject of women in the church, encouraging them to be prayerful, godly, and to teach their children faithfully, suggesting that some will serve in ministry, possibly as deacons, according to their gifts and opportunities.
Today’s passage focuses on those who are in leadership. The descriptions of both the pastors and deacons seem almost too hard; after all, we are reminded that they are only human, too. These characteristics, however, are expected of those who are leading God’s church because if they don’t live up the expectations of God’s Word, how will those who live under their care know how to live? Paul is encouraging Timothy to help make the growing church healthy, following good and true doctrine with leaders who life as God calls us all to live.
There was a movie a few years ago called “The Devil Wears Prada.” Anne Hathaway starred as a character named Andy Sachs. She was a journalist who was desperately seeking a job in New York. She wanted to write for a newspaper, perhaps doing hard hitting reporting that will change the world. Despite her excellent writing, she had no experience, and no newspaper would hire her. Since she couldn’t find the job she wanted, she settled for a job at a fashion magazine as second assistant to the editor. She saw fashion as a frivolous waste of time, but she knew that if she could handle the job for just a year, she could write her own ticket in any other publication. She was out of place and had little knowledge about the industry. She was the underdog that was tried and tested over and over again.
When she hit the point of quitting, she asked a coworker what she was supposed to do. She said she had tried hard to do a good job, and he responded that she hadn’t tried at all. She had not tried to conform, to fit in. He told her it appeared as though she thought she was better than the other girls at the magazine. She decided to make the changes necessary to fit in. She began wearing the designer clothes and she lived the job. She proved herself worthy of the position and even exceeded expectation. She became better at the job than Emily, the girl who was the first assistant. The editor decided to take Andy on an important trip to Paris, in essence demoting Emily who had looked forward to the trip for a long time. It broke Andy’s heart to break the news to Emily because she had become a friend, but she felt she had no choice but to go.
Later in the movie, the editor did something that really hurt a coworker, pushing him aside for the sake of her own career. As the boss and Andy discussed this situation, Andy said, “I would never do that to my friend.” Miranda said, “Oh, but you did... to Emily.” Andy thought the situations were different, but she realized that she had given up her integrity to get ahead. She destroyed a relationship for the sake of her career. She put herself first so that she would no longer be the underdog.
The world expects us to conform so that we will succeed. We know that the underdog gets stepped on and pushed aside, never winning, so we conform to the expectations. The underdog is seen as a failure, cursed and rejected. However, the underdog is usually the person who refuses to conform, who puts integrity ahead of success, who is unwilling to lie, cheat, or steal to prove themselves.
Andy realized that she was wrong to conform to the expectations of the world that put her ahead of her friend for the sake of a job. She walked away from the magazine without a second thought, accepting that she might have to continue being an underdog for the sake of her integrity. She apologized to the friends she had hurt and restored the broken relationships. She even earned the respect of the editor in the end, who helped her get a job that was better suited for her goals and abilities. She was blessed for doing what was right.
The movie had nothing to do with faith, but in Andy’s story we see what happens when we conform to the world and what happens when we repent. Christians that refuse conform are underdogs, but most of us are tempted to do whatever we have to do to succeed. Too many of us let the world dictate what we think and do so that we will not fail. Though few are willing to lie, cheat, or steal, we might be willing to push aside another for our career. We might be willing to change how we live to fit in. We might be willing to keep our faith silent, so we won’t be rejected by others.
God loves those who love Him. He is our help in success and our failure. He upholds us, provides for us, sets us free, gives us sight and lifts us up. He guides and guards us when we are far from home or when we have lost those we love. He protects us from our enemies. He is the Lord God Almighty and our hope is found in Him, through the blood of Jesus Christ.
We often experience being the underdog in our home, work, and social activities. Sometimes it is our faith that puts us in that position. It is so tempting to conform to the ways around us, to do what we need to do to fit in or to succeed according to the expectations of the world around us. However, there is blessedness in the life of the underdog who lives by faith because God regards those in humble circumstances. When we are the underdog, we look to someone greater for our help and hope. As people of faith, it is God to whom we turn. There we will be blessed.
This is something that Israel didn’t always understand or accept.
Amos was a prophet who was sent to the Northern Kingdom, Israel, in the middle of the eight century B.C. This was a time of prosperity and security; the people were comfortable. They were comfortable because they thought their prosperity was a sign of God’s blessing. They thought they were reliving the golden age of Israel, like when David and Solomon were king. They followed the rituals of worship and thought by doing so that they had earned their prosperity; they thought God was pleased with their worship and that they had no other concerns. Unfortunately, their beliefs were pagan in nature.
The Northern Kingdom was situated close to Assyria, so close that the Assyrians were able to assimilate themselves into the lives of the Israelites. The Assyrians were strong and offered protection for Israel. The people of both nations intermarried, and the foreign gods became part of their daily lives. God’s people seemed politically secure, but they were spiritually arrogant. They did not see the destruction that was happening to Israel from within their own hearts.
The scene in today’s Old Testament passage shows a gathering of leaders comfortably feasting in Samaria. The feast lasted days, it was opulent and excessive. Amos warned that they are ignoring the reality of their future, that invasion was near and that the time of exile was much closer than they expected. They were wallowing in obvious luxury, laying on beds made of ivory and overindulging fine foods, wine, and oil. Not only were they gorging themselves on the finest resources while danger waited around the corner, but they were also using the resources that were meant for God. The choice lambs and fatted calves were meant for sacrifice and the oil for ceremony. The bowls taken from temple in Samaria were originally used for religious ceremony, but in this passage, they were used to get drunk. They were not only ignoring their rejection of God, but they were also stealing from Him to celebrate their prosperity and security.
Amos warned them that it will end. Though they thought they were safe and comfortable, they would be the first to fall. The leaders thought their prosperity was a sign that God was with them, but they would soon realize that He had left them to fend for themselves. God would allow their failure to be a reminder that the Lord God Almighty is not only ruler over Israel, but also over all the earth. He commands even the armies of His enemies, granting them the power over His people for the sake of their life and future.
This warning should have brought those leaders to their knees in repentance so that they would turn to the God of their fathers. They did not hear; they ignored the warning of downfall because they thought that they had done enough to deserve God’s grace. They checked the box of worship, but they forgot what was most important: that God calls His people to practice justice and mercy. The leaders who gorged on the finest food and lounged on ivory covered couches had no concern for the welfare of the people over whom they had been appointed. The reward for their indifference would be that they would lead their people into the exile. They would no longer feast in Samaria. They would suffer at the hands of the Assyrians they trusted because they stopped trusting the only One who could give them peace.
The rich man thought he had it all. He thought he deserved his good life, and he reveled in it, wearing purple and fine linen, feasting on good food. At his gate lay a sick man named Lazarus. He had sores all over his body and was so hungry that he was willing to eat the crumbs which are left for the dogs. Lazarus was poor, not only in money but also in flesh and friends. He did not have anyone to care for his needs. Those apparently responsible for him were so uncaring that they simply dumped him at the gate of a rich man in the hope that he might get some compassion and help. The only ones who seemed to show any concern for him were the dogs that licked his wounds. This was not a good thing: it was unhealthy and offensive.
The rich man is exactly the opposite. He had more than enough of everything: a home, food, good health, and friends. He was distracted by the good things he enjoyed and never noticed the sick man at his gate. The differences between these two men are obvious and it seems as though the rich man truly is blessed and the poor man cursed.
Jesus turned our perspective upside down. Both men died and went to very different fates. Lazarus was carried away on wings of angels to live for eternity with Abraham. He was so alone in this world that he did not even have anyone to dispose properly of his body. Those responsible for him probably didn’t even miss him; it was probably a relief to be set free of the burden. The rich man was buried, most certainly with great pomp and mourning. Perhaps the family even hired people to fill his funeral with tears and cries of grief. He probably had a fine casket and an expensive tomb. Those whom he left behind shared in his blessedness even after he was gone.
This is where the story turned. The rich man, who had been blessed in his life, found himself suffering the torment of Hades. To add to the torture was the fact that the rich man could see Abraham caring for Lazarus in his bosom. He could see Lazarus blessed with a place in heaven, but there was no way for him to be part of that blessedness. He cried out to Abraham, “Have mercy on me.” All he wanted was a drop of water for his tongue. Abraham could not provide for his needs and answered, “Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But here he is now comforted and you are in anguish.” Abraham had compassion for the rich man. He called him “son,” but the chasm between the two was too great for Abraham to cross.
The rich man realized his failure and wanted Abraham to send Lazarus to tell his family. He wanted his family to learn how to live so that they would not have to suffer the same torment. Abraham was unable to provide this service to the rich man also. He said, “They have Moses and the prophets.” The rich man argued that they would need something drastic to help them see the truth of what they knew from Moses and the prophets. They were not bad people. Wealth, in itself, is not bad. Like those in Samaria, they probably worshipped as expected by the laws of Moses. However, they forgot what was most important: that all God’s people share in His kingdom on earth. They had forgotten that they were blessed to be a blessing, that they were given good things to share with those who did not have good things. They had forgotten that true joy came with living by faith, being content with enough, and giving the excess to the glory of God.
Lazarus was obviously sick in body, but the rich man had a less obvious dis-ease. He was sick in spirit, separated from God by his apathy and blindness to the needs around him. While Lazarus will live for eternity in the bosom of God, the rich man will suffer without the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. This is a message we all need to hear so that we will make a difference in the lives of those who need us. Jesus is not telling us that we have to be sick or poor to be admitted into heaven. He is not telling us that the rich will automatically be sent to Hades. He is reminding us not to be so distracted by the things of this world that we miss out on the opportunities to share His mercy and grace. We have been blessed to be a blessing and that it is in sharing the Kingdom of God with others that we will know the joy and peace of eternal life.
The psalmist calls us to live in the hope of God’s promises. When we praise God, we see the world through His point of view. We see what justice and mercy look like. We see what it means to be righteous. We see how He bridges the gaps between people and reconciles them with Himself and others. We see the Lazarus at our gate and realize that our selfishness is affecting others in a negative way. We hear His voice as He calls us to share our abundance with those who do not have enough. We might have doubts about whether we are being good stewards of our resources, but we can trust that God will make all things right. If the rich man had lived by faith, trusting God by seeing Lazarus and blessing him with what he needed, he would not have been on the wrong side of the gap.
We might not be wealthy or powerful, but we are to look at these scriptures through the lens of our own lives. How are we failing to see those outside our own palaces that need a few crumbs of what we have to offer? We may not have much, but there's always something, and it doesn't have to be material. Do we have a gift or talent, the time or the physical energy to do something for another? Our neighbor may not ask for help, but when we see the need, it is up to us to step forward and do what will make life better for the other. It doesn't matter if we are rich or poor. It doesn't matter if we have power or not. What we, as Christians, are reminded in these scriptures is that God calls us to be His hands in a world full of people who need something we must give.
I can hear the grumbles. I imagine every one of us can list the things we have done recently for someone: the money we have given to charities, the time we have given to the church and other ministries, the kindnesses we have done for our neighbors. We are right to say that we can’t do it all. However, we are called to a life of compassion and mercy, a life in which we look for the one God has dropped at our gate with whom we can share our life and resources. God puts opportunities in front of us, like Lazarus at the rich man’s gate, and it is up to us to respond with trust and mercy.
Our lives will end one day, and our wealth will not take us into heaven or follow us into hell. When we die, everything we have done on earth will be lost. Everything but faith. Faith is the greatest treasure that we have, but we often take it for granted. Today’s lessons might be about how we make proper use of our wealth in this world, but we are also reminded that we have a wealth beyond our imagination that we tend to hoard for ourselves.
God calls us to gap the divide between heaven and hell by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is the bridge. We have been given bread that will satisfy our greatest hungers, but are we willing to share even a few crumbs with our neighbors? When was the last time you shared the Gospel of Christ with someone who crossed your path? The world is filled with people who are hungering Jesus, starving and they don’t even know it. So, let’s be humble and see the world through God’s eyes. Let’s work with Him to bridge the gaps that divide us now and forever. Let’s not be so distracted by the good things in our life that we forget to do the important thing: practice justice and mercy. Let’s see the Lazarus God has dropped on our doorstep, feed him with bread and the Bread of Life so that we’ll dwell forever together in the bosom of God our Father.
While God is concerned about our salvation and the destination of our souls after death, He is also concerned with the life we are living today. Christian faith is not just about whether we’ll end up in heaven. It is about reconciling the world, bridging those gaps that seem too hard to cross. In this life, however, the gaps are not impossible. The rich man and Lazarus shared the same space, but they were worlds apart. A simple meal and a clean robe would have bridged the gap not only in this world, but in the one to come.
Are we too at ease in our world today, comfortable and prosperous, that we don’t notice those who need our help? Are we facing gaps in our own eternity because we have failed to share even the crumbs from our tables? As Amos warned, it isn’t enough that we are in church on a Sunday morning going through the motion of worship. God sees our hearts and is looking for those who will live in humble submission to Him, acting with justice and mercy in the world. Our time on earth will come to an end; are we ready?
We are not meant to conform to the world, but to turn away from all the things that distract us from living according to God’s will, even if this means being the underdog. Our works will never earn us a place in eternity, but our faith is meant to lead us toward being a blessing. What do we fail to do in thought, word, and deed each day that might leave chasms in eternity? Those are the very gaps that God is calling us to bridge today. We have been blessed to be a blessing, to restore relationships, to share grace. This means putting aside the things that distract us; it means keeping our priorities right. It means keeping God in focus and remembering that He is the Lord of heaven and earth. We need food, shelter, and clothing, but our quest to be satisfied should never stand in the way of seeing what others might need. Our worship helps us to see the heart of the God who can help us in our successes and failures. By His grace we will see those who need us. We just have to look for people with whom to share our blessings. They are there right in front of our faces or laying at our gates, acting in mercy to bridge the gaps between people so that the kingdom of heaven is made whole.
September 25, 2025
“But of that day or that hour no one knows—not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is. It is like a man traveling to another country, having left his house and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch. Watch therefore, for you don’t know when the lord of the house is coming - whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning; lest, coming suddenly, he might find you sleeping. What I tell you, I tell all: Watch!” Mark 13:32-37, WEB
We have all known the frustration of waiting for a service technician to keep an appointment at our homes. We make the appointment, but they can’t pinpoint the time when they will arrive. They usually give a window of time, “We’ll be there in the morning” or “We’ll be there in the afternoon.” What does that mean? Does morning mean 8:00 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.? The worst is when they tell you that they’ll be there sometimes between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. This isn’t a problem for those like me who can plan around a whole day, but what about those who have to work? Even for stay-at-home moms, such a big discrepancy of time can be a problem. When should I take a shower? Can I go to the grocery store? Should I let my child nap now if they might be awakened by the work noise?
I usually get up early to shower and dress before the possible time of arrival, but the technician is never there that early. They usually arrive at the very last moment. However, if I’m not ready, they get there early. I once had an appointment for the afternoon, but I ran out in the morning to get some errands done. I ran into traffic that made me just five minutes late. I found the note on the door with a phone number to call. Luckily, the crew had only gotten a few miles from the house, and they were willing to come back. Otherwise, I would have had to start the process over again.
I understand why the timing is uncertain. They make several appointments for the technicians in a certain time period. Anything might happen that would make them late. Earlier jobs often take longer than expected, or they get stuck in traffic. I’ve had technicians complain about customers that expect the impossible. A delivery man once told me about a woman who wanted her freezer in a closet that was barely large enough and it took him a lot of extra time to make the delivery.
We sometimes expect the things in the spiritual realm will be more trustworthy, that they will happen in good time without making us wait. God certainly knows the plans He has for each of us, and He knows the timing of all that is to come. And yet, that timing is not revealed to any of us. You may have seen posts on social media this week about the rapture this week. Some people took it seriously, others posted “Marked Safe From the Rapture.” Yet others reminded everyone that only God knows the time. As we see in today’s passage, the Son does not even know. Some joked about how God really did plan for Jesus to return this week, but He had to cancel because someone predicted this date.
It is easy to say, “I am going away and I will be back at this certain hour.” And yet, we all know the difficulties that might arise that would delay our arrival. We could get stuck in traffic or run into car troubles. On the other hand, we may arrive earlier than expected.
Mark tells us that only the Father knows when He will fulfill all His promises. We are kept out of the loop for a reason: because if we know with certainty when Jesus will come, we will become lazy or distracted by the things of this world because we still “have time.” Faith thrives in the uncertain because we have to live obedient that God, the only one we can trust to come at the right time. We can’t rely on our own knowledge. We don’t know when grace might delay or hurry the plan of God for mercy’s sake. For this we can be thankful, because every moment God waits is one more moment for someone we love to believe in the God who has mercy for those who are not yet ready.
As for those who believe, may we always be ready and watchful whether the day will be today or in a thousand years, knowing that Jesus can come at any moment and He will never be late. It is up to us to live in faith, to do whatever God is calling us to do, and to watch for opportunities to share Jesus with those who do not yet know Him so that they will be ready, too. You never know, the next person who believes in Him because of your witness might just be the one God is waiting to be saved.
“For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you and the love which you have toward all the saints, don’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:15-23, WEB
I was watching a movie the other day, one of those cheesy romance movies where boy meets girl, they fall in love, something goes wrong, they make up, and kiss right before the closing credits. In this particular film, the big company businesswoman investigates a small start-up for possible investment. She discovers that the company has a great idea but is highly inefficient. People are happy with the service, but they could make more money if they just made a few changes to do things faster, cheaper, and easier. The owner of the company doesn’t want to lose the unique character of his company, though he needs an investor to expand his company into a larger building.
In the end, the woman realizes that some of her changes would change the company, but she also convinces the man that some things would be helpful. In one scene, she sees a line of people waiting at a closet. “What’s going on over there?” she asked. The man told her that they were waiting for supplies. “We keep everything in that one closet, so people need to take turns to get what they need. She noticed an empty closet nearby. “Why don’t you put the supplies for one department in that closet and leave the rest. This way more people can get what they need in a shorter period of time.” It turned out to be a great idea. The simple, small change made a sufficient situation more efficient.
There is a difference between efficiency and sufficiency. Though they both describe the effectiveness of something, efficiency means to do something well, while sufficiency means doing enough. The cross is enough to save the world, but there are too many people who do not quite understand what that means. They think they have to work hard to earn their salvation, to earn their way to heaven. We hear it at funerals all the time: “She was a good person; she deserves to be in heaven.” The cross of Jesus was enough to save that person, but they didn’t really believe it was sufficient.
I recently heard a theologian say, “The cross of Christ is sufficient for all to be saved, but it is efficient for those who believe.” There is no wasted time, effort, or resources for the person who believes. Faith, which is a gift from God, makes the sufficient work of the cross efficient for the one who trusts in God’s grace. Most religions seem sufficient for life in this world, and many think they provide for an afterlife. Jesus certainly is.
However, how much better is that life when it is fueled by faith? When we believe, we can not only be certain that we will dwell forever, but we can trust that God has given us everything we need to lead a life in this world that glorifies God in the here and now. He makes the cross of Christ efficient as Paul tells us by enlightening our hearts so “that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might.” We don’t trust in our own work, our own abilities, or our own resources because God rules over it all and makes amazing things happen because His cross is not only sufficient, but it is efficient because of the faith He gives by the power of the Holy Spirit.
“In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?’ Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them and said, ‘Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a huge millstone were hung around his neck and that he were sunk in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes! If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire. If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna[a] of fire. See that you don’t despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.’” Matthew 18:1:11, WEB
Today we celebrate St. Michael and all the angels. The modern understanding of angels is far different from what it was in the times of the biblical writers. Today, angels are pretty little things with fluffy wings and pure white garments. We see them as helpers, beings that will take care of us. There are also many who think that angels are their loved ones who have died and been transformed by God into guardians of those left behind. We use this language to help people through their grief, to give them hope that their loved one is still with them in some way. But Angels are unique beings created by God for a specific purpose: to serve God as His messengers to God’s people. The angels move throughout the dominion of God, passing into our world only in obedience to God s will. Their main purpose, as is ours, is to glorify God in all they do and minister to us.
Angels were created by God to live for eternity, though they aren’t like God because they had a beginning, are not omnipresent, omnipotent, or omniscient. There are different types of angels, all are spiritual beings that are intelligent and wise. They are too numerous to count. They were present when God created the world, but we are reminded that they are not meant to be worshipped. They have a will and emotions, but most of them remained faithful to God. They take an interest in human affairs, as they are sent by God to be messengers, watchers, and military hosts. Angels are a means of God’s grace, a way by which God reveals Himself to the world. Human beings are just a small part of the created order; the earth, plants, animals, angels and demons are all under the dominion of the Lord God Almighty with us.
There are several named angels, including St. Michael. Their names show us the work God does among us through the angels. Michael is “the one who resembles God.” Michael is found in the books of Daniel and Revelation, also in the epistles to Jude and the Thessalonians. Gabriel, who is mentioned in the stories of Mary and Joseph as the messenger who gave them the Good News about the baby Jesus, is “man of God.” Raphael and Uriel are mentioned in the apocrypha. Raphael means “God heals” and Uriel means “God is my light.” There are other angels named in different religious traditions. No matter how strong or powerful are the angels, they are created beings that God created and called to do His work in the realm of this world.
The text for today is the Gospel lesson assigned for the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, or Michaelmas, doesn’t seem to fit. After all, what do little children have to do with angels, unless we are talking about those pretty little angelic faces they have when they sleep? The truth is, we are meant to be more like children, humble and dependent on God. What can a child do when they are faced with a difficult or frightening situation? They can’t fix it themselves, they do not know how. They must go to one who is greater. A child that is bullied in school for a teacher or principal to get help. A lost child looks find a policeman to help them home. A sick child goes to their mother or father to get well. Children know they cannot act, so they seek help from the one who can. Though there are many things we can do, we need to remember that there is One to whom we can go to help us through and that He has ways we do not always understand to provide everything we need.
Today’s feast reminds us to thank God for the presence of all angels on earth and in heaven. We often forget that there is more to God’s creation than we experience or understand in the flesh. Quite frankly, most of us would prefer to ignore the reality of the spiritual battles that surround us every day, but we can see everywhere that something is happening that is beyond our ability to overcome. We need God, and God uses angels to help us, bring hope, comfort, protection, and the Word of the Lord to us.
We are not always aware of the spiritual world that exists beyond our conscious reality and sometimes we even reject that it is real. We are reminded that we are not alone in our battle against Satan and wickedness in our world. St. Michael is fighting for us, and the angels are walking with us. We rarely see them, but we can praise God with them and for their presence, trusting that God has sent them to help us with the battles we can’t see.
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving, praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds, that I may reveal it as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Colossians 4:2-6, WEB
We live in a time when it is very difficult for us to talk about the hard things because we are afraid that we are going to upset our neighbors in a way that will cause discord or even violence. There are some who try to have conversations, but they generally lead to anger and hatred, not just in the words but in the people. It has been common practice to avoid the topics of religion and politics at family gatherings for a long time, but we don’t just tip-toe around those topics. Take, for instance, when was the last time you had a serious conversation about death?
I recently spoke at a women’s luncheon. The them was “Faith Through the Decades” and the hosts chose eight women to talk about faith in their decade. There was someone from the teens through the eighties. Each decade of our lives is unique, of course, but the eight women were also unique. Some talked about coming to faith recently, others talked about walking away and returning. The younger women had less experience, but they were so thankful for older women who helped guide their faith. The older women talked about how their faith affected the work they did in the world. It was fascinating to hear each unique perspective, both remembering my own life at that age and looking forward to the decades to come.
I represented being sixty-something. I have a million stories to tell, and quite frankly I’m still thinking about ways I could have gone. I could have focused more on how God guided my life, my baptism, my marriage, moments when I heard God’s voice, my current vocation. Instead, I chose to talk about death. It was a bit surprising to the women, but as I considered my focus, I couldn’t help thinking about how death is always lingering nearby these days. Of course, we all deal with death throughout our lives, but it seems so much closer as family and friends deal with illness. After talking about many of those people, I said, “This talk of mortality and ill health may seem depressing. Why would anyone want to get this old?” Then I went on to talk about the advantages of being this old. I have freedom, different responsibilities, confidence, financial resources, and boldness to share my faith.
I also talked about how wonderful it is to see the younger generations that I’ve had a chance to watch grow and mature, finding their place and joy in their lives. One example I gave was of a young man who had attended high school with our daughter. We attended his comedy show the night before my speech, and he talked about some of those hard topics. He began his show with stories about his life, and he had us laughing the whole time. He is a Christian, and the jokes were meant to lead us to a place where we could hear about how those aspects of his life made him depressed, even suicidal. He talked about the people who influenced him, how they turned him in a better direction. He always dealt with hard topics with humor, but many people have no outlet. “Tell people that you see them.” He wanted us to know that by walking with those who struggle, we help them go on. He wanted us to be bold enough to talk about the hard things.
I ended my talk with this encouragement, “I am sixty-something. I might be closer to death than I was when I was twenty-five, but aren’t we all every day? The best advantage of my age is that I have had decades to grow in faith and in love for God and my neighbor. I am old enough to live in trust and hope and courage and love and peace and joy. The thing is: so can you, no matter how old you are. There are struggles in every decade of life, and joys that can’t be found in the others. The key to life whatever your age is embracing each day with faith in God, knowing that He has prepared a path for you to follow, in good times and in bad. Live your best life today and every day because God is calling you to embrace the opportunities for adventures during which you can love and serve your neighbors to His glory.”
I wondered how my talk would be received because we just don’t talk about death in public. It is too depressing. Who wants to hear about the reality of our mortality? Listening to the young man made me realize that we do need to talk about the hard things. The young women may not have had to experience significant deaths in their lives, and they aren’t really thinking about their mortality. The older women certainly have lost the most important people in their lives, and they think daily about their own death. By admitting that I am at an age to think about these things helps open the door for conversation with those who think it is a taboo subject but are afraid and uncertain about how to deal with it. We have to talk about the hard things, because when we don’t people struggle alone, not realizing that they are experiencing something that is normal. We can be there for others when we share our own fears and uncertainties, pointing each other to God’s grace in the hard things of life.