This might provide you with a clearer picture of what is going on in this reading from Hebrews.  Warning: It requires a lot of digging around in the Old Testament, which is not a bad thing!

Hebrews 12:18-29

The whole idea here is to make the Jewish Christians realize how much better they have it, since the Messiah has ushered in the new kingdom.  The author begins by contrasting what the Jewish Christians had (and didn’t have) before and after the coming of Jesus, the Messiah.

18You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, 19and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. 20(For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.” 21Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”)

The author is referring to the story that takes place during the wanderings in the wilderness of Moses and God’s chosen people. The thing that cannot be touched (but can be seen) is Mt. Sinai.  (See Exodus 19:7-25.)  He then compares it to what they now have, with Jesus and the fulfillment of prophecy.

 22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 

The temple in Jerusalem was the only place on earth where one could experience God’s presence.  “Heavenly Jerusalem” is the replacement for the temple in Jerusalem. (See Hebrews 11:16, Revelation 21:2 and Galatians 4:26.)  The idea here is that the temple in Jerusalem was temporary, and has been replaced by the heavenly Jerusalem because of the coming of the Messiah.

24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.25See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! 

The first verse compares the blood of Able (Genesis 4:8-16) with Jesus’ lifesaving blood.  One condemns, the other saves.  The rest reminds us to heed the saving word of Jesus.

26At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.” 27This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.  28aTherefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, …

The reference here is to Haggai 2:6, in which God will shake heaven and earth.  By contrast, because of Jesus ushering in the New Kingdom, our world will not be shaken.

28b… let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; 29for indeed our God is a consuming fire.

Our response is faithful worship to the God who sent the Messiah, who saves our souls.

THE TAKEAWAY

The whole idea here is to get the Jewish Christians to realize how much better they have it, since the Messiah has ushered in the new kingdom.  It good for us to realize this too!

ISAIAH 58:9b-14

THE BACKGROUND

The large book of Isaiah can be broken into three parts—the time before, during, and after Judah’s exile in Babylon.  Today’s reading comes from the last part.  God’s people have returned to the Promised Land.  It doesn’t take long before they start going astray.  Each of the two paragraphs mention one particular expectation that God has of his people.

THE DETAIL

• God calls his people to turn to him and cry for His help.  “The yoke” He is referring to is their sinful nature.  He gives two examples—“pointing of the finger” and “speaking of evil”.  The real list was longer, of course.  (v. 9b)
• Here are two expectations of God; two God-like behaviors that He would like to see. They should offer food to the hungry, and satisfy the needs of the afflicted.  (v. 10a)
• The remainder of this paragraph lists the blessings they would receive, if they did these things, instead of the above-mentioned bad things.  (vv. 10b-12)
• Now, the emphasis shifts to another one of god’s expectations, keeping the Sabbath day holy.  When God calls working on the Sabbath “trampling on the Sabbath”, you get a sense for His feelings on this subjest.  He wants us to put our own interests aside on this day, and take a holy break.  (v. 13)
• What follows are some of the blessings we receive, when we follow this path.  (v. 14)

THE TAKEAWAY

It is clearly stated, time and time again in scripture that we are to care for the less fortunate around us.  This includes the hungry, the orphans and widows, etc.  This is very important to God.  Somehow, it is less important to us.  Somehow, it is easier to point the finger to justify why we should not be generous.

Recently, I learned that the word Sabbath means “stop”.  For people of faith, this means stopping work.  God wants us to have a break from our labors every week.  At our house, we try to refrain from doing chores on this day. Instead, we do “other stuff”, like talking with family, going for a walk or boating, etc.  If I’m working on some sort of project, I try very hard to not work on that project on Sunday.  For those who work for a living, sometimes it is impossible to take Sunday off.  But the concept is the same.  God wants us to take a holy break and honor Him. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Haven’t we all looked down our noses at people less fortunate than us?  We need to recognize this for what it is not.  It is not love.  Since it is not love, but the opposite, isn’t that a sinful act?

HEBREWS 12:18-29

THE BACKGROUND

I’ve already said that this book was written to explain Jesus’ place in Jewish theology.  But there are two more things to know about it. The writer uses contrast in this writing.  He compares the good vs. the bad, then vs. now, and so forth.  Today, it is a Then and Now, a Tangible vs. Intangible comparison.

THE DETAIL

• He starts out by stating that we Christians don’t have a belief based on something we can touch, see, or hear.  Back in Moses’ time, they did.  They had the temple of God’s presence.  (vv. 18-21)
• What we have is the invisible Mt. Zion, the heavenly city of God.  Everybody is there—God, Jesus, angels, and those who have gone before us (“the assembly of the firstborn”).  This is what we believe in.  We believe by faith, not by touch, sight, or sound.  (vv, 22-23)
• Jesus’ life-saving blood is contrasted with the death-dealing blood of Abel.  (v. 24)
• We should not waver in our faith (“refuse the one who is speaking”), like the Israelites did so many times.  (v. 25)
• At Sinai, God shook the earth with his voice.  Soon, God will shake both heaven and earth with His voice, as foretold in Haggai 2:6 “For thus says the Lord of hosts: Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land…”  (vv. 26-28)
• So, keep the faith, and give thanks, knowing that “God is a consuming fire”.

THE TAKEAWAY

By definition, faith is the belief in something not seen.  Remember what Jesus said, when “doubting Thomas” touched Jesus’ scars? “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” (John 20:29)

LUKE 13:10-17

THE BACKGROUND

Jesus is still on his way to Jerusalem.  It is the Sabbath, a day of rest, worship, and teaching.

THE DETAIL

• It was common in Jesus’ day for a traveling teacher to preach the Word in the synagogue on the Sabbath (Saturday).  Jesus does just that at some undisclosed place.  (v. 10)
• Jesus heals a woman from a crippling illness of 18 years.  (vv. 11-13)
• The leader of the synagogue speaks up, objecting to Jesus working on the Sabbath.  In most cases, the Law of Moses is clear-cut on this subject.  Regular work was not allowed.  You weren’t even allowed to travel, except to go to worship.  On the other hand, it was OK to work to save someone’s life on the Sabbath.  Healing a crippled person was in a gray area.  Jesus took one side, the leader took the other.  (v. 14)
• The list of work not allowed was very well defined, as defined in a non-biblical text that listed them.  One of the verbs listed was “to lead”.  You could not lead a farm animal on the Sabbath.  Jesus turns the tables on the leader of the synagogue, when he uses the example of leading an ox or donkey to a water trough to water the animal.  He knows that they all do this, so he calls them hypocrites.  They can break the law to give their donkey a drink, but cannot heal this “daughter of Abraham”.  Jesus calls it what it is—hypocrisy.   (vv. 15-16)
• The point is made, and his critics are put to shame.  (v. 17)

THE TAKEAWAY

Jesus repeatedly ignores the letter of the law when it comes down to showing love and compassion for others. The laws are a good guide, but the Law of Love overrides everything else.  Sometimes, it is easier to stick to the rules, and turn our backs to those in need.  Jesus is telling us to put love above all else.

JEREMIAH 23:23-29

THE BACKGROUND

This part of Jeremiah’s story occurs at a pivotal moment.  Jeremiah has been speaking for God, condemning the practices of the king of Judah and the prophets of the king’s court.  He has nearly been executed three times for treason, solely based on his opposition to them.  Earlier in this chapter, God (through Jeremiah) has presented his vision for His people—that they should “… act with justice and righteousness,… do[ing] no wrong or violence to the alien, the orphan, and the widow…” (v. 3)  Instead, “… their eyes are on your dishonest gain, for shedding innocent blood, and for practicing oppression and violence.” (v. 17) Speaking up against these acts brought Jeremiah nothing but grief.  Very soon, the tide will change.  Babylon is about to change their lives forever.

THE DETAIL

• Right away, you can sense the tone of this passage.  God is angry with the king and his court prophets.  God reminds them that he is both near and far; they can run, but they cannot hide.  God sees everything.  (vv. 23-24)
• God attacks the court prophets for leading His people astray.  They have told His people lies; lies which support the king’s agenda, and not the Lord’s.  (vv. 25-27)
• In the end, God says “let them tell their lies”.  But let His prophet (Jeremiah) speak the truth as well.    The wheat/straw sentence was puzzling to me.  I take it to mean this:  Both wheat and straw are from the same plant; but the wheat provides nourishment, while the straw is provides none.  Jeremiah and the court prophets are all prophets, but only one provides wholesome prophecy.  (v. 28)
• The Lord’s final statement is ominous—His word is like fire.  It is like a hammer.  This is no idle threat!  (v. 29)

THE TAKEAWAY

The more things seem to change, the more they remain the same.  In today’s religious communities, there are two distinctly different “schools”. One strives to care for the disadvantaged—foreigners, the poor, widows, and the underprivileged.   The other supports leadership that is more interested in programs for the wealthy than for the poor. I suggest you reread verses 25-28, substituting the word "preacher" for the word "prophet".  Many of today's high-dollar evangelists support a president who wants to eliminate the poor, the downtrodden and the aliens in our land.  Who's values do they support-- God's or mankind?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

I wonder what God would say to us today?  Could He be speaking now, and we’re just not listening?  

HEBREWS 11:29-12:2

THE BACKGROUND

I will continue to say this, because it is so important to understanding the book of Hebrews—this book was written to help the Christian Jews to understand Jesus’ place in the world of Jewish theology.  They had a firm understanding of Yahweh through reading the Old Testament.  The question before them was how Jesus fit into this picture.  Before Jesus, one gained God’s favor by keeping The Law of Moses.  With Jesus, it comes though faith.  Is this something new?  The author of Hebrews says no, and explains why.

THE DETAIL

• We are presented with a very long list of faithful Jews from Old Testament scripture.  (vv. 29-32)
• We read of the suffering they endured for their faith.  (vv. 33-38)
• He then states that all these faithful people did not, unfortunately, receive the promise (of the Messiah).  The good news is that we do receive the promise!  (vv. 39-40)
• The final paragraph tells us what we should do.  I’ll summarize it in reverse order. 
  • Remember that Jesus endured the shame of the cross, and sits at God’s right hand.
  • Remember that Jesus is our pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
  • Let’s set aside our sinful ways, and run the race of faith that is set before us.  Sometimes, we must persevere, especially when faced with difficulties such as those mentioned in verses 33-38.

THE TAKEAWAY

Over the eons, many have suffered for their faith.  This was certainly true for the early Christians.  They were called upon to persevere in the face of adversity; to have suffering endurance.  Even today, occasionally, we are called upon to stand up for Jesus.  When this happens, it’s time to lace up our running shoes, and run the race of faith!
 

LUKE 12:49-56

THE BACKGROUND

Jesus has “set his face on Jerusalem”.  He continues on, knowing what lies ahead.   He has taught his followers what all of this will mean, but many don’t get it or don’t want to get it.  Last week’s reading hinted at the anxiety that Jesus must have felt.   In this week’s reading, Jesus’ feelings are more evident. 

THE DETAIL

• It is clear to me that Jesus is anxious about what he is about to endure, and would like to get it over with.  By “baptism”, I believe he is referring to his crucifixion.  (vv. 49-50)
• Our Prince of Peace is not talking peace here, but division.  It was true for his followers, back at that time.  To follow Jesus meant that they must step away from their former traditional Jewish lives, and become Christians.  This would mean confrontation with family members and friends. Many would have to choose between Jesus or family & friends.  These lines of separation still exist.  But we’ll save that for the Takeaway.  (vv. 51-53)
• The final paragraph might be understood to refer to the “end times”.  But, I prefer to think instead that Jesus was talking about his immediate future.  Everybody was happily following him down the road.  Jesus knew exactly where that road would lead, but others apparently did not. I think this passage was meant for them. (vv. 54-56)

THE TAKEAWAY

Many of us are fortunate to be able to live our lives in the same Christian community as our friends and family. Sometimes, there is a cost to following Jesus.  Sometimes, family members will differ on issues of morality or faith.  This is when it is important to return to holy scripture and review the life and teaching of Jesus. 

GENESIS 15:1-6

THE BACKGROUND

The book of Genesis is full of ancient stories of the relationship between God and mankind. The stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Able, and Noah and the Ark tell us about the nature of our sinful nature and about God’s desire to be in relationship with us. After The Flood, God took a different approach.  He focused on developing a relationship with one man, one family—Abram and Sarai. Today’s passage is one of the key passages regarding the development of this relationship.

THE DETAIL

• God appears to Abram in a vision, and makes a promise to him.  (v. 1)
• Abram enters into a discussion with God.  Abram does not mince words, but boldly challenges God to make good on previous promises.  Abram is old, and is concerned about who will inherit his wealth.  The custom of the day was that if there was no son born to the family, the family wealth would go to the head slave of the household.  In Abram’s case, all fingers pointed to his head slave Eliezer of Damascus inheriting Abram’s wealth.  This was contrary to God’s promise, so Abram asks God “What gives???”  (vv. 2-3)
• God stands firm with his promise, and tells Abram that his very own child will be the heir, not Eliezer.  (v. 4)
• Then, taking Abram outside, God points to the heavens.  He promises Abram that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars.  (v. 5)
• Remarkably, Abram trusts God’s promise.  God “reckoned it to him as righteousness”.  More on this in the Takeaway.  (v. 6)

THE TAKEAWAY

It is important to note that at this time in history, there was no bible.  There are thousands of pages for us to read in the bible.  Not one word from God was written anywhere for Abram’s benefit.  Abram left his family’s home to be a “wandering Aramean” solely on some visions and the encounter in the desert we studied two weeks ago.  That takes faith!

At the time of this story, Abram is in his 90’s.  Sarai is barren and also very old.  Abram is justified in his concerns about the future.  God’s promises seem very unrealistic.  Yet, Abram trusts in the Lord’s promise.  It is this trust that God finds remarkable.  He considers Abram to be a righteous person because of it. 

Understanding the words “righteous” and “righteousness” have always given me difficulty.  What exactly do they mean?  I have two explanations to share with you.

1. A pastor taught me long ago that the word “righteousness” means “right actions”. A righteous act is doing the right thing—something that would please God. 

2. I recently read a story of a person who visited the Holy Lands.  Their rental car was acting up, so they took it to a mechanic.  The mechanic looked the car over, and said that the car was sedeq.  It was a Hebrew word which meant that the car was working as it should.  Interestingly, this is the same Hebrew word that is used in our text for “righteousness”.   So, like that car, when Abram trusted in the Lord’s promise, Abram was acting as he should have-- as God hoped he would act.

We now have the benefit of many bible stories to strengthen our faith.  By trusting in the Lord, we are also reckoned as righteous (sedeq) in the Lord.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Are you acting sedeq?  Are you acting as you should before God?

HEBREWS 11:1-3, 8-16

THE BACKGROUND

When reading the book of Hebrews, it is good to remember the purpose that the author had in mind.  His intent in writing this was to explain how the life of Jesus fit into the Jewish framework of faith.  In other words, it provided answers to questions like “Who was Jesus?”, and “How does he fit into our understanding of God, as presented in the Bible (Old Testament)?”  Today’s passage focuses on the meaning and value of faith.  The author uses the classic Jewish model of faith we just read about – Abraham.  (His name was changed from Abram to Abraham by God later, during a covenant process.)

THE DETAIL

• This first sentence is worthy of an hour-long discussion all by itself.  Maybe we’ll discuss this at length in the Takeaway. (v. 1)
• Verses two and three direct attention to Abraham, who is the role model of faith both to the Jews and to us Gentiles.  (vv. 2-3)
• What follows is a long list of detailed faith-acts on the part of Abraham:
  1. He left his homeland, not knowing his destination.
  2. He and his ancestors lived as nomads, waiting for the fulfillment of the promise.
  3. He was able to produce an heir because of his faith.
• This section is concluded by stating that all these people died in faith, all waiting for God’s promise to be fulfilled.  If they ceased to have faith, they might have returned to their homeland, but they did not; they trusted in the Lord’s promise.  (vv. 13-15)
• But because of their faith, God held them dear to him.  (v. 16)

THE TAKEAWAY

Look at verse 1.  Faith is putting our trust in something that we have never seen.  It is one thing to put one’s trust in something tangible; something you can touch or feel.  That’s not what we call faith.  Trusting in something that you’ve never seen requires faith.  Faith requires something special.  Faith is the thing that God treasures the most.  When we have faith in God’s promises through Jesus, we have hope.  We have the blessed assurance that we can have a close relationship with God, and receive life everlasting.
 

LUKE 12:32-40

THE BACKGROUND

We are into the heart of Jesus’ teaching ministry.  He has just angered the entire established religious community at a dinner he to which he was invited.  He will continue to teach and be challenged for eight more chapters before he enters Jerusalem for his final days.

If this lesson were a “red letter edition”, it would all be in red.  These are Jesus’ words and teaching for us. It has a few twists and turns in it.  Let’s dig into this, and make sense out of it. 

THE DETAIL

• Jesus begins by assuring us that the Father wants to give us the kingdom.  We should not be afraid or worry about it.  (v. 32)
• Next, Jesus gives us a little attitude adjustment.  He reminds us to fix our hearts on heavenly things, and not on earthly things.  Possessions can control our lives—get rid of them!  Focus on God!    Verse 34 is the key—God should be your treasure, not your checking account. (vv. 33-34)
• Then, Jesus’ conversation turns apocalyptic—he talks about the end times when he returns.  He warns us to be ready, with our lamps lit, waiting for the return of our master.  Remember, they didn’t have flashlights or light switches.  They only had oil lamps to illumine the darkness. To wait for the return of their master, they need to be ready, with lamps lit.  When he returns, and finds them ready, he will be pleased.  (vv. 35-38)
• In the next verse, the master becomes “the thief” who came in the middle of the night.  Does this mean that Jesus calls himself a thief? I’m not sure, but the meaning is clear—if we knew when he was to return, we would be ready for him.  (v. 39)
• The conclusion says it all—Jesus will return when you least expect it.  (v. 40)

THE TAKEAWAY

How do we “have our lamps lit” for Jesus in this day and age?  How to we ready ourselves for his return?  One of my favorite bumper stickers reads “Jesus is coming—look busy!”  It was meant as a joke, of course, but the question remains.  How do we prepare for his return?  Some turn to intense bible study and try to lead sinless lives.  But to me, this is exactly what Jesus criticized in the Pharisees.  Their lives were focused on being perfect (according to the Law of Moses), rather than being perfect by showing God’s love to those around them.  Being personally perfect, while ignoring others, is not God’s plan.  Jesus taught us to show our faith by loving everyone, even our enemies.  Bible study and trying to live pure lives are good things, to be sure.  But doing acts of righteousness by loving one another—loving everyone—is the best way to prepare for his return. 

Jesus is coming—be busy! 

NOTE: Today, at least for me, the Good News comes from the second lesson.  For that reason, I have placed the reading from Colossians as our final reflection.

ECCLESIASTES 1:2, 12-14, 2:18-23

THE BACKGROUND

The readings for this week are very contemplative.  We will reflect on the meaning of life. This subject can be depressing, if you let it.  But it is a good thing to reflect on this subject, especially through the lens of a Christian faith.

THE DETAIL

• The writer begins by stating that everything is vanity.  The book of Ecclesiastes was written in ancient Hebrew.  The word translated here for vanity is very difficult to translate. Other words might include “temporary” or “vapor-like”.  The meaning is clear.  Life is fleeting and futile.  Trying to make a meaningful life is a vexing, thankless task.  (v. 2)
• The writer was not only a teacher, but a king of Israel.  In the verses omitted from today’s passage, it tells us that he has sought meaning through wisdom.  When this did not satisfy, he turned to pleasure—sensual, wealth, and the pleasure of hard work.  These, too, did not satisfy.  (v. 12)
• Most vexing to him was the fact that all his hard labor would be left to his successor.  Because his successor did not toil for what he inherited, it would not be valued as it should.  I believe we have all seen this occur in our own lifetimes.  (v. 14)
• This passage’s conclusion is not a happy one—even at night our minds are restless.  (v. 23)

THE TAKEAWAY

When I lived in the city, I spent a lot of time and money on creating a healthy lawn, just like all my neighbors had.  I’d water and fertilize it, only to find that I had to mow it even more frequently.  Looking back, it was a vain undertaking.  So much of our daily lives are filled with meaningless tasks like this one.  Which activities do you find meaningful?  Which activities are “vanity”?  I find that, at least for me, doing the Lord’s work by serving others provides a level of fulfillment that is hard to find elsewhere.

LUKE 12:13-21

THE BACKGROUND

Jesus is on the road, teaching his disciples and to those along the way.

THE DETAIL

• Someone asks Jesus to settle a family dispute regarding the distribution of the family inheritance.  (v. 13)
• Jesus declines to get involved, but uses the opportunity to tell a parable.  We’re told that this parable has to do with our tendency to focus on hoarding our possessions. (vv. 14-15)
• You may know this story.  A farmer is very successful.  So much so that he needs bigger barns to store all his harvest. He builds them, and is content. (vv. 16-19)
• Just when the man thinks he has it made in the shade, God notifies him that his life is over.  “Who’s gonna get your stuff now?”  (v. 20)
• Jesus concludes by cautioning people who focus on material wealth rather on their relationship with God.  (v. 21)

THE TAKEAWAY

It is important to note that Jesus is not condemning the rich.  He is more concerned with how their wealth affects their outlook on life.  Turning greedily inward is futile.  Instead, he says that they should “be rich toward God”. Being “rich toward God” indicates a complete turnaround in focus from hoarding ones’ abundance. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

If you have lived through the Great Depression, or know someone who has, you are familiar with the compelling urge we sometimes have to hoard things.  Having an abundance of “stuff” may bring a certain level of satisfaction, but does it provide a lasting peace?

COLOSSIANS 3:1-14

THE BACKGROUND

This is the final reading that we will take from the letter to the Colossians.  The lectionary ends with verse 11.  I have added verses 12-14, since they are full of rich instruction for our daily lives. 

Paul has praised the Christians in Colossae, and encouraged them to remain steadfast in their faith.  He has reminded them that they have died with Jesus in their baptism, and are alive with him in his resurrection. 

THE DETAIL

• Oddly, then, Paul starts out this sentence “... if you have been raised with Christ…” That is an amazing thing to say, since he has already praised them for their faith in Jesus.  I think he’s using “if” rather than “since”, to challenge them to think “Of course I have been raised with Christ!”  Paul’s point in this paragraph is to encourage the readers to keep our focus on heavenly things, and not get burdened with the details of daily life. (vv. 1-4)
• Since we are “in Christ”, we should exterminate all those earthly negative things that drag us down.  Paul presents a pretty good list here.  (vv. 5-9a)
• But since (or if) we are “in Christ”, we have stripped off these old rags of negativity.  Instead, we are clothed anew, in the image of our creator.  We no longer look at our neighbors through the lens that divides, singling out racial and social differences.  Instead, we acknowledge that we are all the same in the eyes of God.  And this is what our new clothes look like:  compassion, kindness, humility, forgiveness, and above all—love.  (vv. 9b-14) 

THE TAKEAWAY

By setting our minds on “things that are from above”, we can find the true meaning of life.  We will no longer share in the vexations of the writer of Ecclesiastes; live is no longer vanity.  Life is rich in meaning and value, because we are living our lives “in Christ”, wearing the “clothes” described in verses 9-14. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

A teacher once told me that my salvation is not a one-time occurrence.  Instead, it is an on-going salvaging operation.  I know that I can “put to death” the earthly things Paul describes inverse 5.  I believe that I have done this.  But these "earthly things" seem to reappear, needing to be exterminated again and again.  I need God’s continuing salvaging operation in my life.  Perhaps we all do. 

GENESIS 18:20-32

THE BACKGROUND

This is a continuation of last week’s story.  Three travelers appeared at Abraham’s camp.  As was the custom of the day, he fed them, and provided shelter from the desert heat.  But these were no ordinary travelers; they were from God. 

THE DETAIL

• They tell Abraham that they are on a reconnaissance mission; they’ve heard how bad things were in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  If they are as bad as they had heard, they were to destroy those cities.  The text literally says that “the Lord” said these words.  In fact, the Lord stays behind, while the other two continue on the mission.  More on that in the takeaway.  (vv. 20-22)
•  Abraham and the Lord engage in an interesting discussion.  Abraham asks the Lord if He really would destroy entire cities, the good along with the bad.  (v. 23)
• Abraham gets bolder, and asks if the Lord would do this if there were fifty good people living there.  He is even so bold as to say “Far be it from you to do such a thing…” That takes nerve!  The Lord says if 50, then no.  (vv. 24-26)
• In the following verses, Abraham bargains the Lord down to ten!  (vv. 27-32)
• If you read further, you will discover that they did not even find ten righteous people living there.  Only Lot’s family was spared.

THE TAKEAWAY

The astonishing thing to me is that the Lord is one of the three who met Abraham near the oaks of Mamre.  Not only that, but they had a candid conversation!  Tradition has it that if you see God’s face, you would be struck dead.  So, how did this discussion take place?  This makes me wanting for details, and finding very few.  So, rather than focus on the “how”, let’s focus on the discussion.

Abraham essentially gets God to change his mind. Abraham appeals to His sense of decency and fairness.  Now, keep in mind that Abraham’s brother Lot lives in Sodom, so Abraham knows that there is at least one good family there.  But the point is that Abraham changes God’s mind. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

There was a rock band in the 60’s named the Moody Blues. In one of their recordings, the lead singer shouts out “YOU CANNOT PETETION THE LORD WITH PRAYER!!!”  According to this story above, it is clear that we can.

COLOSSIANS 2:6-15

THE BACKGROUND

Paul wrote this letter to a church that a fellow disciple established.  In his letter, Paul has been talking about Jesus being present at the creation of the world.  He has reminded them that they are reconciled with God through Jesus’ death on the cross. He encouraged them to remain steadfast in their faith.  Now, he focuses in on giving them some sound advice about their faith-walk.

THE DETAIL

•  He encourages them to strengthen their faith by being “rooted” and “built up” in Jesus. A tree receives its nutrients from the soil through its roots.  Likewise, being rooted in Jesus means that all our “nutrients” and strength should come from Jesus.  This strength will cause us to be built up in faith—we grow.  (vv. 6-7)
• He cautions them against being persuaded by other influences, such as philosophy, deceit, or believing in “elemental spirits” rather than being rooted in Jesus.  That last one has puzzled scholars for centuries.  Here’s one possible explanation.  Back then, it was thought that everything was made from four elements—earth, wind, fire, and water.  Some even revered these elements to the point of worship.  This could be what Paul was referring to, but maybe not.  The point is that we should be rooted in Jesus, and not influenced by other distractions.  Since Jesus is the head of everything, we should focus on him, and nothing else.  (vv. 8-10)
• Paul reminds them of the full meaning of their baptism.  He even calls it a spiritual circumcision.  Through baptism, they (and we) have died with Jesus on the cross, are buried and are raised with him.  We are his and he is ours.  (vv. 11-12)
• The next paragraph reminds us of what life would be like without Jesus—we would be dead because of our trespasses.  But because of Jesus, we are alive together.  Our sins are nailed on Jesus’ cross, and we are forgiven!  (vv. 13-15)

THE TAKEAWAY

Even today, we can be lured away from being rooted in Jesus.  It is easy to pin our hopes on the stock market, our savings, or on a political leader. This passage encourages us to forget about all that other stuff, and pin our hopes on Jesus.

LUKE 11:1-13

THE BACKGROUND

Today’s gospel lesson follows last week’s lesson. Last week, Jesus had dinner at Mary’s house, while her sister Martha listened to Jesus rather than serve the men. They are on the road again, and Jesus has stopped to pray.

THE DETAIL

• After Jesus finishes praying, a disciple asks him to teach them how to pray. So he taught them the prayer we call The Lord’s Prayer.  You may notice that “for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory” is absent. Jesus did not teach them this. This doxology was added soon after, in the early years of the church.  Some churches omit this, because Jesus did not teach it.  Others include it, because it is a fitting praise ending to the prayer.  (vv. 1-4)
• He then teaches them about prayer through two parables.  The first is about a man asking his friend for bread in the middle of the night.  At first, it doesn’t look like he’s going to get any bread.  But because of his persistence, he does.  This is completely in line with this week’s passage about Abraham. Persistence will change God’s mind.  (vv. 5-8)
• Jesus encourages us to ask, search, and knock; if we do, we will receive an answer.  (vv. 9-10)
• Finally, Jesus likens our prayers to a child asking their father for something.  A good, loving father gives his child food when the child asks.  It is the same with our father in heaven.  (vv. 11-13)

THE TAKEAWAY

Remember that in the opening line of the prayer in verse 2 we call God our father.  This is something that we are very used to.  Paul says that some even called God “Daddy” when they prayed!  But to the faithful of Jesus’ day, this was a radical idea.  God was an almighty being, far off.  To call him father or daddy was a new concept.  It signaled a change in our relationship with God to a more intimate, loving one.  It is not only right to call Him Father, but to expect that He will lovingly answer our prayers as well.

DEUTERONOMY 30:9-14

THE BACKGROUND

The book of Deuteronomy is a very long covenant (contract) between God, Moses, and His people.  It is a detailed listing of The Laws of Moses, including the Ten Commandments.  The Ten Commandments are not a complete list—many more are be found in the book of Leviticus.  (There are 613 in all.)  The people of God were about to enter the Promised Land, which was occupied by the Canaanites.  These laws defined a new, God-approved way of living which was uniquely different from the Canaanites. 

THE DETAIL

• Just before verse 9 of our passage, verse 8 speaks of obeying God’s commandments.  God says that if they are obedient, things will go well for them; they will be blessed with prosperity.  (v. 9)
• The second part of this sentence is at the core of the reason for doing this.  I’m going to switch the order around thusly:

“When you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, you will obey the Lord your God, and observe his commandments and decrees…” (v. 10)

• The next paragraph is a little word of encouragement, and needs little explanation.  God seems to say “Aw, come on.  It’s not that hard.  You can do it!” (vv. 11-14)

THE TAKEAWAY

God’s message is clear—“If you love me, you will do these things, and you will be blessed.  They are do-able, so don’t tell me that it is too hard.  Do them and we will be in a close relationship.  Do them, and you will prosper.”  Some have turned this and other passages into a tit-for-tat plan for financial gain.  I have even heard some preachers claim that if you donate $100, you can expect to receive $10,000, because the bible says you’ll receive a hundredfold for your generosity.  I’ve tried that, and I’m still waiting for the $10,000 to roll in!  But what I have experienced is that when I’m in a close relationship with God, living my life “in the Spirit”, there is an inner peace and joy that is worth that $10,000. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

1. Living in the Spirit requires “letting go, and letting God”.  Are you ready? You
2. can do it. “It is not too hard for you.” (v. 11b)

COLOSSIANS 1:1-14

THE BACKGROUND

For the next four weeks we will be reading from the letter that Paul wrote to the church in Colossae. The city of Colossae was situated in what is modern day Turkey.  It was once a commercial center for the production of red-dyed wool.  It was a textile town.  There is no evidence that Paul ever visited Colossae.  It appears that this church was the result of a man named in today’s passage—Epahrus (“ee-PAHF-ruhs”).  Epaphrus reported to Paul of the success of this church, and Paul has written these words of encouragement to them.  They are good words of encouragement for us as well.

THE DETAIL

• This is Paul’s classic opening line in all his letters.  It includes the “to” and “from”, as well as a blessing.  Paul mentions Timothy, who is one of his constant traveling companions.  (vv. 1-2)
• Paul and his companions have heard of their faith, and thank God for it when they pray.  (vv. 3-4)
• Here is a beautiful section, which describes the “hope laid up for us in heaven” because of our faith in the gospel message, the good news that Jesus has died for our sins. (v. 5)
• Their faith has borne fruit, because they have truly comprehended the grace of God.  (v. 6)
• Paul gives full credit to Epaphrus (with the Holy Spirit’s help, of course).  (vv. 7-8)
• In verses 9- 11, Paul now gives them the details of his prayers to God for this church:
  • That they may be filled with knowledge and spiritual wisdom
  • That they will lead lives worth of the Lord. 
  • That they will bear fruit (not peaches and berries, but souls).
  • That they will be made strong [in faith].
  • That they will be prepared to endure hardship for their faith with patience and joy (!).
• This section of his letter is concluded by giving thanks to the Father, and reminding them that they have been rescued from darkness, and are transferred life in the kingdom.  (vv. 12-14)

THE TAKEAWAY

Through Paul, God gives us a good shopping list for spiritual growth.  Verses 9-11 lead the way.  The clincher is there in verse 11—when we endure hardship for our faith, we must to so not just with patience, but with joyful patience!  That’s gonna take some effort, but at least we know that we have the Holy Spirit’s help.

LUKE 10: 25-37

THE BACKGROUND

This is the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan.  Many think that this is a story to tell us to be nice to people.  But Jesus tells this story for a different reason; to teach us a different lesson.  Let’s see if we can learn what Jesus wants us to learn.

THE DETAIL

• As Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, a man who is an expert in the Laws of Moses (remember our first lesson?) confronts Jesus, and asks him a poignant question.  (v. 25)
• Essentially, Jesus says “You tell me!”  (v. 26)
• The lawyer’s answer is spot-on, but interesting.  It is a combination of the first of the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 6:5) and an obscure law from Leviticus 19:18—love God, and love your neighbor.  (v. 27)
• Jesus approves of this answer.  (v. 28)
• Here comes the clincher, and the motivation behind Jesus telling this story.  The lawyer, wanting to justify himself, wants to know who has to be his neighbor.  In other words, he is asking Jesus who his neighbor isn’t.  (v. 29)
• I won’t go into the details of the story, which you probably already know.  But one point needs to be made.  The first two people to come upon the injured traveler are good, righteous “Men of God”.  The third is from Samaria.  Samaritans were despised by the Jews.  Jesus chose to identify the good helper as somebody that was the most hated people of Jesus’ listeners.  (vv. 30-35)
• Jesus sets the hook, and asks the lawyer who is the injured man’s neighbor.  The lawyer does not say “the Samaritan”.  He can’t even bear to say the word!  But the point has been made.  (vv. 36-37)

THE TAKEAWAY

We’re no different than that lawyer, really.  We want to limit those who we must love.  But Jesus makes it clear that we must love everyone, including our enemies.  It’s going to take some effort, but at least we have the Holy Spirit beside us, to help us along.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Who are on your “Samaritan list”?  Here are some thought starters:

• That person down the road who is so obnoxious. 
• Muslims
• Mexicans
• People from India
• People who do not love the Lord
• People who differ from your political views.