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1 Peter 2:19-25

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

 

   I started off thinking that there wasn't really much to add to this text. It provides a number of quotable and memorable insights for struggles and encourages endurance. The important dimension of submission is a consistent theme throughout the entire First Letter of Peter. He wants the young church to understand the power and significance of not being so blatantly scrappy and rebellious. The nature of Christ is to absorb wrong and show a new Way that is peaceful, loving and kind.

     Yet, my titles weren't working and my initial thoughts seemed too cute. Something was missing. I pulled up another
translation and praise God I saw the context, the whole second chapter (which is always important in Bible Study because the chapter and verse numbers were not added the 13th and 16th century!). My eyes did not have to look far, though. The previous verse reads, "Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse." This verse has been weaponized and distorted by those who are unjust. This verse was not meant to be read by the unjust, nor was it meant to justify harsh and violent behavior with a corrective teaching for the slave to stay in there place. Injustice does not require silence. Peter's words have been misread and misunderstood to mean something like, "The good people of Christ just keep on taking beatings. Stay down and take it like a good Christian."

     While it is true the we be humble and slow to speak, we also participate in the daily doings of Christ. It is by creating a community of fully open and just behavior that we show others how they are to live. Peter knows that evil wants to drag us into the fight, but God fights for us. We show the world our patience and resolve, but our weakness should not be taken advantage of used to beat any one of us down further. Our Great Shepherd is not on the side of the wolf or the lion. Predators and violent abusers are not excused. Injustice is losing and failing. We show ourselves to be on the winning side of love and justice. We show care and concern for all.

Great God of love and justice,
teach us your Way. Empower us to truly display your likeness in action. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

More Harsh Words

"You can't do it!"

     I would expect to hear such words from a heckler in a crowd, but what about a prophet, a p
astor, or Jesus' own mouth. You might be taken aback, surprised or even offended. In the verses following our Old Testament Reading from Sunday, the Prophet Joshua said these very words to the people after they proclaimed that they would choose God and follow him (Joshua 24:19). He was cautioning the people to say their proclamation carefully and acknowledging that they would likely fail, with the risk of again using God's mercy. The Hebrew Bible is indeed full of failures. Life's greatest teacher is on full display through all the key story arcs. Honestly, the biggest inspiration of the Bible is that God keeps on abiding with us.

     Still, we might expect a prophet to be cautionary and negative, but we don't expect our hopeful and life-giving Savior to say such things. Take heart, though, these words are not a direct discouragement. They speak the truth. Jesus is clarifying order and ability. We are not able to choose Jesus. We are not capable of making the choice to be a follower of Jesus. We can only go along with God's choice of us. Our support and submission to that path is what the Lord requires of us.

Today's reading: John 15:16-25 ESV

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

     Yes, we see in the wisdom of Jesus' words that those who oppose God spread hatred towards anything that is good and of God. No, we can't choose God. We can't choose to be perfect. We are not able to always make good choices and do what is right. God is able and God chooses us. Let the goodness of God shine through us by letting God's choices happen and flow. The Holy Spirit turns us from negative options, paths and possibilities. This is how we seek the Reign of God in the here and now!

Great God of all peoples,

We come before you today as a grateful people. We praise your greatness and lift high the honor of your Name. You have set us free to worship you. Your presence with us, O God, is undeserved yet completely welcome and needed! Let our hearts rest in you this day. Soothe us with all that you are for us in our lives. Guide us to live out your choosing, that we would do your work and your will in our area. Bless us to keep strong when hatred seems strong. Let us see that difficulties and challenges can be the mark of following the Crucified and Risen Prince of Peace. Be will all those that we lift before you now... We pray for all those who might feel terribly discouraged today...In your powerful Name, we pray. Amen.

Seems Like Something I Would Do

     "If I had a nickel for every time I have forgotten something, I would be rich." -me. Let's take a look at the Good News for today, and then we can talk about my forgetfulness.

Mark 8:14-21

Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

     Yes, forgetting the bread and then worrying about what to do next even with Jesus sitting on the next boat cushion seems like something I would do. Maybe you have also said, "Where is my phone?" It is in my hand.

     I can almost hear the exasperation in Jesus' voice. It must have been hard, even for a divinely human Jesus to remain patient with the disciples. They have seen the miracles, in their front row seats. They can make out the detail of Jesus' cloak, all the way to the healing fringe. They were the ones counting up the baskets of the abundant bread bits. "Do you not yet understand?!" strikes to the heart of the issue. It seems ridiculous that the disciples did not realize the abundant providing presence that was flesh and blood, right there in the boat with them.

     Actually, I am feeling a little better about the times that I have a hard time remembering the thing I wanted to make sure I remembered to do. Yes, sure, I can set alarms and write sticky notes. They help, but the disciples seem to run on another level of foolish at times. They make me feel better. Surely we could have done better. The news seems to hint at otherwise. There are countless stories of "we should have noticed the signs..." from climate change to apartment building collapses.

     This got me thinking about how often the questions of Jesus are timeless. What sorts of things do we not yet understand? In what ways do we forget that Jesus is in the boat with us? Yes, sure, we all forget things. Why, though, do we forget the big things? What exactly are we unclear about? It seems silly, but I wonder if we don't trust the "magic tricks" of a miraculous God. Calling it "blind faith" only seems to make it harder to trust.

     If God is for us and with us, providing for us and yielding an abundance, then what does it mean when we run out of something? Coping with shortfalls in any category is fear and worry inducing. If we can remain calm and trusting, we also have to deal with our industry identity--if God is providing then what are we doing with our lives. This is the really hard part--what do we do? If God is in control, then what do we DO when it doesn't seem like it? The Good News for today is that God is always in control and providing. We just forget. We forget a lot of things. We even forget the really big and important things.

Remind us, O God, of whose we are and where you are in our world. Calm our troubled minds and soothe our restlessness to trust in you more deeply. Show us again your abiding presence. We praise you and give you all the glory. In your endless Name, we pray. Amen.

Listening Corner

     Yesterday morning in the news, there was a heartwarming story about a guy that realized he wasn't the only one feeling a bit lonely during this pandemic. He had gotten to a point where he wasn't sure if anyone would care if he were gone. He didn't feel like he had anyone to listen to him. So, he did something vulnerable and appropriately risky--set up a listening spot on a street corner. Almost every day he would be there for several hours. Putting up a tent and comfy chairs under it, he posted a large sign that announced free, no judgment listening. People stopped and shared all sorts of themselves from baking recipes to deep confessions. One man stopped on his way to suicide, his sign and conversation changed his path and his life. He returned another day to tell him that he saved his life.

     I tried to find this story so that I could post the link for you and found another story of another listener who set up free and open listening on campus steps along a main sidewalk. He found similar results, that people needed to be not just heard but listened to. Wow, these stories are inspirational. Siblings in Christ, this is a great witness to humanity and our capacity to be helpful for on another.

     In stark contrast, I saw a news story this morning about an anti-masking protest in a state struggling with rising COVID cases. Protesters were gathered around a public health professional in his car and I heard a snip-it of the protesters yelling that he couldn't hide and he wouldn't be safe to appear in public ever again. The video showed what happens when listening doesn't happen while tensions run high. I have posted previously about the Netflix documentary "The Social Dilemma," which I recommend as a deeper commentary into one of the chronic struggles that we are facing. Listening only to yourself and your side leads to more conflict and polarization. Open and free listening to one another outside in the open air is a beautiful antidote.

     If you need to talk. I am here to listen. Send me a message and we can sit out on a corner under a tent or an umbrella!

     To give credit where credit is due, I was inspired to write this devotional also by a conversation with Martin the frog and the other animals that appear in Children's Messages. It is important to consider other's complaints (like his that I was not giving the animals appropriate credit in the bulletin and the Climber newsletter), listen carefully and respond as much as is possible. Feedback is important! During this time it is important to be kind and patient with one another.

     The best listener and scripture connection that I thought of for today is John 10:1-6:

‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

     I thought of Jesus knowing us so well, and us listening carefully for his voice. Certainly, there are numerous others Bible stories about listening. Which one did you think of?

Great God, we thank you for listening to us, for hearing our cries and complaints. Even when we are not worthy of your attention, you still chase after us and do all that you can to help and guide us to the place of rest and peace. We praise you for this new day and all that you so generously give. Teach us to listen to you and to others more fully and with care. Show us the way to share of our lives and our time for the building up and spreading of your Reign. In the loving Name of the Good Shepherd, we pray. Amen.

Here is a good link to go deeper on listening: https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/listening-essential-tool-anti-racism-work (Yes, listening is also helpful for anti-racism work!)

Buzz, Crunch, Psst

     These last few weeks have been marked by different sounds in the Fitch household. "Buzz," I am not

referring to the great pollinator, the honeybee that we have certainly seen while we are outside enjoy the warmth of summer. This buzzing is a bit more annoying and coming from the underside of my car. I have noticed it when driving with the windows down at certain country road cruising RPMs. I think I have identified the problem, so I am sitting in the lobby of a professional as I write this. "Crunch" was the sound of a deer striking Kerry's car just a few minutes into our drive home from a visit with Ryan, Amber, and Rowen. So, that vehicle is in a body shop being repaired. "Psst" was the sound of a tire on Emilee's car going flat while we weren't noticing.  I was about to borrow it to go on a visit.

     The inspirational connection for me was that I noticed a sense of "never-the-less joy." I noticed that I wasn't upset or grumpy about any of the issues. Things break. We all know that. We are also in a pandemic, which makes everyone a bit jumpy and sensitive at times. I was honestly a little surprised. Considering everything that was going on, I found myself wondering where the joy was coming from. It wasn't sleep--I hadn't been getting decent night's sleep lately. It diet or exercise. I could tell that it was from my spiritual discipline. More than just daily Bible readings, journaling and prayer, I have been working harder and listening more intently to God's hints and guidings. Siblings in Christ, we are not called to live as those who whine and complain, lash out or become bitter. Joy and peace is to be our way of life. It is not as hard to come by as you might think. I encourage you to pray and listen for God's noises and sounds that can overpower any of the distracting and frustrating ones that we might meet in our daily life!

1 Thessalonians 2:10-20
You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe. As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory. And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God’s message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God’s message, which is at work among you who believe. For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people, because they hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they constantly fill up their measure of sins, but wrath has come upon them completely.

But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time (in presence, not in affection) we became all the more fervent in our great desire to see you in person. For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again) but Satan thwarted us. For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you? For you are our glory and joy!

Lord God, guide us to be fruitful followers. Teach us to show patience and understanding to others. Illumine the way for greater and deeper listening. In your endless Name, we pray. Amen.