Rejoice and Be Glad

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

He said:

3   “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

       for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4   Blessed are those who mourn,

       for they will be comforted.

5   Blessed are the meek,

       for they will inherit the earth.

6   Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

       for they will be filled.

7   Blessed are the merciful,

       for they will be shown mercy.

8   Blessed are the pure in heart,

       for they will see God.

9   Blessed are the peacemakers,

       for they will be called children of God.

10   Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

       for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:1-12, NIV)

REFLECTIONS:

Today we read what are commonly referred to as "the Beatitudes." Serving as the introduction to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes are announcements of the dawning of the Kingdom. They serve as a sort of preface to Jesus' sermon, which ultimately describes the “righteousness” of God's Kingdom, giving specific examples of the virtues and actions that exemplify the life of the new creation. Many commentators describe the Beatitudes as a list of virtues; but, thanks to the teaching of Dallas Willard, I've come to view them differently. I've now come to think of the Beatitudes as describing the new state that has now arrived in Jesus. It is a state in which even the most unlikely may receive the gift of divine blessedness and become the “light of the world.”

In his classic book on spiritual formation, The Divine Conspiracy, Willard analyzes the Sermon on the Mount in exquisite detail and sets forth a revelatory approach to these familiar teachings. For Willard, the Beatitudes…

"… are explanations and illustrations, drawn from immediate setting, of the present availability of the kingdom through personal relationship to Jesus. They single out cases that provide proof that, in him, the rule of God from the heavens truly is available in life circumstances that are beyond all human hope."

Taking this general approach, I hold that the Beatitudes are pronouncements of grace. They announce that:

• those who have little or no hope,
• those who appear to have little to offer to the world,
• those who are on the fringes of society (and religious society in particular),
• those who live in ways that the world considers weak, unproductive, and unsuccessful,
• those who are considered the “losers”

all are welcome to share in the Kingdom blessings that Jesus brings. There is no human situation that excludes one from being blessed in Jesus. The world and its evaluation of who wins and who loses will not have the final say. In Jesus, God has the last word.

• Even if you are spiritually bankrupt (poor in spirit),
• Even if you are overwhelmed by the sadness of life in this world (those who mourn),
• Even if you are the kind of person who doesn’t stand up for yourself or assert your rights(meek),
• Even if you are fed up with and broken by injustice (those who hunger and thirst for righteousness),
• Even if your heart is soft, you are always giving to others, and easily taken advantage of by needy people (merciful),
• Even if you are so concerned with having a clear conscience that others think you a prude(pure in heart),
• Even if you are always trying to pacify others and care more about diffusing conflict than any other objective (peacemakers),
• Even if your convictions and actions get you in constant trouble with those who set the rules (persecuted),

God’s blessings may be yours in Jesus! No human condition, no matter how hopeless it may appear, no matter how despised by the world, no matter how “unsuccessful” or insignificant others may deem it, disqualifies anyone from God’s grace in Christ. The last shall be first.

The Beatitudes are pronouncements of pure grace. Like other great passages, such as Mary’s Magnificat, they announce the inbreaking of God’s upside-down Kingdom. God is not bound by the current, fallen, corrupt value system that expects him to shower blessings on rich, successful, and powerful people, on “worthy ones” who are universally recognized and applauded by the world. No, God freely dispenses his grace on those who are willing to receive it.

Again, it's the scandal of the cross. Got offers his grace, kindness, compassion, and life-giving love to all who will believe. Will you take him at his word?

...........

At the end of today's reading, we hear the call to “rejoice and be glad.” The work of justice is the joyous work of longing for “God’s will to be done, on earth as it is in heaven”—for which Jesus himself prays later in this Sermon on the Mount. And as we live into that longing, we rejoice in happy thanksgiving. 

Still, the life of justice will not be an easy one. This call to “rejoice and be glad” is here bookended by the stark reminder that we will face persecution from the powers-that-be—the sort of persecution that led Jesus to his cross—and the equally stark reminder that throughout history prophets of God, those who sought justice, have received harsh treatment. But we know that any suffering we experience because of our longing for justice is somehow gathered up into Jesus’ suffering on the cross. 

Through the cross, Jesus lives Micah’s call to “act justly,” “love mercy,” and “walk humbly” to the fullest. Likewise, his self-emptying, others-centered love shows the scandalous love of the triune God—the scandalous love that seeks mercy instead of sacrifice, reconciliation instead of punishment. 

In the end, we are to “rejoice and be glad” because we have the opportunity to live into God’s story of reconciliation. We know the final word is not found at the cross of Jesus. The final word—or rather the new first word—is found at the empty tomb. Jesus’ resurrection vindicates God’s Messiah and reveals the hope that undergirds all work for justice. We strive to “do justice” because we know that to do so is to strive for resurrection here and now. And in moments when we partner with God to glimpse resurrection now, we will “rejoice and be glad.” 

PRAYER:

God of justice, give us perseverance to continue living into the story of your justice for the poor, weak, marginalized, and overlooked people surrounding our lives. Amen.

WHO AM I?

I am Tres Sansom, and I highly recommend Dallas Willard's book The Divine Conspiracy. The whole book is fantastic, but the richest part of the book is his discussion of the Sermon on the Mount.

Boasting in the Cross

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:

    “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
       the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:18-31, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
In the wider context of the opening of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, we have to remember that Paul is also talking about being united in Christ. So if the scandal of the cross exposes the world’s wisdom as folly, then it is essential for those who live according to the scandal of the cross to bear witness to the unity found through Christ’s self-emptying love. 

When we look at how to “do justice,” we look only to Christ. The ideas of the wise, the scribes, the philosophers, and the debaters of this age are not good enough; likewise, the visions of one Christian versus another Christian cannot be good enough. God called us in our weakness so that none of us would be able to boast in his or her own achievements. Our ideas, our strategies, our good intentions cannot achieve what the foolishness of God has already achieved—namely, reconciliation through the cross of Christ. 

Our work then is to boast in the scandal of Christ and his cross alone. I have a friend named Dave who lives in Denver. He has made this his life’s work through teaching history. History, as a discipline, tends to rehash justice narratives that assume the wisdom of the world is true wisdom. However, my friend teaches history in a way that questions these narratives against the self-emptying scandal of the cross. He teaches his students to question what a scandalous allegiance to the cross of Christ might say about those moments of power display. He imparts to his students the ability to think outside the box about many themes but especially about justice. 

God’s justice differs from that of the world. In another place, the prophet Isaiah declares: 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
       neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
       so are my ways higher than your ways
       and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)

In a similar manner, God's justice operates on a different plane from the world's. What seems wise and powerful in the eyes of the world is really foolishness. What seems foolish and weak in the eyes of the world, is really powerful.

The cross stands as the ultimate example of God's other-worldly wisdom and justice. As those who have embraced this message and been reconciled to God through Christ, may we joyfully live by the power and wisdom of the cross.


PRAYER:
God of justice, give us a sense of oneness in the call to show that the wisdom of this age is foolishness compared to the scandal of the cross. Amen.


WHO AM I?
I am Tres Sansom, and I so incredibly grateful for the wisdom and power of the cross! It's amazing to know that, because of the cross, we've all been loved and accepted by God—no matter what our background, no matter where we have come from or what we've done.

The Scandal of the Cross

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:

    “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
       the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:18-31, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
Having considered lived justice so far this week, we turn now to the crux of the matter: the scandal of Christ’s cross for building a just society. 

That word "scandal" is important. Paul writes that the cross of Jesus doesn’t make sense from the perspective of the “wisdom of the world.” He writes that the wise, the scribes, and the debaters of this age don’t “get it.” Ironically enough, this devotional is set to be published on the day after the president's State of the Union address. Presidential speeches—and politics, in general—exemplify how the great and powerful people of the world can miss the point. On the floor of the House of Representatives, the most powerful man in the world just gave a speech describing what he considers to be the correct use of power and influence—economic, legislative, military. The right use of power in presidential politics equates to wisdom, at least in the world's eyes. But the cross of Jesus puts this wisdom to shame. 

The great scandal of the cross is that power comes not by displaying strength but through self-emptying. The foolishness of God in the cross creates space for reconciliation. 

What, then, makes for a just society? The wisdom of the world says punishment. The foolishness of God says reconciliation. How scandalous, right? When people who commit injustice are brought to justice, according to the scandal of the cross, they are not punished but reconciled. The cross becomes a stumbling block to the wisdom of the world. The challenge for those of us who wish to live according to God’s foolishness, which is “wiser than human wisdom,” is to embrace the scandal of the cross. Only then will we bear witness to the world as to what justice looks like at its purest. 


PRAYER:
God of justice, through his self-emptying life and death, your Son showed the world its own folly. Help those of us called to live according to the cross to accept the call to empty ourselves—to set aside our selfish ambition, to lift up our eyes to the needs of those surrounding us, to listen to your wisdom from above, to give ourselves away in service and sacrifice to the gospel. Amen.


WHO AM I?
I am Tres Sansom, and I this passage is led me to reflect on an old worship song that I haven't heard in a while: The Wonderful Cross by Chris Tomlin.

Dwelling in God's Tent

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
1   LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
       Who may live on your holy mountain?

2   The one whose walk is blameless,
       who does what is righteous,
       who speaks the truth from their heart;
3   whose tongue utters no slander,
       who does no wrong to a neighbor,
       and casts no slur on others;
4   who despises a vile person
       but honors those who fear the LORD;
    who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
       and does not change their mind;
5   who lends money to the poor without interest;
       who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

    Whoever does these things
       will never be shaken. (Psalm 15, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
The psalmist writes that those who abide in God’s tent live a certain way. Their lives reflect God’s moral imperatives. Their actions demonstrate that they are seeking to live in a manner that reflects God's good, righteousness, loving and just character. 

Here again, we face the notion of private versus public life. The text does not say that those who privately offer sacrifices in exactly the correct way will “live on God's holy mountain.” No, the psalmist affirms that just acts are the requisite for a life with God. Respectively, the psalmist identifies blameless living, honest speech, friendly conduct, rejection of evil, honor of the faithful, and economic fairness. These are public acts carried out in the midst of community. 

The psalmist concludes the psalm by saying that those who act in this fashion will not be shaken. Those who act justly and pursue justice for others will become fixed in their cause. Whether that cause becomes the rights of persons working in inhumane conditions, of persons living in prisons, of girls and women enslaved in sex trafficking rings, of parentless children seeking a home, or of persons struggling to make ends meet, people who live just lives will not be moved by the storms that come as part of the struggle for justice. 

Over the last few years, our church has become connected with Terry Cole and the good folks who lead Street Youth Ministry of Austin. Terry worked as a highly successful electrical engineer for 25 years; but, in 2008, he left behind his high paying job in the high-tech industry and began serving the street-dependent youth of Austin full time. For the last 5+ years, Terry has built relationships with the men, women, and teens living on the streets of Austin. He has sought to love, support, and equip these folks who are often overlooked and forgotten. In the face of much opposition, he has sacrificed his own comfort and livelihood to share the life-changing message of God's love with "the least of these." In the words of the apostle Paul, his life has been poured out as a drink offering in service to the street youth and the gospel (Philippians 2:17; 2 Timothy 4:6). And, in the words of the psalmist, his life of lived justice has shown him to be one who "will never be shaken" (Psalm 15:5).


PRAYER:
God of justice, give us courage to live lives of justice and bring us so completely into just living that we “shall never be moved” from that way of life. Amen.


WHO AM I?
I am Tres Sansom, and I am profoundly thankful for men and women like Terry Cole. Not only do they play a vital role in ministering God's love to the forgotten and overlooked masses, they challenge me to step out of my comfort zone. I've only served alongside Street Youth Ministry of Austin a handful of times, but each experience has been frightening, exhilarating, and life-giving.

Doing Justice

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
1  Listen to what the LORD says:

    “Stand up, plead my case before the mountains;
       let the hills hear what you have to say.

2   “Hear, you mountains, the LORD’s accusation;
       listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.
    For the LORD has a case against his people;
       he is lodging a charge against Israel.

3   “My people, what have I done to you?
       How have I burdened you? Answer me.
4   I brought you up out of Egypt
       and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
    I sent Moses to lead you,
       also Aaron and Miriam.
5   My people, remember
       what Balak king of Moab plotted
       and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
    Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,
       that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.”

6   With what shall I come before the LORD
       and bow down before the exalted God?
    Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
       with calves a year old?
7   Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
       with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
    Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
       the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8   He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
       And what does the LORD require of you?
    To act justly and to love mercy
       and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:1-8, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
All of the passages we'll read this week work together to warn us not to be confused or intimidated by appearances or by how the larger society values this or that. Seeking to listen for God's voice and to live according to his desires may not make much sense according of the world's standards of judgment. But God desires and promises blessings upon the people who live and love according to his covenant commitments, who are shaped by his gracious promises, and who are attuned to what Paul called the "foolishness" and "weakness" of God.

[As an aside, I understand that the idea of "justice" has become a buzzword in today's political world. I suppose I'm afraid that some of us might see the phrase "doing justice" and checkout mentally. I sincerely hope we'll be able to approach this topic with open minds and open hearts. The idea of seeking justice is deeply rooted in Scripture, both Old and New Testaments. It's my prayer that we will be able to look past the political stuff and embrace God's heart as it is clearly described.]

...........

In today's reading, we enter a courtroom scene to hear God’s cross-examination of the Israelites. This passage comes after a series of accusations about the economic injustices in the prophet Micah’s community. Starting in chapter 6, God invites the people to speak to the unjust actions identified earlier. God asks, “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you?” The defendants are invited to defend their actions before the mountains, which have witnessed generations of divine help. However, God answers the posed question by recounting God’s great deeds: God has delivered their ancestors out of slavery and has saved them from various enemies. 

The brief narrative retelling of Israel’s history reminds Micah’s hearers of the way God shows favor and kindness to the oppressed. To those who were enslaved, God offered freedom. To those who were besieged, God offered shelter. But here, in this courtroom, God accuses the people who were once delivered from oppression of themselves oppressing the poor among them. The people have no defense. 

Today, we have the opportunity to place ourselves in the defendants’ seats. How do we actively participate in the oppression of others? How does our refusal to help others keep them stuck in an unjust situation? For example, what questions might we raise about the conditions of the people who make the clothes we wear and the food we eat? How do our choices potentially harm or continue the enslavement of others? As we move about our daily life, are there people we fail to lend a helping hand to? (Until just a few years ago, this sort of question would've never entered my mind. But, through reading and conversations, I've come to realize that this is a serious question to consider.) 

The journey we take this week toward doing justice starts with the invitation to introspection. Thus, we can ask what other aspects of our lives need examining and weighing on the scales of God’s justice. Until we see the ways in which we collude with injustice, we cannot reorient ourselves and our communities toward justice. Until we honestly admit the ways in which our choices keep others stuck in an unjust situation, we cannot join with God in helping to right the wrongs in our world today.

[Pause for a few minutes, inviting God to examine your  lifestyle. Honestly invite him to examine your life. Grant him full access to your heart's motives, your priorities, your lifestyle choices. Are there any ways you might be continuing to perpetuate the injustices of today's world? Are there any ways you might failing or refusing to join God in helping to bring about a more just and "right-side-up" world?]

...........

After a little introspection, we return to the Scripture in verses 6-8. Standing accused in the courtroom, the people finally respond, raising questions of their own. We can read their response at least two ways:

First, we can hear the questions as sincere inquiry. However, based on the story up to this point, we can also imagine the people, who are now themselves acting as oppressors, standing there defiantly, saying, “I give my sacrifices. What more do you want? My firstborn?” 

When we interpret the people’s words in this latter way, we see a people so far from God that they know neither the story of God’s saving help nor the proper response to that story. This reading seems more faithful to the narrative flow of Micah. Micah accuses the people of committing economic injustice in their community, and now, standing in court before God, the people react in a not-too-unfamiliar way. That is, the people in Micah’s day, as people so often do in our day, say, “I do what’s required of me.” 

Think of the people today who go to church on Sunday and who then spend their work weeks trapping persons in cycles of economic slavery through, for example, high-interest-rate loans. Today we might say this practice reflects the private/public (or sacred/secular) dichotomy our culture creates. This dichotomy argues, “Privately, I worship God. Publicly, I do whatever’s required to succeed in life. And that’s okay.” God’s reply indicates a need to move beyond religious action to covenant living that guides our actions in worship and in the rest of the week. In essence, God says: "Let your Sunday lifestyle and your Monday lifestyle be identical."

So we come to the climax of this court scene. The prophet declares, “[God] has shown you, O mortal, what is good.” What does God require? Lives of justice, kindness, and humility before God. The people of God may choose between lives of commodity and lives of covenant. 


PRAYER:
God of justice, soften our hearts to see the faces of the oppressed around us, and embolden us to call for their just treatment. Be with us through the exercise of examining our conscience. Draw us near to your heart today so that we can live lives of justice, kindness, and humility. Amen.


WHO AM I?
I am Tres Sansom, and I think the first time I ever put any real thought into the idea of justice came when I read a book by Shane Claiborne entitled The Irresistible Revolution. This book made me profoundly uncomfortable with my way of life. But the way he lived his life and described his faith, I realize that I was living far too safe and comfortable of a life. I was wrapped up in my own little bubble and focused upon myself all the time. Not long after reading this book, I began to encounter a number of other writings on this topic, each one filling me with a mixture of conviction and inspiration. It was as if God was trying to shake me out of my comfort zone and encouraging me to join him in changing the world with little acts of love. Since my first encounter with Shane Claiborne's book, I've periodically returned to my comfortable, insulated little bubble. But, thankfully, God continues to graciously work on my heart.

A Great Light

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

2     The people walking in darkness
   have seen a great light;
      on those living in the land of deep darkness
           a light has dawned.
3     You have enlarged the nation
       and increased their joy;
      they rejoice before you
       as people rejoice at the harvest,
      as warriors rejoice
       when dividing the plunder.
4     For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
     you have shattered
       the yoke that burdens them,
       the bar across their shoulders,
       the rod of their oppressor.
5     Every warrior’s boot used in battle
       and every garment rolled in blood
      will be destined for burning,
       will be fuel for the fire.
6     For to us a child is born,
       to us a son is given,
       and the government will be on his shoulders.
      And he will be called
       Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
       Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7     Of the greatness of his government and peace
     there will be no end.
      He will reign on David’s throne
       and over his kingdom,
      establishing and upholding it
       with justice and righteousness
       from that time on and forever.
      The zeal of the Lord Almighty
       will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:1-7, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
That boat in which you ride patrols a dark and sometimes stormy sea. This passage relays the good news that the darkness is past, that there is light ahead, and that you are now in the boat—safe, dry, and welcomed. Those coming in from the deep long to know that the days of oppression lie behind them. 

I have recently become friends with a woman who had lived a horrific childhood. The messages she received about herself told her that she was trash, worthless and unlovable. Believing those lies, she inevitably made lifestyle choices that allowed that message to be reinforced again and again. A few short years ago she realized—to her astonishment—that God loved her, treasured her, and found her to be a delight. She's told me a number of times that the moment she realized God loved her, the world instantly divided at that moment into a hopeless past and a boundless, bright future. This woman—who is involved in a sister church in the area and on staff at Highland Lakes Camp—came to experience the light of God’s love because she had come to know specific people who displayed it for no apparent reason other than, as she later began to realize, that “God had shone it on them too.” 

By just being themselves—living in and extending God’s shalom, the people around my friend were God’s instruments to transform and save her life. She found herself in the presence of a community of love and affirmation that she had always hoped had existed. Their faithful presence pointed her to God’s light. In turn, she soon began fishing for people too. 

What light have you seen? What yoke has been lifted for you? What is the prize, the great harvest, for which you must thank God? The answer to those questions likely holds the vitality behind your prayers, presence, gifts, service, or witness—the reason that your individual presence can be so vital to God’s work today. What a treasure indeed! 

........

In today's reading, Isaiah announces new possibilities for Israel as the formerly obscure possibilities emerge in the light of God. Isaiah notes a contrast between the former days and the latter days. Israel moves from contempt to glory, from oppression to liberation. 

Friend, you and I are part of the long human journey from darkness to light, a campaign that will shatter the yoke of oppression and provide a rich harvest for all people. At our journey’s end, we will dance with joy! Our mission is to live in a way that will bring more and more people in touch with the Source of light. This week, we have considered the task of simply being present—being ourselves as we transform into and reflect the image of Christ. 

As I wrote this week's devotionals, I made a concerted effort to focus my thoughts on you and your journey of faith. That mindset held me accountable, and I imagined that you held me in love. Thinking of you made me cognizant of the mystical connection that we all share. You need not be physically present to make an impact. You influenced me! Likewise, your prayers for those who don’t even realize that you are doing so create power for good in their lives. Your material donations to the church’s missions affect people all over the world. The exercise of your personal gifts in your own ministry extend far beyond your sight—even beyond your vision. Your simple service and compassion to others reverberates past them into places you’ll never know. And the witness that only your life can provide is essential to tell the whole story of the kingdom. 

I cannot wait to hear the stories of the good done in a world that needs it more every day—of the lives that have been touched, even transformed, by contact with you. You serve as an exemplar of the love, affirmation, and welcome of Jesus Christ. For the Fisher of People, you were quite a catch! 


PRAYER:
Gracious God, thank you for loving us. Thank you for your unwavering presence in our lives. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve your kingdom. Strengthen us, today, to shine out the light of Christ through our words and actions. Empower us to proclaim the message of the salvation through our expressions of your love. Amen.


WHO AM I?
I am Tres Sansom, and I am sooooo wishing the Super Bowl was this weekend! Come on NFL… Why this stinkin' delay?

Pride and Prejudice

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:10-18, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
So, it dawned on me that I haven't really told you about the current plan for our daily devotionals (at least for the foreseeable future). This year, I thought we might follow a modified version of the Revised Common Lectionary. Each week we'll have a wide range of readings, with passages typically coming from the Old Testament, the Psalms, the New Testament, and the Gospels. 

There will be a common "theme" for each week that should be apparent by the daily readings. In this week's readings, for example, light does not merely illuminate; it brings a changed situation, in which people depressed by the darkness can experience the new day. Yesterday, we saw that the psalmist’s confession of God links light with salvation—"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" The Gospel reading from earlier in the week described deliverance in terms of the nearness of God’s reign, with Jesus (and his followers) overcoming diseases of every sort. Light permits well-being. 

In these scriptural passages light becomes personalized. Psalm 27 speaks of God as “my light and my salvation.” Tomorrow's reading from Isaiah refers to a human agent of vindication but at the same time anticipates the coming of the Child who exercises supreme authority and brings an era of endless peace. In Matthew, Jesus acts powerfully in calling disciples and healing the sick, fulfilling the word spoken by Isaiah. Light is a mode of God’s presence, especially to those who sit in the region and shadow of death.

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With that in mind, how does the Light of God's presence relate to today's reading?

Paul writes to the Corinthians about their tendency to become fractured over matters that reflect pride more than unity toward the cause of Christ. Dissension arises as members align themselves with special-interest groups and key leaders. And he raises a pertinent question: “Has Christ been divided?” He wants the Corinthians to be of one mind and purpose. Specifically, Paul wants them to eschew pride and to support one another in living out the good news. 

Recently, I witnessed a public brouhaha among Christians. All were well meaning, but they disagreed vehemently on a matter of morality. It’s good to disagree and have constructive dialogue, but the ways they expressed their disagreement became counterproductive. Divisive pride led to rival “camps.” A few wise voices tried to encourage members of both sides to behave in a Christian way, but those voices were drowned out. The groups seldom, if ever, affirmed their love or respect for each other. And there was insufficient mention of loving, accepting, and celebrating those at the center of the controversy. When outsiders saw our now dysfunctional family posing, arguing, and demonizing like everyone else in the world, they likely swam away from the boat of shalom—choosing rather to perish. As I watched this public display among Christians, I thought, What have we wrought? We indeed emptied the cross of its power. (I've chosen to withhold all the details of this particular conflict, but we are all probably familiar with similar situations.) 

I take some comfort in knowing that ours is not the first generation to mess up. In fact, it looks like an old family tradition! The redeeming grace comes in our ability to repent, start over, and try to repair the damage. We remain a sinful church in need of redemption. But when we fall overboard, there is plenty of room to get us all back in the boat. 

Reflect on your own pride. Consider the ways your pride might be hindering you from shining out the light of Christ. Reaffirm aloud your humility that all the good in you comes not from your own devices but from Christ within you.

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My fellow Companions, allow me to testify from first-hand experience: When you have a big mouth, it is easy to put your foot in it! This can result in embarrassment and lack of productivity in personal affairs, and it can be a source of sorrow and shame when the heart desires to live in and reflect God’s reign. 

Believe it or not, I can be a prideful man. My life has been an amazing journey, not the least of which has been my realization of God’s amazing grace, sent right down to me. It’s awesome! It’s something to be proud of, but “let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31). My pride can become a big hole in the net I am attempting to cast for people, a net that should have everything to do with God and nothing to do with me. 

Sometimes when I fail, I repent on my own. Sometimes it takes a loving brother or sister, like Paul, to help me get straight. In this passage, Paul corrects the flock without putting them down. He finds a way to show his love for them even as he disapproves of their actions. 

One of the hard-earned realizations I am still struggling to learn is that while I am present in someone's life, I must be seeking to point to Someone, Something greater. It seems so simple, yet so hard to learn: My most effective tool of influence is to slow down, take time to be in the moment, focus on the other, and say, “Tell me more about your journey.” Then I can truly celebrate God’s unique presence and action in other people’s lives. I can share their joys and sorrows and celebrate where their story connects to God’s story—from their unique point of view. 

My prideful self can’t fully explain this, but I’ll tell you something: In those moments, I can be truly wonderful—and it has absolutely nothing to do with me. 


PRAYER:
O God, in everything I say and do, help me to reflect you. Strengthen and inspire me to be a vessel of light that points others to the one who is the true Light of the world.


WHO AM I?
I am Tres Sansom, and I have really been enjoying our study through 1 Corinthians. The fact that God continue to graciously move in and through the early church—despite all their dysfunction and conflict—is a source of great comfort and encouragement to me. Our God truly is magnificent! As Psalm 103 declares— "God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he's rich in love… As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we are made of mud… God's love is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear him, making everything right for them and their children as they follow his covenant ways and remember to do whatever he said." My take on this Psalm: God sees everything about us, our ups and our downs, are good days are bad, and he continues to love us despite it all. All he asks is that we trust him and look to him for grace.

Whom Shall I Fear?

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
1   The LORD is my light and my salvation—
      whom shall I fear?
    The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
       of whom shall I be afraid?

2   When the wicked advance against me
       to devour me,
    it is my enemies and my foes
       who will stumble and fall.
3     Though an army besiege me,
       my heart will not fear;
    though war break out against me,
       even then I will be confident.

4   One thing I ask from the LORD,
       this only do I seek:
    that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
       all the days of my life,
    to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
       and to seek him in his temple.
5   For in the day of trouble
       he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
    he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
       and set me high upon a rock.

6   Then my head will be exalted
       above the enemies who surround me;
    at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
       I will sing and make music to the LORD.

7   Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
       be merciful to me and answer me.
8   My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
       Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9   Do not hide your face from me,
       do not turn your servant away in anger;
       you have been my helper.
    Do not reject me or forsake me,
       God my Savior.
10   Though my father and mother forsake me,
       the LORD will receive me.
11   Teach me your way, LORD;
       lead me in a straight path
       because of my oppressors.
12   Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
       for false witnesses rise up against me,
       spouting malicious accusations.

13   I remain confident of this:
       I will see the goodness of the LORD
       in the land of the living.
14   Wait for the LORD;
       be strong and take heart
       and wait for the LORD. (Psalm 27, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
Choosing to step out as a witness for Christ usually brings a backlash of one sort or another. Being present and using our voice—standing up and speaking out about Jesus—may elicit retribution. Likewise, we can easily overdo it in our assertions and end up doing more harm than good. 

When we pray honestly and authentically (thinking that God may not like what we have to say), when we show up at controversial rallies or protests because we will not remain silent against injustice, when we contribute to a cause not yet considered mainstream, when we serve in ministry to people don’t approve of, when we befriend a social outcast, or when we bear witness to a truth that most of folks don’t—or won’t—accept, we are stepping out in faith. And that can be frightening. 

Addressing the potential for aggression and violence—be it verbal or physical—requires courage. It is the courage to live and be present in the world and to reflect God’s love, sometimes despite ourselves! Sometimes we display courage by maintaining dialogue with someone even though it creates tension between us and them; other times, courage comes in letting a topic go, at least for the time being. Sometimes we show courage by praying for someone we think is dead wrong. And sometimes, it means admitting that we, ourselves, are wrong. The psalmist expresses his confidence in God as light and salvation. Even in his living he states, “Whom shall I fear?” 

If you are wondering whether God has your back when you put yourself “out there” for God’s purposes, this psalm is your answer. God will provide for us if we keep our humility, our eyes on his Divine intention, our voice readied in praise and joy, and our ear tuned to what God wants from you and me. 

Sing and praise God! Do good! Do no harm ! Love God! Go fishing! And if you are in tune with God, whom should you fear? 


PRAYER:
O Lord! Hear my voice when I call, and help me to hear your answers! You are my light, my salvation, and my fortress! I only ask that I live in your house forever, that I might gaze upon your beauty for ages unto the ages! Amen.


WHO AM I?
I am Tres Sansom, and I sincerely hope that you and I will step into our calling as "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14-16). Despite any reservations or discomfort we may feel in sharing the gospel, despite any hardship or "persecution" that may come our way, may we continue to proclaim—with our words and our lives—that Jesus is Lord, the One true King who through his death and resurrection is redeeming the world.

Let’s Go Fishin’

TODAY’S PASSAGE
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
             the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
             Galilee of the Gentiles—
16   the people living in darkness
              have seen a great light;
               on those living in the land of the shadow of death
              a light has dawned.”

17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. (Matthew 4:12-25, NIV)


REFLECTION
Today’s passage describes an important part of a Christian’s personal mission statement: We are to fish for people. John’s ministry had emphasized repentance, but Jesus adds new dimensions: teaching, healing, and bringing about the reign of God. 

As a young, on-fire-for-Jesus evangelical, I thought “fishing for people” meant getting converts. So I signed up for door-to-door evangelistic outreaches, carried around tracts outlining the gospel message, and attempted to lead people to Jesus through any means necessary (including badgering them incessantly). Thankfully, I came to understand that there’s much more to it than that! 

We aren’t simply to preach the good news; we’re to enact it. In fishing for people, Jesus wants us to create a boat of shalom, where everyone is known, loved, served, and celebrated. This shalom is a place of healing, restoration , and fulfillment of our potential—all to celebrate God’s grace and to invite more people into it. In fact, no one is to be left out! God will search out the stray soul like a lost coin (Luke 15:8-10) and will give everything—everything—to gain the treasure of one individual’s presence (Matthew 13:44-45). God wants every last one in the boat. It’s our job to invite them in. 

But first comes repentance. Like these fishermen, we must leave behind the prejudices and expectations of our occupational and familial worlds to follow Jesus. Those people “we” never liked? Learn to love them. That stubborn trait “we” are known for? Get over it. We must leave behind all those familiar, well-learned, “normal” attitudes and ways of living that simply aren’t consistent with God’s kingdom. Instead, we must adopt ways that, by the standards of the world, are foolish: loving mercy, living justly, and walking humbly; promoting justice that runs like water; being poor in spirit; loving our enemies and our neighbors as ourselves. So, would you like to be the good news for someone? Let’s go fishin’! 

But we must also come to see ourselves as agents of healing and change in this world, in the actual lives of the people God brings across our path. To truly believe and trust ourselves as change-agents—ministers of reconciliation—we have to prepare for the task at hand: practicing disciplines, understanding who we are in God’s eyes, and developing the humility to participate in a life-changing process controlled not by me but by Someone higher. 

You, my friend, are one of the great treasures unearthed by the kingdom of God—remember? (Matthew 13:44-45). Your unique life—transformed by your submission to God’s grace and honed by the spiritual practices of a disciple—can be a powerful witness to what goodness, compassion, and love can be. 

You have the potential to participate in healing and changing lives; you can help pull people out of the deep and into the boat. God’s boat. Dare you trust yourself to fulfill that potential? 


PRAYER
God of miracles, I am overwhelmed by the fact that you treasure me. You choose me. You believe in me. I want to follow you wholeheartedly. Help me become the kind of person worthy of casting your net for people. Help me to become what you envision and to participate in the transformation of the world. Amen.


WHO AM I?
I am Tres Sansom, and I

It's Not About Me

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. (John 1:19-37, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
"It’s all about you!" 

Seeking to become better organized, I purchased a personal calendar system. And there it was… Emblazoned on the front of the calendar was this slogan: "It's all about you!" Presumably, this slogan was meant to attract customers with its promise of customization: Your daily calendar can be tailored to your preferences and your style. 

“It’s all about you!” is fallen humankind’s motto and egocentric mantra. My career; my life; my wishes; my needs, ambitions, and aspirations. It’s all about me, me at the center of my existence; me as the end-all, be-all of my reality. Me, me, me. 

Of course, we never state it this boldly. No, we’re much more subtle. Instead, this selfish egoism seeps out as we elbow our way to the front of the line, as we interrupt others and talk above them. It’s all about me. 

John the Baptist could easily have fallen into this all-too-human habit. He has a flourishing ministry: Going out of their way, people flock to hear him and hang on his every word. Yet John, by the grace of God, rises above this selfish human tendency. “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30), John later says of his cousin Jesus. In other words, “It’s not about me.” John’s gift to his contemporaries and scripture’s readers is his self-effacement. 

In the famous Isenheim altarpiece of the early 1500s, Matthias Grünewald depicts John pointing at Jesus with a long, bony finger. John’s main ministry comes in pointing to someone other than himself. John reminds us that true life and peace are found only in Jesus Christ. And, ironically, fullness of identity and a profound sense of self-worth also are found only in Jesus Christ. “It’s not about us.” That sounds harsh at first, but it is pure gospel. 


PRAYER:
Lamb of God, forgive us for our self-absorption and pride. Give us the grace of self-forgetfulness so that we might discover the joy of centering our lives on you. Amen.


WHO AM I?
I am Tres Sansom, and I have found myself growing to appreciate iconography. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined that I would enjoy meditating upon Christian icons or paintings like the Isenheim altarpiece. But, God has been working in my heart to teach me the value of all sorts of Christian traditions. As I have opened myself up to the value of other traditions, God has led me into some rich experiences of his grace. I'm so grateful for the history and variety of the Christian church!