February 16, 2023 — “The Most Loved of All Books”

“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”  Luke 4:16-22

“I can’t think of a more powerful moment for a synagogue worshiper! The scroll is unrolled. The Scripture is read. Then, with breathless wonder, the words are heard: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, …” and “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” Luke wants us to know that Jesus’ ministry is Spirit-anointed, Spirit-led, Spirit-empowered, and Spirit-fulfilled. Jesus’ actions are connected to God and to the Old Testament promises by the Holy Spirit. Because of the work of the Spirit, deliverance will come at the hands of this Jesus who ministers to outcasts. His ministry is no accident; it was prophesied by the Spirit. So what’s there to learn for us in this? Ministry must be led by the Spirit and be consistent with the promises of Scripture and the example of the Savior. Clearly, in Jesus’ case, that requirement means ministry is about deliverance, grace, and reaching outcasts. How does our ministry compare?” (heartlight website; What Jesus Did!)

There are many places today where the bible is not welcome – and there are plenty of people who have never read the bible. I was talking to a woman the other day about a service for her deceased mother, and I asked her if they wanted a particular scripture passage read at the service. She told me she had her mother’s bible, and then she exclaimed: “The bible is really hard to read – I feel stupid reading it.” And I said, “The bible is hard to read, but that is why we need to keep on trying.”

I know the statistics say that the bible is the best-selling book of all time, and yet, I find it funny how many people have never read it. People have a copy in their home, perhaps it was given to them as part of an estate sale – and yet they have not read it, cracked it open, or even tried because, like my friend listed above, they feel stupid trying to understand it. But we cannot learn to appreciate what is in the Bible by staring at it – or keeping it locked away in a drawer.

My friends, we need to become more Biblically literate so that we can help others become Biblically literate. There are so many translations and Study Bibles printed today that everyone should be able to find a copy that speaks to them – if not is understandable to them. If you are having trouble finding a version of the Bible that is helpful and understandable, just ask your pastor for some help.

Let us pray: Dear G-d, we so often block the Holy Spirit through our own fear. Help me feel the Spirit today so I will read and meditate on your word. Amen.

Pastor Dave

February 15, 2023 — “Satisfaction is the Foe of Progress”

“Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near…” Isaiah 55:1-6

“A dozen imperative verbs give verses 1-7 an urgent tone—but a happy urgency. These verses invite the listener to eat and drink (vv. 1-2)—to listen and live (v. 3)—to experience an everlasting covenant and steadfast love (v. 3)—to be glorified (v. 5)—to find the Lord (v. 6)—and to receive the Lord’s mercy (v. 7). It sounds too good to be true, like the promises of a carnival barker or a Madison Avenue ad agency—but these offers come, not from someone who is trying to exploit our weaknesses, but from Yahweh, who wants to save us. These promises have the backing of the one who created the universe—who is willing and able to fulfill his promises. Moreover, he waits longingly, like a loving father waiting for an errant child to return—hoping for the opportunity to give—to satisfy—to love—to save.” (sermonwriter.com)

Can our satisfaction in Jesus make us poor Christians? If we are happy in the Lord, and content with our faith, then does satisfaction mean we have no work to do here and now? No! In fact, our satisfaction in Jesus should make us bold Christians. If we are satisfied with Jesus, then by extension, we should be dissatisfied with the state of the world – for although our faith and trust in Jesus will gain us the Kingdom of Heaven, we are nowhere near the Kingdom as it will be one day.

If you think about it, dissatisfaction is the mother of progress. If people would have been satisfied with candles lighting our homes, or gas lanterns being the norm, then we would never have sought out the need for electricity. If people were grateful for the wagon wheel, and satisfied with horsepower by real horses, then we would never have had a need for the automobile.

Dissatisfaction is the mother of progress – it has always and will always be. As such, as we grow in our faith, and begin to internalize the teachings of Jesus, then we should begin to grow dissatisfied with the direction the world is heading – in terms of care for creation, in terms of how we treat the strangers among us, in terms of how we treat the elderly and the homeless, and in terms of how and whether we offer forgiveness and offer love to all people. In other words, we have to be careful not to rest comfortably in our satisfaction of unlimited Grace that comes through Jesus Christ, while there are so many in this world who will never know such satisfaction.

Let us pray: Dear G-d, it is good to find satisfaction in you, but that should not lead us to complacency in the world. Lead me to action in my community and my world while I have my fullness in you. Amen.

Pastor Dave