Category: Daily Bible Reading Blog

A blog following the daily readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.

Luke 4:16-30

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            Jesus was the hometown boy of Nazareth, the rising star who was putting the small village on the map.  He walked into the synagogue on the Sabbath with the people all watching with pride, their chests puffed with delight over one of their own making it to the big time.  It just so happened that on that day the Old Testament reading was from the prophet Isaiah – a prophecy of grace and healing that fit the budding ministry of Jesus.  Here was the hope of Israel.  It was all bunnies and butterflies, until Jesus decided to say a few words to them all….
 
             Jesus took the prophecy of Isaiah about proclaiming liberty to captives and the oppressed and applied it not to his fellow Jews who were present, but to, of all people, Gentiles!  Jesus just had to open his mouth and point out that in the days of Elijah, the prophet was sent to a Gentile woman instead of Jews.  What is more, Jesus let everyone know that the prophet Elisha cleansed a Gentile.  The gathered synagogue worshipers understood exactly what Jesus was doing.  He was claiming to be the ultimate prophet, sent for those other people.  It was too much for them.  All hell broke loose as the ‘worshipers’ became so angry and insolent that they drove him out of town and tried to kill him.  Jesus had that kind of effect on many of his fellow Jews. 
 
            The people of Nazareth had always interpreted the message of Isaiah and the prophets as being for themselves, not others.  This is a probing story for today’s Christian church.  Whenever we lose sight of the Bible’s message and re-interpret it as being for only us, then we end up like the Nazarenes of old who did not recognize Jesus for who he really is and what he really came to do.  The burning question for individual Christians and the corporate church is this:  Are you ready to throw Jesus off a cliff?
 
            Take some time alone with God today and think about whether you have made Jesus into the image of what you want him to be, or whether you accept him as he is.  One clue to this is if you think some person or people group (hint: what do you really think of LGBTQ’s and Starbucks?) should not have Jesus – he belongs to people like you.  Perhaps today some soul-searching repentance is in order so that you will be a true worshiper of Jesus, and not just a fan of him.
 

 

            Gracious Lord Jesus, you are the Savior of the nations and not just of people who look, act, and believe just like me.  Open my eyes to see others as you see them so that I can worship you in spirit and in truth.  Amen.

Psalm 113

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            When my firstborn daughter was an infant, I was a busy seminarian as well as working a job.  I did not have a lot of discretionary time on my hands.  Yet, I could stand over the crib of my beautiful little bundle of a girl for long stretches of time without ever thinking about all my responsibilities.  Whenever she awoke I would speak to her in that kind of baby talk that only a doting father can do.  I imagine that God looks at us in much the same way, as well as speaking and acting toward us in ways we can understand.
 
            Just as parents interact on a level in which their kids can understand, so God condescends and stoops to our level in order to help us.  “Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?”  God notices.  He looks at us with lovingkindness and seeks our best interests.  “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap.”  The divine condescension of God is a beautiful thing because without it we would be like a helpless baby.
 
            This psalm of praise to God celebrates how the Sovereign of the universe notices and acts.  We are meant to remember the great deeds of God – both those things which he has done contained in Scripture, and the things he has done for us, personally.  This is why journaling as a spiritual practice is such a good personal discipline because we have a record of the ways in which God has acted on our behalf.  Then, we can praise him all over again for what he has done.  And this will fortify our spiritual mettle for the times when we need encouragement.
 

 

            Praise the LORD!  You are a God worthy of adoration, for you have done mighty things.  Thank you for taking me from the ash heap of sin and raising me up with Christ so that I can experience the life that is truly life.  Amen.

Ruth 4:18-22

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment


            These few verses tucked away in the Old Testament might seem an odd choice for the lectionary.  After all, what could possibly be ‘gleaned’ from a genealogy?  One of the things I love about Holy Scripture is that, even in the unlikeliest places, it drips of grace throughout all of its contents.  
             Ruth was from the country of Moab – a place outside of Israel that did not worship Yahweh.  Ruth had married a Jewish man, but was widowed at a relatively young age.  She firmly decided to go to Israel with her mother-in-law, Naomi, who was originally from Bethlehem.  Since both were widows, they were poor and dependent upon the mercy of relatives.  In a wonderful story of redemption and love, Ruth is noticed by Boaz and the narrative concludes with the two of them being married.  Ruth, from a pagan land, goes from near destitution to wealth, and from being invisible in the world to somebody we know and remember several millennia later.
             The genealogical postscript we have informs us that King David’s great grandparents are Ruth and Boaz.  The line does not end there but goes directly to the birth of Jesus Christ.  Ruth, the widowed woman from a non-descript family outside of Israel ends up being a prominent mother in the most significant blood line of all time. 
             We, too, were once outside of God.  But we have been brought near through the blood of Jesus.  Grace takes what is seemingly far-fetched and turns it into a reality.  Mercy looks at the improbable and the impossible and laughs in its face.  I can only imagine the immense gratitude and joy Ruth had in her life as she experienced such amazing grace as to be given attention and included in the life of the one true God.  Let us be mindful and give time today to reflect on this very same God who delights in showing mercy and express our praise to him with heartfelt thanksgiving.
             Merciful God, there is no god like you – giving grace where it is needed.  Thank you for saving me and bringing me into the life that is truly life through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen.

Psalm 127

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment


            When my wife was growing up her family had a prominent portrait of John Wayne in the living room above the television.  It spoke volumes about the family ethos.  They had horses and loved to ride and enjoy the outdoors.  Hard work was a daily reality of life, as well as a rugged individualism that often suppressed all else in order to engage in work.  Doing your best, striving for excellence, and learning responsibility are good things that mature people do every day.  But there is a fine line between hard work that provides and enriches, and lonely work that is frenetic and fueled by anxiety about the future.
             Today’s psalm gives us a wake-up call that all our work is useless, in vain, unless it is connected to the God who gives strength and sweet sleep.  “It is in vain that your rise up early and late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for God gives to his beloved sleep.”  The motives that lie behind why we burn the candle at both ends are just as important to the Lord as the work itself.  If we independently believe that our life is in our own hands and we work with worry animating our every job, then we have lost touch with the understanding that it is God who ultimately provides us with every good thing in life.  But if we begin to relax and let go of our stubborn independent streak, then we work hard with strength God gives and let him watch over us.
             This trust and connection with God is why work is connected to children being a heritage from the Lord.  Children worked with their parents in the ancient world.  Dad and Mom did not go it alone – it was a family affair, and a community endeavor.  Whenever we slip into the groove of worshiping individualism rather than simply taking personal responsibility, then we must come back to the inter-dependence that we were designed for as people.  The ethos that the psalmist is looking for is trust in God, reliance on others, and working together for the common good of all.  So, who do you need to help you today?  Will you ask for it?  How is God in your plans and your work?

Sovereign God, you created all things and in you everything holds together.  Preserve me with your mighty power that I may not fall into disconnection with you and others, nor be overcome by anxiety.  In all I do direct to the fulfilling of your purposes, through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen.