Category: Year B

James 4:8-17

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            The classic comic book story of the origins of Spiderman has Peter Parker, after being bitten by a radioactive spider, acquiring the commensurate strength and skill of a spider on the human level.  Young Peter comes up with a way to make some easy cash by putting on a spider costume and entering a wrestling ring.  After the match, the promoter takes advantage of Peter and shafts him of much of his money.  As Peter leaves, a robber enters and steals the promoter’s money.  Peter sees the thief flee and does nothing to stop him, although he could have overpowered him easily.  Tragically, the thief proceeds to jack a car with Peter’s Uncle Ben in it.  Through a twist of fate, Uncle Ben is murdered by the man Peter ignored. 
 
            This story illustrates for us the importance of doing the right thing, even when it appears that our inaction will do no harm.  Today’s New Testament lesson reinforces a teaching that comes from the best held wisdom tradition of Scripture.  “Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”  Maybe we too often think about sin only in overt actions like stealing, murder, and adultery.  But on the other side of the coin, sin is also about all the things people do not do – ignoring the poor, presuming that someone else will help, or simply not paying attention to the inner promptings of God.
 
            In our hectic society we tend to be so crazy busy making money, trying to make ends meet, and planning for the future that we fail to see the divine appointments that God has for us in the present.  The alternative to all this striving for potential gain is to slow down and humble ourselves before the Lord.  A good place to start is to take some unhindered time right now to carefully and attentively read these verses from the epistle of James.  Then, ask God:  What do you want me to do?  Perhaps if we created the necessary space on a regular basis to genuinely ask that question, we would not find ourselves later regretting, like Peter Parker, our sins of omission.
            All-wise God, you are the One who sees all things and has called your people to faith in action.  Help me to see the people and the divine appointments you put in my way so that I might follow your will, not mine.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            My late Dad was, I think, one of the smartest guys I have ever known.  That is saying something, since I have three academic degrees and studied under intelligent professors and worked with gifted students.  Yet, he would sometimes say in the course of a cerebral conversation, “But what do I know? I’m just a dumb farmer.”  The self-deprecation came from the fact that he never attended college and did not study formally. 
 
            Today’s New Testament lesson shifts the focus away from any earthly wisdom.  Whether a person has a formal education and much learning; or, has a well-developed common sense; or, possesses a perceptive social intelligence; the Apostle Paul places the onus for Christianity in none of those attributes of the wisdom of humanity, but, rather, in the power of God.
 
            Although I believe Paul was a very gifted individual with every kind of human wisdom available to him, he himself did not ultimately put his trust in any of it.  What was of ultimate importance to Paul was that people would know Jesus Christ and him crucified.  Paul did not want people to be persuaded by his eloquence, or lack thereof, nor did he want to develop people who would follow him personally.  No, Paul wanted people to rest their faith squarely in Jesus Christ.
 
            It is the Spirit of God which uses us to demonstrate the power of God to a needy world.  Therefore, developing our connection with God in the Holy Spirit is of paramount importance.  And this is something everyone can do, not just an elite few.  This is the beauty of Christianity, that the most common of persons, as well as the most extraordinary of people, can both be equally used by God if they maintain a faith relationship with God.  Take time today and every day to foster such a relational experience in Christ.
            All-wise God, all power, glory, and honor belong to you.  My faith and hope rest securely and confidently in you.  Fill me to the full with your Holy Spirit so that the words that come out of my mouth and the actions that I do are a demonstration of God’s power to the glory of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Psalm 73:21-28

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            We have all had the experience of saying rash words that we later regret; and, of being dumped on by another who had some choice words for us.  In Psalm 73, the psalmist, Asaph, records an encounter with God in which he had some rather upset musings for the Sovereign of the universe.  Later, after some reflection, Asaph said:  “When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.”
 
            As human beings, we process information in different parts of our brains.  The neo-cortex, the rational part allows us to engage in logical analysis and complex decision making.  Another part, the limbic system, is sometimes known as the “reptilian brain” because it processes information very quickly, largely by instinct.  When we become scared, surprised, upset, or angry, adrenaline gets pumped into our limbic system so that we can react to the perceived threat, danger, or injustice.
 
             Having our brains flooded with adrenaline when there is real danger is a necessary thing.  But when we are continually fearful and upset, even when there is no real problem, our brains never calm down and the result is less than stellar behavior.  So, what is the answer to this situation?  Asaph said that God holds his right hand and guides him with wise counsel.  Being near to God is what brings the levels down so that we can relax and trust.
 
            God is with us always in the person of the Holy Spirit.  There is never a time, place, or situation where God is absent.  As we learn to rely on God’s presence, and remind ourselves of it on a daily basis, we can restore more rational thoughts to our lives so that we can live knowing God is in control.
            Gracious God, I have no one in my life like you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, my brain might become overwhelmed with irrational fears, but you are my strength and the Rock of my salvation.  Thank you for your continual provision and help each and every day through Jesus Christ, my Lord.  Amen.

Proverbs 22:1-21

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            As a pastor, I have seen my share of parents broken over their particular son’s or daughter’s lifestyle and/or behavior.  In some cases, the parents have a great deal of work to do in their own lives in order to deal with shortcomings.  But in many other scenarios there are godly Moms and Dads who have experienced the heartache of a wayward child through no real fault of their own.  Yet, some of them feel tremendously guilty because of a famous (or infamous) verse tucked away in our Old Testament lesson for today:  “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
 
            It must be borne in mind that there are many different literary genres in Scripture.  Narratives, parables, gospel, epistles, poetry, and even apocalyptic literature all occur in the Bible.  The book of Proverbs is a collection of wisdom sayings.  A proverb is a short pity statement of experiential truth.  In other words, a proverb expresses a general truth in which, all things considered, a particular outcome will likely occur.  Proverbs were never designed to be ironclad promises of how things always are; they were meant to teach wisdom.
 
            So, when we come to the verse about training children, it cannot be claimed that if a parent does a certain set of practices and disciplines that the child will always come out living a certain sort of way.  Neither people, nor Scripture, operates in that manner.  What the proverb is designed to do is place the emphasis on the necessity of training children, and instructing them with intentional focus in the ways of God.  And, more than likely, that training will kick in when the child is an adult and living on their own.  But it is not a guarantee.
 
            Even God had rebellious children, and he was the perfect parent.  What Proverbs wants us to do is encourage us to put significant effort into developing children to be responsible people.  Like God, we teach, train, exhort, live by example, and discipline our kids.  We do it all because we seek to be faithful, and we live with the hope that our efforts are not in vain.  So, it is good for parents, teachers, and all who work with kids to have a plan for training those children.  As we do so, we trust God who is the One who ultimately does the needed renovations of the heart, and transformation of the mind.
            Gracious God, you are the Lord who alone can change lives.  Give me wisdom so that I might always pray intelligently, live circumspectly, and speak lovingly to all the children in my life for Jesus’ sake.  Amen.