Tuesday, May 13

Luke 6:12-26 “Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh.” (v.21b)

The Beatitudes are a font of divine paradox. Is Jesus saying that life’s apparent inequities will be addressed and corrected in heaven? Or is he saying that laughter is a consequence of tears, tears a prerequisite for laughter? Jesus tells us to weep, that we may laugh.

And do we encourage each other’s tears? Little boys are told that boys don’t cry. Girls are not stigmatized for their tears, but neither are their tears encouraged. Rather, parents do everything in their power to stop the tears, to hide their own tears, to deny sadness. And so, we grow apart from our emotions, uncomfortable with them, alienated from self, a house divided.

When a dear friend died, I mourned her passing; I grieved. I visited her remains, sat with “her,” prayed by her, finding consolation in her remembered presence and the beauty and solitude of the cemetery. One day as I sat with her, I felt an altogether new sensation in my gut, a sensation of fullness, as from a satisfying meal, but with no discomfort. The sensation was that of pure joy. Where had it come from? It was the consequence of my tears. “Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh.”

Joshua 10:29-43; Psalm 45; Colossians 1:15-23

Wednesday, May 14

Luke 6:27-38 “From anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you....”(v.29)

But, Lord, what will be left for me! If I do that, I will soon become poor!

Well, God gives, and is He poor? Does He not give and give, holding nothing back for Himself? Yet “all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all” (1 Chronicles 29:11).

“Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20). Consolation prize or consequence? Laughter contingent upon tears? Wealth a consequence of poverty?

Hannah had nothing, but she gave what she did not have to the Lord. “O Lord of hosts, if thou...wilt give to thy maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord... And the Lord remembered her; and in due time, Hannah conceived and bore a son...,” then “three sons and two daughters” (1 Samuel 1:11, 19-20; 2:21). She stepped out in faith and was richly blessed.

“Thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing” (Malachi 3:10).

The Bible is a timeless classic because God’s word is good.

Joshua 11:1-23; Psalm 119:49-72; Colossians 1:24—2:7

Thursday, May 15

Luke 6:39-49 “A disciple is not above his teacher, but every one when he is fully taught will be like his teacher.” (v.40)

For nearly two thousand years, the church has been following Jesus, studying Holy Scripture, trying to bring God’s kingdom to earth. How successful has it been? Why are there not more Christians? Why does war still rage on the planet?

Jesus says, “Every one when he is fully taught will be like his teacher.” But, what was our teacher Jesus like? He had neither home, nor spouse, nor grandchildren. What privacy he had he stole by rising before anyone else. He had no job, no security, no status, being servant of all, and before middle age, he was painfully executed as a criminal. Who would choose to be like that?

What about us? How often are we guilty of snacking on the Bread of Life, but looking elsewhere for palatable nourishment? We prize comfort instead of poverty, self-justification in place of meekness, “right-ness” above mercy, law over love, independence and not trust, numbness rather than pain and tears, the approval of others above truth. And the kingdom eludes us. The peace which passes understanding is just not there.

The way of the teacher is inconvenient, even sacrificial, but truly learning from him looks to mercy, love, trust—and fulfilling God’s purposes in the world. What could be more significant than that?

Joshua 13:1-13; Psalm 50; Colossians 2:8-23

Friday, May 16

Colossians 3:1-11 Do not lie to one another... (v.9)

I do not lie. In fact, I pride myself on the fact. I grew up on Pinocchio and fear exposure—a telltale nose, or some such embarrassment. But do I tell the truth? Is it the same thing?

I recently wrote an estranged friend about the destructive force of her judgments. I received a prompt and unexpected reply in which she asked my forgiveness for the hurt she had caused me. The response to a letter of difficult truth was healing!

As I thought back to the initial rupture, the cause had been an incident in which I had been less than truthful. From fear of the consequences of the exact truth, I had told but a portion, and that half-truth had cost me my friendship.

While I pride myself on not lying (from fear), I am afraid also of the truth. Truth can confront. Truth can hurt feelings. Truth can alienate. And so, from fear of isolation, I often keep the truth quiet. And intimacy eludes.

For it is truth, however painful, however embarrassing, that generates healing, real people and intimacy. True friends are not lost by truth, but saved.

Joshua 13:14-32; Psalm 40, 54; Luke 7:1-17

Saturday, May 17

Luke 7:18-35 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” (v.20)

During the past week we have looked at some of the hard sayings of Jesus, and we have seen that we do “look for another,” an easier way. Is Jesus the Messiah, the one who was to come, or should we look for another?

Jesus does not answer John’s disciples outright, but gives them the evidence which was to identify the Christ: “The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.”

With the resurrection, God put His final stamp of authenticity on Jesus. However, as Jesus predicted, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead” (Luke 16:31).

“And a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him’” (Matthew 17:5). God has done all that He can to show His love for us. Now it is up to us to “listen to him.”

Joshua 14:1-15; Psalm 55; Colossians 3:12-17

Sunday, May 18

Matthew 7:7-14 Ask, and it will be given to you…. (v.7a ESV)

My wife and I celebrated our 50th anniversary last year. As you read this today, we’ve been married 18,615 days. We’ve rarely been apart. In that time, Melanie has prepared over 54,000 breakfasts, lunches, or suppers for me (She’s a great cook! I used to work a toaster).

Ten years ago I had a stroke that made it difficult for me to swallow or speak. Melanie set about finding menu items I could handle. She does all the shopping. She adds anything I ask to what she has already planned. But I trust her choices. I appreciate them. I depend on them. And her.

I am glad speech has become difficult for me since that helps keep me from complaining or sounding ungrateful for what she’s already done and sacrificed. When I make the effort to speak, I’d rather choose those moments to just say “Thank you.”

To You also, Father. To you, also, Jesus. It’s the best way to start another day together.

Joshua 17:14-18; Psalms 24, 29; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Monday, May 19

Colossians 3:18—4:18 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. (v.7a)

As I write, my wife is expecting a visit from her youngest sister whom she has not seen in several years. We live at opposite ends of the country. They read each other’s social media posts every day and often talk on their phones. They have seen each other’s pictures of their home gardens (one in sunny Florida, the other in snow-covered Michigan). Their visit will be filled with stories about how each has been filling other hours of their days. I expect we’ll hear stories about mutual friends who have hosted my sister-in-law at stops along her way here. We are especially looking forward to hearing about a grand-nephew’s cruise ship wedding that is a key event in this cross-country vacation plan.

We already know Renee’s testimony as a life-long Christian. What we’re eager to hear now is all about her activitieslately. That’s what reveals the hearts of the people we love. That’s why God listens. When we share our stories with each other, He knows His kingdom family is bonding together.

Joshua 18:1-10; Psalms 56, 57, 58; Luke 7:36-50

Tuesday, May 20

Romans 12:1-21 Practice hospitality. (v.13b NIV); Luke 8:1-15 Bear fruit with patience. (v.15b ESV)

My wife gets to plant seeds in her garden the year round (since we live in Florida). Nevertheless, she cannot escape some realities of gardening. She stays indoors if it rains. The garden needs water. If it doesn’t rain, Melanie must devote regular time on each plant with the garden hose. She has lots of space for her garden, but must still dig and mulch the soil to enhance and prepare it for the seeds. Even then, some of the seeds never grow. Some that grow never bear flowers or fruit. Waiting for results takes the same time, whether the results are good or bad.

Patience and hospitality. They are separate qualities. Neither is sufficient by itself. Only frustrated gardeners think they are. Even gardeners who faithfully provide both don’t always get to celebrate their results. But successful gardeners also have faith and hope for each new day that the First Garden Owner provides. To have an assignment is a joy all by itself.

Melanie is delighted to get a chance to be on the Gardener’s team.

Joshua 20:1-9; Psalms 61, 62; Luke 18:1-15