July 16, 2026
Keeping an Open Mind!
“This is what the Lord says – Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.”
Isaiah 44:6
For today’s devotional fodder were are considering the Word of the Lord, spoken through Isaiah, concerning the subject of belief in one God. The first thing we need to take note of that the Lord is identified as, “Israel’s King and Redeemer…” This designation establishes that the Lord rules over Israel. I would argue that this statement does not rule out that the Lord may also rule over others outside Israel. The fact that Christians identify the Lord as their God gives credence to this assumption. We will get back to this thought in a moment.
In the second part of our verse this morning we read that the Lord states that there is no God apart from the Lord. One of the basics of both Judaism and Christianity is monotheism, which basically means belief in one God. There is one Supreme Being in existence. For some the concept of the Holy Trinity can be confusing when placed alongside the idea of monotheism. That is when we need to consider that the other parts of the Trinity, Christ and the Holy Spirit are aspects of God, not entirely separate entities. This is also a conversation that could take up a lot of space in this forum.
But I wish to return, ever so briefly, to the subject of how we rationalize the one God idea in the face of so many other religious variants in the world. There are three major religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) that fall under the category of Abrahamic. They believe in worshipping one God, the God of Abraham. Of course, there are many variants inside these religions. There are also other religions who have varying beliefs regarding the one God or many gods.
For centuries, and even today, there has been tension, disagreement, and even wars around the subject of which religion gets it right. One has to wonder how the Lord views this mess. One of my favorite religious cartoons depicts Jesus’ teaching on the Mount. In the caption below the picture Jesus states, “OK, someone write this down, I don’t want four versions of what I am about to say.” The fact is that as soon as humans get involved in anything, religion, politics, sports, Coke vs. Pepsi, things can get sticky if not downright nasty.
When it comes to our view of our divine being, perhaps we are best off staying in our lane. As long as we do not have our views restricted, and we do not seek to restrict others, we cannot be too far beyond the bounds of the way the Lord wishes for us to act toward each other. Perhaps one day, when our time on earth has ended, we might gain a greater understanding of the divine mysteries. But until then, may we seek to make our world a more peaceable place for all who are our neighbors!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
July 15, 2026
Bribery?
“The greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live.”
Proverbs 15:27
One of the reasons that I refer to Proverbs so often is that it gives us a glimpse into society as it existed so many centuries ago. This morning’s devotional verse tells us that those who hate bribes will live. So, I guess this means that the paying for preferential treatment is not just a modern-day issue. I do not think that is really all that surprising, is it? For all the advances humanity had made in medicine, technology, and such, the basic human condition has not evolved all that much. If you want to get something done, duking the right person or people can grease the wheels regardless of the right or wrong of your desires.
Now if your inducements are limited to slipping the maître’-de at your favorite restaurant a twenty to get a nice table, I do not think that will affect anyone’s situation in the afterlife. But if the giving and accepting of kick-backs, enticements, or other sweeteners affects the lives of others outside the circle of consideration, then we are treading on dangerous ground.
It seems that societies, both modern and ancient, have always struggled with the impact of unethical behavior. The simplistic view of this is that there always have been people who have sought to better their own situations regardless of how it affects others. While Jesus never specifically addresses ethical behavior, you can infer his thoughts from his teachings. In Matthew 7:12, Jesus states, So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
What would Jesus think about the lack of ethical behavior in society today? Perhaps it would be similar to how he felt about the behavior of the leaders of the people of Israel during his ministry on earth. He called the Pharisees and Sadducees a, “…brood of vipers.” (Mt. 3:7) They were charged with caring for the common people but instead many of them sought to enrich themselves and hide behind the sanctity of the Law. May it be enough for us, as modern-day disciples, to lead ethical lives and to be able to speak out against those use their power to enrich themselves through nefarious means!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
July 14, 2026
Remaining in Christ’s Love!
“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”
John 15:10
This morning’s verse is part of what is referred to as the Farewell Discourse in the Gospel of John. Jesus has disclosed to the disciples that he will be betrayed, persecuted, executed, and resurrected. His followers were understandably both confused and upset by this revelation. Jesus then speaks to them words of comfort about what is about to happen and what their fate might be.
Jesus spends some time explaining to them about the identity and the role of the Holy Spirit who will come and comfort and teach the disciples. He also instructs them to be prepared to continue to do the works of faith that Jesus did. He explains to them that he is the vine and they are the branches and he will remain connected to them even if they cannot see him any longer.
The devotional verse for this morning assures the disciples that they will remain in the love of Christ if they obey his commands. What are those commands? Well, you probably already know them. In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus, answers a question about what the greatest commandment is with these words, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39)
Sounds simple enough, right? Love your God above all else, including yourself and all the things of life around you. Also, love your neighbor as yourself. When it gets complicated is when certain aspects of life get in the way. Sometimes it is hard to love the Lord when you are ill, or depressed, or facing extremely difficult circumstances. In addition, loving your neighbor may seem all but impossible when their behavior does not line up with your beliefs.
Jesus’ message to the disciples can ring true for us today. He told them that being his follower was not going to be easy. It was not a passport to a life of ease and comfort. There will still be challenging situations and people that we will encounter. However, if we strive to live out Jesus’ commands we will abide in his grace and love. We may not always be able to fully live up to these lofty expectations. But, if we recognize our failings, repent for our faults, and do our best to improve day by day, we will fulfill our call as his disciples. May it be so for us today!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
July 13, 2026
What’s For Lunch?
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than clothes?”
Matthew 6:25
Today’s devotional verse comes from Jesus’ sermon on the mount as found in the Gospel of Matthew. If you are familiar with this section of Matthew it begins with what is commonly referred to as the Beatitudes. His teaching continues on with him expounding on topics such as murder, adultery, divorce, swearing oaths, revenge, along with many other subjects. Our verse is part of his message about not being consumed by worry.
In the above verse he tells the crowd they should not worry about their lives. Then he gets a bit more specific. He tells them not to worry about what they eat or drink or what clothes they wear. I read these words and I think about how these things may not have been a big concern for Jesus. I mean, after all, he did whip up a huge amount of wine at the wedding feast. He was also able to feed 5000 plus people with just a few loaves of Dave’s Killer Bread and a couple cans of Chicken of the Sea. Not to mention that he was known for inviting himself to dine at the homes of his friends. So, what was for lunch was not a big concern. Also, it does not seem that he was a clothes horse either. A tunic and a pair of sandals suited him just fine.
So how does this message about not worrying fit into our modern lives. I am not sure about you, but I put time and effort to the clothes I wear. (Now I leave space to folks to catch their breath after laughing at that last statement). But seriously, if I showed up on Sunday morning in a pair of Old Navy shorts and my favorite Frog and Onion t-shirt, there would be calls for me to get my head examined. Also, anyone who has wandered by my office around Noon on a weekday know how important lunch is to me.
Perhaps the important message here is centered on the word, “worry.” Certainly, we should consider how to dress appropriately and how to nourish ourselves and our families properly. However, we should not let those daily responsibilities consume us or distract us from more important tasks. Building and maintaining healthy relationships with our Lord, our family, and our sisters and brothers take priority over whether our shoes match our belt or which fork is the proper salad fork. Worry, about food, clothes, or any other aspect of our daily lives can be a burden that we should seek to shed through our faith and fellowship. May it be so for us today!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
July 9, 2026
Which Way?
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.”
Isaiah 55:8
Normally the verse for Thursday’s devotional comes from our first reading for the upcoming Sunday’s service. This week I decided to use a verse that occurs just prior to our reading from Isaiah. Our reading for Sunday (Isaiah 55:10-13) describes the Lord’s work as the preparations for the returning of the Israelites from their time of exile. Just prior to that vision, Isaiah shares the words of the Lord that tell the people that the Lord’s thoughts and actions are beyond their comprehension.
If you have ever watched an episode of Judge Judy you may have noted how she asks questions of the plaintiff and the defendant. At times, when the she senses hesitancy in the reply to her question she will tell them, “Do not try to figure out why I am asking you this, just answer the question.” In other words, her thoughts and not the same thoughts as the witness, so do not spend a lot of time trying to figure it out. (No, I do not think Judge Judy is a deity.)
The word “theology” can be interpreted literally as “God talk.” A more practical definition might be “… attempting to understand God’s divine revelation.” (Westminster’s Dictionary of Theological Terms) So, based on our words from Isaiah today, why do we engage in theology? If the Lord’s thoughts and ways are high above us, why do we spend so much time trying to figure it out?
I think part of the answer to that question is simple human nature. Most humans like to understand concepts and ideas that include or intrigue them. I will never understand how a fax machine works, but that did not stop me from being curious about it. Even as we acknowledge we will never fully understand the Lord’s thoughts and ways, that does not mean that we are not going to continue to be inquisitive about them.
Also, thankfully for us we have the teaching of Jesus that can give us a closer understanding. Centuries after Isaiah shared the prophetic words above, the Lord forged a closer relationship with humanity through the personhood of Jesus. Rather than trying to comprehend the Lord’s deep thoughts we can simply study the Word of Jesus. If we really want to keep it simple, we can refer to his command to love God and each other. That should be fairly straightforward, right? While we will never fully understand the Lord, we still need to keep doing our best to apply what we do know to our daily lives. If we can do that, we can never get to far from the truth and the light that is our Lord!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck