Jeff's Radio Devotionals
The radio devotionals have been discontinued for awhile,
but these readings can inspire you in the meantime.
I am Jeff Martin. It's a privilege to greet you on behalf of
the First Presbyterian Church of Boonville, where we seek to put Christ first in our lives
Good Hospitality
Genesis 18
By tradition, many people in the church have used the story
of Sodom and Gomorrah to condemn homosexual orientation. If that is your
particular bent, I would invite you to look elsewhere in the Bible for your
material, and let the 19th chapter of Genesis stand as a witness that closely
relates to everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation.
The text deals primarily with hospitality, and the welcome
of the stranger. As you investigate this for yourself, notice the contrast
from the first scene of this episode, which takes place in chapter 18. This is
the arrival of three heavenly visitors, who come to reiterate to Abraham and
Sarah the promise that they will have a son, and to warn of the impending
judgment on the sinful cities.
Abraham doesn’t recognize them as a divine presence, but he
offers impeccable hospitality: he invites them in to rest and wash, then
orders a feast prepared, including one of the best calves.
Abraham was fulfilling the mandates of his culture: the
environment was harsh; water was scarce; bandits were prevalent. There were no
motel chains, interstate rest stops, convenience stores, or 24-hour emergency
towing. Travelers relied fully on the kindness and generosity of the
inhabitants of the land through which they traveled.
Now we contrast this with the arrival of the angels in the
city of Sodom. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, welcomes them warmly, and provides safe
lodging and a meal, but all of the other men of the community surrounded the
house, wishing to sexually assault the visitors; that is, they wish to commit
an act of violence against the strangers.
It is often overlooked in this passage that Lot placed such
importance on the proper care of the strangers that he was willing to offer
his two daughters to the crowd. It is incomprehensible to me that a father
would make such an offer, but in the context of the culture and its rules of
etiquette, it becomes more understandable.
And so does the mandate that the text presents to us today.
If the text is no longer a tool to aim at ten percent of the population, then
suddenly it becomes a critique of all members of our society, and our ability
and willingness to welcome strangers and those in need.
Are we truly hospitable? Do we seek to welcome and protect
those who travel to and through our community? When immigrants from other
countries settle here, do we provide the needed resources to help them
integrate themselves into the community, or are we resentful at the presence
of those we consider "different," hostile at the accommodations that are made,
jealous of the resources these new residents consume?
The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is a harsh one, indeed, but
let’s not confuse sexual orientation with the appalling sexual violence that
is presented in the text, and in doing so, acknowledge our own struggles to
fulfill the mandates, both in this Old Testament text
and in the witness of Jesus Christ, to be truly welcoming,
open, and hospitable to all.
I invite you to pray with me now:
Loving God, you call us to welcome others, even as you have
welcomed us, with hearts and hands that are open and generous. When your word
comes to us as chastisement, give us humility to not simply deflect your
judgment onto someone else, but to learn of your ways, and commit our lives to
follow you always. Amen
Blessed to Be a Blessing
Genesis 12: 1-9
Although the opening chapters of the book of Genesis are
very informative, and they give us a selection of stories that illustrate
basic truths about human relationships and relationships with God, those
chapters are primarily there to provide a certain perspective, to provide a
glimpse of the basic theological understandings of the people who put
together the Bible.
The first main act in Genesis comes in chapter twelve,
with God’s interaction with a man named Abram. God calls to him, and directs
him to leave his homeland, and travel far away, to a place of God’s
choosing. God says to Abram, "I will make of you a great nation, and I will
bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing."
In this respect, Abram becomes a model for us: the
blessings that we have--the monetary and other physical resources, our
talents and abilities, our position and power, our relationships and
connections with others--these are all tools that God has provided,
blessings, that we will be a blessing, helping and encouraging others, and
improving the lives of others through our generosity, servanthood, and
compassion.
Those are all good things, and I do firmly believe that
the gifts we receive in our lives are meant to bring life, healing, and
wholeness
to our world. But sometimes we forget that God also
intends for us to enjoy these gifts ourselves. They are not intended for our
selfish purposes or for malicious intent.
But even as we look at the world around us, and find, as
Frederick Buechner puts it, that our calling lies where our abilities
intersect
with the needs of the world--even as we seek this
understanding, it is good to simply enjoy the generosity of our God, and to
use the gifts, resources, strengths, and abilities that God provides to
nurture our own selves.
We ourselves are often in need of healing, and many times
it does not occur to us that God provides many of the resources we need
within our own lives. But we want to appear strong and not admit our
weakness, or we don’t wish to appear selfish, and believe it’s better to
give away all of our resources, all of our personal identity, than to invest
something of them in our own development, healing, and renewal.
But when we are "blessed to be blessing," I believe that
God’s desire is that we enjoy these benefits, utilize some to strengthen the
"infrastructure" that is our own personal self, and then, from a position of
strength and wholeness, of gratitude and well-being, we offer all that we
have and all that we are to the care and renewal of all that God has made.
I invite you to pray with me now:
Generous Spirit, open our eyes and our ears, our hearts
and our minds, that we may recognize the blessings that you pour into our
lives. Help us to receive in gratitude, and direct us by your wisdom, to
invest all that you have provided, in avenues of healing, reconciliation,
and joy. Grant that we may not selfishly cling to the gifts you have
provided, yet let us also not carelessly cast them aside. Help us to care
for the gift of our own selves, even as you direct us to care for all of
your world. Amen
Of Culture and Values
One thing that strikes me about our culture is our need for
absolutes. We like to have things clear and simple, black and white. We prefer
"either/or;" we do not like "both/and."
Our culture celebrates strength, not wisdom; dominance, not
cooperation; future, not past; youth, not age; pride, not humility.
And with our preference comes judgment. One is good; the
other is bad. Those qualities that our culture has identified as important are
the right ones for everyone, and those things that we disregard, we condemn
and ridicule in others. It does not occur to us that people around the world
do not necessarily wish to replicate our society in
its entirety.
There are many things that are enviable about our country,
but that doesn’t mean that every aspect is perfect, or would be right for
everyone in all places. And yet we are insulted when someone actually has the
temerity to criticize our society, or to point out inequities, or to suggest
that we might learn something from another culture, society, government, or
people.
We have much to be thankful for in our nation and in our
community. We are not perfect, but we have a super-abundance of resources and
talent. Some attributes we have earned and developed for ourselves. Some are
the gifts from the sacrifices and dedication of previous generations. And many
are simply gifts from God, products of the creation around us, resources that
we are fortunate to enjoy.
As a nation, we are at our best when we recognize that we
do not alone possess all the power, all the resources, all the wisdom---all of
God’s grace and favor.
From our nation’s founding, religious metaphor has often
been adopted, and many people have believed--and some still believe-- that our
nation has a particular place as God’s chosen one, raised up as a "light to
the nations, set upon a holy hill."
Unfortunately, this has encouraged arrogance, contempt of
other cultures, and an inability to accept criticism gracefully.
For brevity, I will simply say that whether or not we are
God’s only chosen ones, to be selected by God is always to fulfill a
particular calling. And the tasks that God sets before people always involve
servanthood, humility, sacrifice, and compassion for those in need.
God does not call us to privilege,
exclusivity, selfishness, wastefulness, or domination of
others. When we learn this, and are prepared to say, in all humility, "Here I
am, Lord, send me," then we will be prepared to offer light, healing, and hope
to the world.
I invite you to pray with me now:
Eternal God, we give you thanks for the blessings that this
nation enjoys. Loosen us from our ways of pride, selfishness, and disregard
for others, that we may learn to serve, learn to love, learn to follow you.
Amen
Ready or Not
Acts 10: 1-48
At the beginning of the book of Acts, Jesus told his
disciples, "You will be my disciples, in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and
to the ends of the earth." The writer takes a cue from this statement, and the
narratives that follow are structured in just that format: proclamation in
Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Making the transition along the way, however, involves the
opening of minds, hearts, and doors, that the disciples have a broader
understanding of their audience, and greater acceptance of all whom God wishes
to include.
In the tenth chapter of the book of Acts, the author
records a vision that Peter has, one that helps him to set aside his
expectations of what is acceptable or not, clean or unclean, that he would be
prepared to welcome others into the fellowship and family of Christ.
I don’t know if this is especially spiritual, or perhaps
just superstitious, but I find it interesting in my own life, how certain
situations or experiences, things that I may perceive as good or bad, but in
reality, are merely an opportunity for growth, and with that new knowledge or
insight, I am better equipped for a real challenge that next appears on the
horizon.
Or it might be something as simple as suddenly thinking of
someone, and after calling them, discovering that they’re in the midst of some
difficulty, and the call was just what they needed.
What does it all mean?
It could mean that God is very busy, actively directing our
situations and our thoughts, so that we are drawn to act in certain ways.
It could also mean that God has fashioned us in such an
inter-connected way, that when someone experiences a need, our hearts sense
this even before we are aware of their need, and begin to do the interior work
that prepares us to respond appropriately.
I don’t know how it works or why it works, but I do know
that if I pay attention, learn lessons from experiences, and give heed to
those "divine coincidences," then I am much more connected, responsive, and
able to act in ways that are far more Christ-like and far less "Jeff-like."
I invite you to pray with me now:
Spirit of power and life, help us to pay attention, both
with our minds and our hearts, to the world around us, that we may sense
opportunities to welcome, serve, heal, and care. Give us sense to see your
direction in our lives, and to respond affirmatively as you invite and guide
us along your good pathways. Amen
What is to prevent me...?
Acts 8: 26-40
The book of Acts is the story of the expansion of the
gospel "from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." In
chapter eight, Philip becomes the agent of this expansion, as attention moves
from the "mainline" Jewish community to people of Samaria and a eunuch from
Ethiopia; that is, people who adhere to the law of Moses and the prophets, but
were considered on the fringe, or not quite acceptable for one reason or
another.
The writer of the book of Acts doesn’t make much ado about
this broadening of the circle; it is simply the next step in sharing the good
news.
It seems that Christians today are always making a fuss
about whom to include, whether we should make the effort to reach out, if
someone is really the "right kind of person," or whether they have the proper
pedigree to worship and serve along with us.
The directive from Jesus, which we see played out over and
over throughout the book of Acts, is "Go and tell." He does not say, "Go,
judge, select, and tell." Just go and tell.
During the crusades, one bishop advised the troops, "Kill
all, kill all! Let God decide!" He thought it was more prudent and expedient
to simply eliminate all opposition and potential threats, and let God sort
through the souls to judge them. It seems that modern Christians often follow
the same mentality, believing that we can limit or exclude, and sometimes even
kill, as it seems prudent or expedient to us, those we perceive as threatening
or undesirable, and let God sort it out in the end.
I wonder what would happen if we reversed that methodology,
and tried to be abundantly loving and welcoming to everyone, and then let God
sort through our overly-generous attitude, rather than our excessively
tight-fisted, hard-hearted ways.
It could be difficult.
It could be painful.
It could be interesting.
It could be more like the way of Jesus Christ.
I invite you to pray with me now:
Spirit of life and power, grant to us open hearts and open
minds, that we may welcome and embrace all whom we encounter. Amen
Silence or Speech
Acts 6:8 - 7:66
I have to wonder whether Stephen had much common sense.
The writer of the book of Acts
narrates Stephen’s selection as a deacon, and tells us how Stephen was "filled
with the Spirit," and performed great deeds and miracles. When others brought
false charges against him, Stephen was steadfast, and he provided an eloquent
overview of salvation history, going from Abraham to Moses and the Exodus, to
David and on to the time of the prophets.
But then he had to get cranky. Was it really necessary to
call his accusers "stiff-necked people?" Did he expect that his strong
declarations would "convict them of their sin," as we like to say, and cause a
widespread conversion?
Perhaps he did. After all, it worked for Peter on the day
of Pentecost. Of course, Peter wasn’t surrounded by an angry mob, people
already riled up. Peter got three thousand people baptized. Stephen got stoned
to death.
And so I wonder if he had much common sense--did he know
what he was doing and risked it all for the sake of the gospel, or did he just
not realize the explosive nature of his accusations, and not foresee the
potential consequences?
The courage to speak must always be tempered by wisdom,
that we have the right words to say, but also that we know the right moment to
speak-- and to recognize that some times are not productive: my passionate
words will not be received well, and my efforts will have no effect. So I must
be able to judge whether the moment is one for passionate speech or judicious
silence.
On the other hand, perhaps I don’t want to praise Stephen,
or admire his bold sacrifice too much, because it is not something that I am
prepared to do. It’s rather convenient to praise the wise use of silence, as
it absolves me from certain actions. I can avoid confrontation with
individuals, I can spare myself the discomfort of going against popular
opinion, I can slip by, unnoticed.
To speak or to remain silent, now that is the question. I
wouldn’t advise insulting others, as Stephen did, but there are times when an
assertive word is necessary. A word that stops injustice or pain, a word that
calls people to return to their nobler selves, a word that offers hope and
healing, a word that causes others to recognize that popular perception and
preference are neither right nor righteous.
Just as Paul advised that the gift of tongues must be
balanced with the gift of interpretation, so courage must be balanced by
wisdom, and zeal must be balanced by humility.
I invite you to pray with me now:
Spirit of power and life, be present with us now and
always, and grant to us the gifts we need in our daily discipleship. Grant us
courage, that we have the will to respond to the injustice, pain, and
indifference, yet grant us wisdom, that we have the right words for the right
moment, and silence when it is most appropriate. Grant us passion and zeal,
that we may commit ourselves to the way of Jesus Christ; yet grant us
humility, that we may serve in his likeness, not with arrogance or
aggressiveness, but with gentle calm, peacefulness and compassion, for that is
the way of Christ. Amen
I am amazed at the fragility of the equilibrium of our
lives. A sudden illness, a financial blow, a lapse in judgment, an unkind
remark; each has the power to unravel the stability of our days, leaving us
wounded, weakened, numb to both the joys and sorrows of the world around us.
Yet I also know that creation is amazingly resilient. Our
bodies are broken, the environment is despoiled; yet almost immediately,
coping and healing mechanisms begin their work. Certainly God has fashioned a
world that has a natural disposition toward healing and mending itself.
Human beings are the monkey wrench in this process: our
negativity, our selfish desires, and our self-importance thwart the healing of
body and relationships, and our refusal to accept responsibility for our
actions for care of self, in relationships, and in the broader
world perpetuates destructive cycles.
We are called to an artful balance: recognition of the
fragility of creation could lead us into fear of every interaction, for we
might inadvertently injure or destroy. Instead, may this recognition instill
within us a reverence for all that God has made. Likewise, recognition of the
resiliency of creation could encourage our complacency: I don't need to
concern myself with restoration or defense of the injured, weak, or voiceless
ones, since ultimately, all things that should be healed will be healed.
Instead of this false belief, may our understanding of the
healing capabilities of our world give us hope, that in our own distress, we
may have confidence that God intends new life and wholeness for us.
It is not merely an invitation from Christ that
we care for one another and for all of God's creation, an option that we
occasionally exercise; it is a mandate.
To be followers of Christ means that we honor God's gift of
life, cherish it, tend to one another, and actively seek the well-being of all
aspects of God's creation.
Often this means sacrifice: we leave our place of ease to
reach out to others; we humble ourselves when we ask forgiveness for wrongs
we've committed; we make ourselves vulnerable when we expose selfish or
discriminatory practices of individuals, agencies, or government; we reduce
our personal cushion of comfort when we offer generously of our resources for
those who have little or nothing.
In our church, we speak often of diversity, and the
recognition that people of faith may hold widely divergent views on a variety
of issues.
This is not one of them.
If we disregard the fragility of the lives and the creation
around us, if we refuse to offer help to those in need, if we fail to advocate
for those who have no voice, then we have not walked in the way of Jesus
Christ.
I invite you to pray with me now:
Gracious God, forgive us when we fail to respond to the
needs of your creation, or choose to address only certain issues, and do not
acknowledge that you have called us into lives of willing service for the care
and redemption of all that you have made. Grant to us courage, wisdom,
passion, and humility, that we may truly follow as servants in the name of
Jesus Christ. Amen.
Walking, Leaping, Praising
Acts 3: 1-10
After narrating the events of the Day of Pentecost, and the
pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the followers of Jesus, the author of the
book of Acts tells of an incident when Peter and John were going to the temple
to pray. Along the way, they encountered a man who had been lame since birth.
The man was begging for money, but Peter said that since he had none, he would
give what he did have; and in the name of Christ, he healed the man.
The text records, "Peter took him by the right hand and
raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping
up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking
and leaping and praising God."
That second sentence I read had eight verbs in it, and they
were all things that were done by the man who was healed.
"Jumping up,
he stood
and began
to walk,
and he entered the temple with them,
walking
and leaping
and praising God."
He had been lame since birth, but now he jumped, stood,
began to walk, entered, walked, leaped, and praised. He was incapable of all
of this until he received the invitation and the touch from Peter. It wasn’t
just the word that Peter offered; he also touched the man and helped him to
his feet, and was holding him as the man’s feet and ankles became strong.
Whatever our weakness, whether physical infirmity or
laziness, intellectual struggles or laxness, spiritual brokenness or
immaturity, we each need a word of invitation to draw us into the fullness of
what God intends and has in store for us.
But we also need the touch of a mentor, guide, counselor,
supporter, cheerleader, friend--someone who will encourage us, help us, and
hold on while our bodies, minds, and spirits grow stronger.
Eventually, we, too, will
be strong enough to jump, stand, walk, leap, and praise. Until then, we are
grateful for the people in our lives who offer faith, inspiration,
encouragement, prodding, and hope, that we may grow strong to serve, strong to
praise, strong to reach out and offer a hand to another one in need.
I invite you to pray with me now:
Spirit of power and life, give strength to our ankles and
feet, to our minds and our will, to our voices and our hearts, that we may
rise to walk in your ways, leap in joy, and praise you forever. Amen
Happily Ever After
Acts 2: 43-47
If the New Testament account of the Acts of the
Apostles ended with Peter’s great speech at the
festival of Pentecost, and the writer’s fine summation that concludes that
episode, a person would have to have a very optimistic view of the future of
the fledgling church: "Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs
were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all
things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute
the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time
together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad
and generous hearts, praising God and having the good will of all the people.
And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved."
Don’t you just wish there were a great fanfare and a
beautiful sunset, as the final credits roll across the screen?
But this is not the ending.
It is only the second chapter of the story of the growth of
the church. The years ahead, both those recorded in the following chapters, as
well as the generations and centuries beyond the text, contain many painful
episodes, chapters of suffering and sadness, disagreement and conflict, loss
and death--and not just with the Christians as the innocent victims.
Sometimes we have been the authors of terrible deeds, and the victims have
been both within the church and outside its membership.
The rosy glow cast by the first big scene in the book of
Acts gives way to set-backs and suffering. But the author writes from a
vantage point where they see both hills and valleys, success and failure,
faithfulness and sinfulness. And from that perspective, the author sees God’s
continued care, God’s abiding presence, God’s unfailing love.
Human beings and their institutions fail, including
Christians and the church. But God continues to provide, redirect, improve,
strengthen, and heal. This is our hope and our humility.
I invite you to pray with me now:
Spirit of power and life, be with all your people to guide
our days and our deeds. Keep us faithful, keep us humble, keep us filled with
your presence of strength, gentleness, compassion, and joy. Amen
Some Sermon!
Acts 2: 1-42
Many of you who attended a worship service this past Sunday
probably heard a portion of the sermon that Peter gave after the in-dwelling
of the Holy Spirit at the festival of Pentecost. It is recorded in the second
chapter of the book of the Acts of the Apostles. At the end of Peter’s sermon,
many were persuaded to become Christians, and the text notes that three
thousand people were baptized.
Three thousand people! Now that’s the kind of reaction most
preachers can only dream of.
Generally speaking, I’m pleased if I haven’t drifted too
far off the topic, no one has fallen asleep, people laugh at my jokes, and a
few say something positive after church.
But to have three thousand people so persuaded, so
filled with the presence of God, that they wish to be baptized, my goodness,
that would be something.
Something inconvenient, let me tell you.
What on earth would I do if I suddenly had three thousand
new Presbyterians? Where would I put them all? How would we do Sunday School?
Where would we have a potluck? Could I ever hope to have them all know each
other, and care for each other with the same intimacy that our small
congregation enjoys?
It’s not so easy, is it?
My joy at the large baptismal intake is quickly overwhelmed
by questions of practicality, form, structure, etiquette, and a concern for
maintaining the status quo.
Whether in church growth, expansion of ministries, or just
trying something new, it seems that we often fear success even more than we
fear failure. Failure might mean that we close our doors, but more likely
we’ll just keep puttering along, perhaps at a slightly lower velocity.
Success and growth inevitably result in change. New people
have new interpretations and new ideas. New ministries bring new challenges,
new opportunities, new problems, and new responsibilities.
We can be content with "puttering along," but that is not a
calling of the Holy Spirit. Even as God works in the lives of people that they
would be open to God’s presence and seek a healthy community to support and
encourage them, so too God works in the lives of those who are called to
receive these seekers, that we would not be chintzy with our welcome, stingy
with our hospitality, miserly with the love of Jesus Christ, but only when we
are open to the magnificent working of the Holy Spirit, who blows through and
around us, awakening our senses and our spirits to God’s great desires for our
lives and for the lives of all people.
I invite you to pray with me now:
Spirit of power, move into our lives with strength and with
love, that we would sense and enjoy your presence. Yet move also in our lives
to grant us courage, wisdom, and passion, that we may catch your vision,
welcome others and learn from them, and follow into your good future. Amen
