Be kind

Luke 6:37-38

"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."

In the spirit of our generous God

we are called to be generous

To see beyond faults and failings

To go easy

To remember how often we get it wrong

and cut others some slack

And our generous God,

seeing our ability to forgive others

forgives us

with abundance

and blessing 

and love.

So hold back on the harshness

and try a little kindness

Today.

If you choose

Matthew 8:1-3

When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

I do choose!

Be made clean!

The words of one

who always chooses 

life over death

health over sickness

love over fear

The one who chooses

to lift up the downtrodden

to free the captives

to honour the poor

to heal the sick

to restore the dead to life.

The one who chooses us

as companions on the way

disciples, 

charged with walking and talking alongside Jesus

charged with sharing

the good news of Christ

who chooses us.

Treasured

Deuteronomy 26:18-19

Today the Lord has obtained your agreement: to be his treasured people, as he promised you, and to keep his commandments; for him to set you high above all nations that he has made, in praise and in fame and in honor; and for you to be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.

Praise

Fame 

Honour

Holy

In agreement

to keep the commandments

of our God

A promise

and a commitment

that goes both ways

and makes us

a treasured people

who belong to God.

What a notion -

that the God of all creation

treasures you and I.

To live and love as treasured people

keeping the commands of God,

to lean into that promise

would change our lives

and the life of the world.

What about you?

Luke 9:18-20

Peter’s Declaration about Jesus

Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.”

Whatever the crowds say

Whatever history records

Whatever religion teaches

Jesus asks:

What about you

Who do you say I am?

There's no falling back

on what we've heard

No reciting of what others have taught

But a challenge to express

from the depth of our being:

Who is Christ for you?

Choosing

Jeremiah 6:16

Thus says the Lord:

Stand at the crossroads, and look,

and ask for the ancient paths,

where the good way lies; and walk in it,

and find rest for your souls.

But they said, “We will not walk in it.”

Like toddlers

being directed

and assisted

to make good choices

Choices that will

set a path

for wisdom - 

The people of God reject

the wisdom of the ages

for a moment of defiance

And, turning their back

on all the hard won battles

of their forebears

they refuse to walk

in ways mapped out.

They choose to forsake

the lessons learned at a cost

to forge their own paths

to who knows where

replacing the promised

rest for their souls

with a weary stumbling 

and searching

to chart

a new and untested route.

Such has been the choice

of people in all ages - 

to forsake the ancient

to make their mark

on a brave new world.

And which of us can say

that we, given the choice

would have chosen

any differently

any less recklessly

preferring to find our own way

than trusting the way

of hard fought wisdom?

Reluctant

Jonah 3:1-3

The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. 

Sometimes it takes a while

for the message to get through.

Sometimes it needs time

to sink in.

To be confirmed.

While there are other times,

when it's not our understanding

that is slow

but, rather, our willingness

to follow through,

to act on what we discern.

There's nothing wrong with our hearing

but our spirit is reluctant.

Sometimes we get a second chance.

But at other times,

the moment is lost forever.

How will we know

unless we listen carefully.

Unless we rein in our restless spirits

and follow the way

our Creator reveals?

How will we know

what might have been?

We trust in the God

of second chances.

But just now and again, 

hearing and responding

first time around

unlocks amazing potential...

Forgiveness

Matthew 6:14-15

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Holding on to hurts

and resentments

carves a channel

that erodes our wellbeing

Like a river charting its course

or a stream burrowing its way

through a valley

slowly

persistently

making its mark

leaving a scar

gradually deepening

claiming more and more space

until it becomes

a part of the landscape

nigh impossible to reroute

or diminish

or change course.

Making the work

of forgiveness

all the harder.

And all the while

those from whom 

we withhold forgiveness

retain power over us

and continue to wound

perhaps in blissful ignorance

and almost certainly

without a care.

And our hurt is compunded

and the fire of our resentment

is stoked and banked up

by our inability

our refusal

to forgive.

All the more senseless

when release

is within our power

and healing 

is within our reach.

Forgiveness

a gift for ourselves.