Today’s passage and meditation raise an eternally important and relevant question, namely, what does it ‘take’ to enter the kingdom of God? Often people in our western world today presume that it is ‘good works’: they say, he/ she was good person, surely he/she ‘will get in’. But often, like the rich young man, we know that this is not enough and want to know what ‘more’ we should do. Actually, there is no ‘more’, at least in terms of performance and trying to ‘measure up’. What is needed is seen both in Jesus’ demand that the rich young man simply give it all up and trust in Him and in Jesus’ espousal of the simple and uncomplicated faith of children. It is that faith and trust that God, Jesus Christ, wants from each of us. Thanks be to God.

Often our elected officials try to run on ‘their track record’, but far too often that track record isn’t that good. Today’s psalm exposes something of ancient Israel’s track record as God’s chosen people, a pretty dismal one to be sure. So, what about our ‘track record’? And, should we notice that it has certain defects, what can we do about it going forward--other than repenting and asking God’s forgiveness, which are a given? It is a good thought for all of us to ponder and pray about as we move on into the seasons of Advent and Christmas.

Thank God for the ‘new’ (new to us, that is) and refreshing perspective that God gives us via the Holy Scriptures. Today’s passage from the Book of Revelation repeats what we already know all too well, namely that the world is in a mess and so too are many of its people. It reiterates that there will be a time of reckoning and accountability, and that some people will be ‘found wanting.’ Nevertheless, this Book also depicts the Church in terms that we would barely recognize, namely of it being without even a spot or wrinkle, totally free from sin and totally ready for the bridegroom, which is Christ. And what today’s passage also relates is that this Church, that is, us, have a continuing part in calling anyone and everyone to respond to Christ and His love, to invite anyone who is thirsty for the something else that our world cannot give but that Jesus can. And, while we are not yet at that point of being that ‘perfect’ bride that Revelation envisions, we can still do that inviting, yes, even in our somewhat fallen and imperfect state. That this is possible we can rejoice. Thanks be to God.

I think that it is fair to say that for most of us, if not all, neither the world around us nor our own personal lives are always exactly as we would like them. Now, there is an ongoing and serious debate going on, one that has wracked the Christian world for centuries, over whether God actively plans or orchestrates all that goes on, or whether He ‘allows’ free will and choice on our parts--knowing fully well in advance what those choices will be--and then actively working them into His most perfect plan.

While we will not probably resolve this issue right now, there is one thing that we can know for us, and that is that God is there for us working all things to our good, and that we can always go to Him for help and relief, no matter what the situation might be. And that is most decidedly very good news.

It is easy to praise and thank God during likes of plenty or prosperity, or when everything is ‘going all right,’ but what about those times when this isn’t happening. Today’s psalm is full of praise and thanksgiving, as befits the American Thanksgiving holiday, which is today. But, far too often, things are not going quite so well for us: what then? This is something that I have tried to address in today’s meditation. I hope that you enjoy it and find it stimulating and inspiring.

My meditation for today highlights what is a crucial issue for Christians. It is the shadowy, grey area question of what is permitted and what is not. For Bible believing Christians, what is explicitly allowed, or forbidden, by Holy Scripture, should not be a matter of debate. But, what about all the topics where the Bible has nothing to say, or else is ambiguous. This is where the so-called ‘worship wars’ come into play, where earnest, well-meaning Christians debate about the style of worship or the kind of music or the architecture or lay-out of the church sanctuary or the method or style of preaching, none of which are explicitly defined within Scripture.

And the same can also be said even of certain moral questions, for instance, the question of divorce and remarriage. Scripture definitely has something to say about it, but people, even evangelicals, come up with differing ways of interpreting these passages. And, even Jesus’ suggestion that we try to live in harmony with others of our faith and not rock the boat can be interpreted and applied in various ways. Sad to say, I don’t think that there is a definitive answer to much of this. We will simply have to live with each other with harmony, mutual respect and tolerance of our differences.

Anyway, there you have it. Something to ponder and pray about and where we need to ask for God’s guidance, and forebearance.

Here I am, after bravely squinting through my ‘revised’ eyesight, with my meditation for today. It talks about the necessity of faith, which, for me--at least in any practical sense--is often keenly lacking. For instance, I have quite a shortage of faith when it comes to resolving the problems with Ukraine or Israel/ Hamas or even our own nation or community. And so, I’m quite like that father who said, “Lord, I do believe, help me to believe more.’

Today’s passage, the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration, might seem like ‘old hat’ but actually it is a serious call to action. It reveals Jesus as God, and in light of this fact--and God’s ferment approval of Him--calls us to listen to Him--and obey. And so, it is far more than ‘just a cosmic light show’ showing forth God’s glory in Jesus Christ.

Today’s psalm is one of the shortest psalms in the Bible, and one of the shortest chapters. Even so, it packs a strong punch. It raises the question of who we turn to, depend upon and trust when we run into times of trouble. Far too often, it is ourselves or some other human agency or person, and not God. Our psalmist knows better: he immediately turns to God. May this be our practice as well.

Today’s passage was Psalm 90, which, for many of us is ‘old hat’, overly familiar, even to the point of wandering what God might want to say to us through it. As I approached it today, this was something of my mind. Anyway, as I got into it once again, I was greatly surprised--and challenged--by what I think God is saying to us through it. Perhaps you’ll find it so as well.

The season of Advent will soon be upon us, with its reminder, not only of Christ’s first coming as a babe in a manger, but also of His Second Coming, as Lord and Saviour, but also as Judge. So, it is a good time to reflect on this, and to examine our lives to see if we are ready.

We humans can far too easily fall into two equally drastic errors. We can forget that all things, all human activities and decisions, ultimately land in the hands of God. God is sovereign over all things, even with the reality of choice and free will. We can too easily think that we are in charge. But then we can also fall into the opposite error, namely of thinking that because He is in control that there is nothing that we can do. There is indeed much that we can do as we are, in reality, co-workers with Him, co-partners. This is something important to remember on this day of all days, Remembrance Day.

Our world today can often seem like a pretty troubled and tumultuous place, and sometimes this spills over into our own personal lives. Often we can wonder why this is happening to us or what brought it on and often we can feel overwhelmed by it. It is therefore good to know that our Lord is there for us, no matter what the cause and no matter what the problem or issue. And so, we, like the psalmist in today’s psalm, can always turn to Him and entrust ourselves to His ever-present care and love.

Sometimes we forget, seeing as we live on an earthly plane where so much seems ‘up for grabs’ and where loyalties sometimes seem quite strained, we forget that God’s love and loyalty is definitely not ‘up for grabs.’ His love for us is constant, and is there, unwavering, through all the seasons of our lives. And yes, even when it doesn’t seem like it. And so, we can always trust Him, trust in Him, no matter what. This is something well worth remembering.

Today’s Scripture passage and meditation touch on the sad fact that we are often shaped, and controlled, by our expectations, and sad to say this often influences the way we see God and others and ourselves, thus limiting each of them in terms of their impact and influence in our lives. Maybe it is time to revise some of these expectations--by reading, perhaps, what the psalmists say about God or what the Scriptures say about us--that we are beloved and valued and precious to God. And interestingly, even though Peter and the other disciples often failed, often flubbed spectacularly, Jesus never gave up on them. And even the person with the least advance expectations of ‘coming to any good’ as far as the church was concerned, the future apostle Paul, was used by God for immense good. Good thing our expectations, or those of the early church, were not the same as God’s. Thanks be to God..