Monday, January 02, 2012

Title: If You Do What Is Right / Topic: The Victim

Today’s Reading: Genesis 3, 4, 5; Luke 2


Scripture: Genesis 4:4-7

The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”


Observation: We are not told why God accepted Abel's offering but rejected Cain's. Some Bible teachers and theologians have come up with ideas about Abel raising animals which was more dependent upon God than Cain's working the garden. But that never made any sense to me, both of these occupations are dependent upon God. The farmer can't make the plants sprout any more than the rancher can make the animals reproduce. These things happen because God created animals and plants to do what they do. I think it must have been that Abel brought the good stuff and Cain brought some not-so-good stuff. (There is a lot of produce that is not-so-good.) But whatever it was, Cain knew exactly what to do. God speaks to him and warns him about his anger and lousy attitude: "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?" He tells him: "Shape up. Do what you know is right. And the rejection will be gone." But of course, Cain doesn't do what is right. He is ticked, but not with himself or his failure to do the right thing. No, he is angry at his brother Abel, who did the right thing. And Cain says Abel is the selfish 1% and Cain is going to Occupy Abel. And rather than fix his own problem, Cain kills his brother.


Application: Even a direct warning from God himself cannot change the mind of a person determined to play the victim. Lord help us.


Prayer: Lord help us.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sunday, January 01, 2012

Title: God Shows Up / Topic: Mind-Numbed Religion

Today’s Reading: Genesis 1, 2; Luke 1


Scripture: Luke 1:21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.


Observation: The worshipers at the Temple were expecting Zechariah to come out quickly and were surprised when he did not.


Application: It seems that they had, in those days, reduced the priestly intercession in the Holy of Holies to a brief affair. Perhaps just mumbling a few ritualized words memorized over the centuries by hundreds of priests who each took their turn, one by one, in that sacred place. Just going through the motions. Mind-numbed religion. No one expected anything to happen. No one thought that God would actually show up and do business. Surprise!


I think this is not unlike us today. We "do church" pretty much the same way week after week. We show up and put in our time and go home. What if God actually made an appearance and had something to say? I suspect that some folks might be mad that the service didn't end on time.


Prayer: Lord, please surprise us and show up. And may we be expecting you and ready for you.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.