Thought for Today
Psalm 19:12 But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
I often reference the devotional guide These Days. It is published for several Presbyterian and UCC denominations and includes writings from authors in many faith traditions. I have used it regularly for many years. Our church in Houston offered it to the congregants; and, when we moved, I subscribed for myself. We also offer copies at First Parish Church. Yesterday and today, the author wrote about Psalm 19.
Many ministers use vs. 14 as a prayer before their sermons. I have done so myself on occasion; although, I usually modify it to be “the meditations of our hearts.” The verse helps us to focus on the words we hear and think, to consider them in terms of God and God’s will and purpose.
What greater desire, what greater purpose could Christians strive for than for our words and thoughts to be acceptable to our Creator God? The God who loved us so much, the God who loves us so much that he sent his Son to save us.
But, that prayer based on Psalm 19:14 and those words above from Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi are not the totality of the Christian life and faith. Being a Christian involves much more than our thoughts and our words. Christians are called to do much more than merely to say the ‘right’ words, much more than to mere think the ‘right’ thoughts. Christianity is about more than spouting platitudes, about more than pious thoughts.
The words we utter, the ideas we form in our minds are in truth important. Being a Christian is about the totality of our individual existence. The Epistle of James has been criticized at times by theologians. Luther and Calvin did not much like the Epistle. Luther called it a “straw epistle.” The name of Christ only appears in 2 verses. Those 2 verses are the only place one finds the name Jesus in the book. James writes much about works; and, theologians have long debated the theology of human work, especially the idea of works righteousness, “The view that human works can have a status before God and can contribute either fully or partially toward salvation.”
The Protestant Reformation rallied around Paul’s message to the Ephesians, “2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—” I think rightly so. But, I also believe that James is correct, “2:18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.“
Too often we create a false dichotomy in our minds and in our lives between faith and works. We somehow separate in our lives the words we say, the thoughts we have in our minds and the lives we live. I believe that James was correct, “2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.”
The first theologian I remember reading was Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The first of his books I read was initially published in English as The Cost of Discipleship. He coined two phrases there which have long stuck with me, “Cheap Grace” as opposed to “Costly Grace.” As I understand Bonhoeffer, cheap grace is the grace which we claim by merely saying, “I believe. Therefore, I am saved.” And . . . that’s . . . as . . . far . . . as . . . it . . . goes! Costly grace is the grace we claim in our realization that our faith, our belief in and acceptance of Jesus as the Christ changes our lives forever, even into Eternity.
Jesus talked about costly grace when he told us, “Luke 9:23 If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.” Faith transforms life; faith unites thoughts, words and actions into the Christian life.
Stay safe, live transformed lives, trust God,
Pastor Ray