Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed." -- Matthew 24:4-6

There has been speculation that because the Mayan calendar ends in 2012, that the world follows suit.  It's  fascinating how such a buzz was created over the possibility that then end could be near.  Countless false prophets through the ages have made predictions on the day that Christ would return, and their success rate of their predictions:  zero percent!   No one knows when or how it will come, or even it will come at all in the way we imagine it.  The point for us is to live recognizing that life is short, and that the end comes too soon for each of us.  When time is limited, it has a way of becoming more valuable.  Make wise use of it.  Worrying about it only wastes it.

Readings:  Exodus 21:22-23:13; Matthew 24:1-28; Psalm 29:1-11; Proverbs 7:6-23

"... keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart." -- Proverbs 7:1-3

Today, we have another section for memorization.  The writer of this Proverb impresses upon us the importance of writing these words and commands on the "tablets of our hearts".  Yesterday, we spoke of the law that God would have us know and live by: love-- love God, love others.  In the Old Testament readings today, we're presented with the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20).  They are:

1.  You shall have no other gods before me.
2.  You shall not make for yourself an idol int eht form of anything in heaven above or on earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them...
3.  You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God...
4.  Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy...
5.  Honor you father and your mother...
6.  You shall not murder
7.  You shall not commit adultery
8.  You shall not steal
9.  You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor
10.  You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor

Now... if you obey the Law (love God & others), would you be in a place to break the others?  Most likely not.

Readings:  Exodus 19:16- 21:21; Matthew 23:13-39; Psalm 28:1-9; Proverbs 7:1-5

"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." -- Matthew 22:37-40

This is one for memorizing.  In fact, this one little paragraph contains the essence of the Old Testament law in it.  In the Old Testament, there are 613 laws.   If you were a child in those days studying your Hebrew Scriptures, you would devote yourself to memorizing those 613 laws.  If you were to apprentice as a rabbi, you'd take on the "yoke" of your rabbi (his set of interpretations of the law), and set about preparing to teach them.  It was a life-long endeavor.  Jesus comes along, and makes it easy for all of us to be his students.  Most people when they read this, leave the last sentence out or skip over it, because they don't understand it.  This is Jesus' yoke:  one law in two parts.  Love God, love each other.  If you do this, you are doing the will of God and are being obedient.  All of the 613 laws are contained within.  Love God.  Love each other.   Simple, right?  While it's easy to remember, it still takes at least a lifetime to master.

Readings:  Exodus 17:8- 19:15; Matthew 22:34- 23:12; Psalm 27:7-14; Proverbs 6:27-35

"The Lord is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?" -- Psalm 27:1

While this text is written from the angle of physical protection for the writer in the context of battle, it can be looked at another way too.  There's something to the old saying, "it helps to know people".  Say you get yourself into a sticky situation after being mistaken for someone else who commits some sort of crime.  Because you are known by those investigating, it's clear to them that the criminal described by eyewitnesses isn't you.  Your relationship and reputation actually makes their job easier.  You don't have to fear, because you have nothing to hide from them.  Who you are has "illuminated" them about the situation.

When God is the one we serve, and we allow him to work in us and through us, our time and energy will be spent primarily on sharing his love with others.  If our motive in every relationship in which we find ourselves is to love, then what do we need to fear?  If we are being persecuted, let our response be one of love.  There can be no darkness where there is light, and sometimes, we're the ones called to carry the light into the dark places of life.  Let that love illuminate others and awaken them to the possibility of another way.  And remember when your own life seems dark, God is your light and your salvation.  No one can take that away.  Don't be afraid-- you have connections.

Readings:  Exodus 15:19-17:7; Matthew 22:1-33; Psalm 27:1-6; Proverbs 6:20-26

"There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush in to evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers." -- Proverbs 6:16-19

The things that God doesn't want to see from us as listed in this Proverb, read like a cast of characters in a movie about a group of schemers and connivers.  But the characteristics listed here aren't just found in  separate individuals.  They each lay within us, and they feed on one another when activated.  While I trust they are not traits that describe you faithful readers, it's important to realize that all humans have the capacity to go astray.  Stay clear of these and the people who embrace them.  Better to live an honest and  transparent life, as God designed.

Readings: Exodus 13:17-15:18; Matthew 21:23-46; Psalm 26:1-12; Proverbs 6:16-19

"The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, 'Hosanna to the Son of David,' they were indignant." -- Matthew 21:14-15

In this scene, Jesus has just recently arrived at the Temple and has turned it upside down.  In the paragraph preceding this one, Jesus establishes himself as the new sheriff in town when he turns over the tables of the money changers and creates a bit of chaos in the way he reminds people that the temple is a house of prayer.  By praying for people and healing them, he has brought restoration.  People's lives are being changed forever, there is a joyful spirit in the place.  But some are not happy.  When the chief priests and teachers of the law saw this, they were indignant.  This is the very dynamic that ultimately leads to Jesus being crucified.

Isn't it odd that when we have no power, we seem to thumb our nose at authority and celebrate the good that transcends it, but when the power is in our hands, we'll do whatever we can to stop that which threatens our control, even if it's filled with  promise and possibility?  Consider the current patent-buying rush going on today.  Money and power are falling over themselves to buy up patents to inventions that could make the world a better place, but threaten to kill existing cash cows.  Power and control are sacred only when we have it and are afraid to lose it.  Some tables just need to be overturned.

Readings:  Exodus 12:14- 13:16; Matthew 20:29- 21:22; Psalm 25:16-22; Proverbs 6:12-15

"Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest." -- Proverbs 6:6-8

When I was a child, like many other children, I waited for instruction on what to do from my teachers, parents, and other adult authorities in my world.  I did homework because I "had to".  I cleaned my room because my parents "made me".  I went to bed because I wasn't "allowed" to stay up.  At some point as a teenager I began to rebel, because I began doing things from a place of internal motivation.  I started a business, I read books, I began to set my own schedule for the most part.   My parents gave me the freedom to make more of my own choices, and the things that I didn't want to do, but had to anyway, became irritating interruptions.  When we work because we're externally motivated to do so-- because we have to-- it can be miserable.  Whether it's because parents or bosses tell us to do it, or we do it because we feel we have no choice because we have bills to pay, the obligation of it can suffocate.  But when we find joy in the work for its own sake, we can take pleasure in the very same tasks.  When we recognize the value of work, we can embrace it and be thankful for it-- not for the paycheck it might generate, but just for the task itself.  Don't be a sluggard.  You work by choice-- whether that's employment or just chores at home.  Embrace the work, enjoy the work, and thank God for it!

Readings:  Exodus 10:1-12:13; Matthew 20:1-28; Psalm 25:1-15a; Proverbs 6:6-11