pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!


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Everything We Do

Reading: Matthew 23:1-7

Matthew 23:5a – “Everything they do is for show.”

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Today and tomorrow Jesus teaches about leadership. While his focus is the religious world, his teaching applies to all kinds of leadership: parenting, coaching, banking, engineering… Jesus begins by recognizing the religious leaders’ and Pharisees’ area of expertise. They are the “official interpreters of the Law.” They have studied long and hard to hold those positions. They are good at this, Jesus says, so he instructs the crowd and his disciples to “practice and obey whatever they tell you.” Yes, love God, honor your mother and father, practice the Sabbath ways…

But. But there is a problem. Jesus continues, saying, “But don’t follow their example.” The religious leaders do not walk the walk. Yes, they do talk the talk. They pile on and pile on religious demands – laws made by man, not by God through Moses. But they do not help the people to meet these “unbearable” demands. At the start of verse 5, we read this summary indictment: “Everything they do is for show.” They tell others to love God, but they love themselves.

In the rest of verse 5 through verse 7, Jesus offers examples. They put little fish stickers on their cars then wave angry fists at those who cut them off in traffic. They gossip at the cafeteria tables as they wear their Jesus t-shirts and crosses. They “encourage” Sunday worship but neglect their own personal daily quiet time. They speak of humble service but are always first in line. Yes, in many ways we can talk the talk while failing to walk the walk.

We are always leading. We might not be up front with the microphone, but we are always setting an example, always communicating a message. Religion can have many “rules.” Faith leads with love. If we love God and all of our neighbors really well, if this is our consistent messaging, then everything we do will be for God’s glory. My friends, may it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, as we seek to be witnesses to our faith, make us genuine, humble, honest, transparent. Help us to strive to love you with all that we are. Then, God, pour this love out into others. Thank you. Amen.


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The Power to Transform

Reading: 1st Thessalonians 2:9-13

1st Thessalonians 2:12 – “We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy.”

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In the week’s Epistle reading, the call is to live a life worthy of God’s call. As we witness to our faith, our words, actions, and thoughts should reflect God’s love and our calling to the world. In the first four verses, Paul reminds the Thessalonians of the example that he and his co-workers set for them. They were bi-vocational, working a job so that they did not burden these new believers. Paul and friends were “devout… honest… faultless” towards the believers. They treated those new to the faith as a father would treat their children. In this role, Paul and his fellow workers “pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy.” They walked alongside the Thessalonians until they were ready to walk on their own.

Paul wrote this letter to the church in Thessalonica. God’s plan went far beyond that. The words he wrote and the example he set have given guidance to generations of countless believers. We stand in that line of faith. We too are to live out our call to make disciples of Jesus Christ by being devout, honest, and faultless. We are charged with walking alongside new believers, encouraging, challenging, and urging them on in their walk of faith. We are to lift them up, not to place burdens on them.

In the last verse of today’s reading, Paul gives thanks to God for the fruit of their ministry in Thessalonica. There is fruit because the believers heard Paul’s words and his co-workers’ words not as mere human words but as the word of God. Yes, the words came out of human mouths but the Spirit of God gave the words the power to change hearts and lives. And the Spirit continued to work in the new believers, empowering them to live out their faith. This is a good reminder to us. As we seek to live out our call and to witness to our faith, we too can trust that the power to transform lives comes not from us or from our efforts. The same Spirit of God will be at work, moving hearts and transforming lives. For this we say, thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, strengthen and encourage us. Lift us and prod us on. Fill us with the words to speak. Guide us in the actions to take. In all things, may our lives and our witness bring you the glory. Amen.


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Constant Presence

Reading: Psalm 107:33-37

Psalm 107:33 and 35 – “He changes rivers into deserts… But he also turns deserts into pools of water.”

Psalm 107 began yesterday with praise for times of redemption, with a call to tell others about these times, and with a reminder of how God rescues us when we wander. Today, in verses 33-37, we are reminded that our actions (or inactions) also play a role in how we perceive God’s presence in our lives. The words of the psalmist are set within their general  understanding of how God “worked” at that time. To do or be good brought God’s blessings. To sin or do evil brought God’s wrath and punishment. This context is important as we seek application today.

Verses 33-35 represent the second scenario or understanding of God. When the people of God persisted in their sin, refusing to listen to the prophets that God sent their way, then they were sent into exile. “He changes rivers into deserts.” Lives were lost, cities lay in ruin, many were hauled away to live in foreign lands. Their faith became as dry as a desert. God felt far away. We experience these things. In the middle of a dark valley or time of wandering, our faith can begin to feel dry and then it feels like God is far away.

Then in verses 35-37, God is present. God restores. “But he also turns deserts into pools of water.” For Israel, the God who has been present all along “suddenly” acts. In reality, Israel’s time in exile slowly changed them. God was working all along. Slowly but surely, in small ways, the people returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt both lives and faith. In the same way, God becomes present to us in our dark valleys and dry seasons, working to bring us back to faith. Light and life return to our day to day walk. Suddenly it seems that God is there again.

But when we take time to reflect back on both scenarios, on felt absences and on real presence, we can see how God was there all along. With these reflections, our faith grows and we learn how to see God in the small ways, not just in the valley but all the time. Thanks be to God for the constant presence and the faithful love.

Prayer: Lord God, we are grateful for your constant presence in our lives. In the times when our sin separates us from you, nudge us towards conviction, confession, and repentance. When life creates a sense of separation, whisper into our hearts and ears, assuring us that you are there in the desert or valley. Thank you. Amen.


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Good, Faithful, Love

Reading: Psalm 107:1-7

Psalm 107:1 – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever!”

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Psalm 107 speaks of how God rescues us when we are in need of help. Today we read of how God rescues wanderers. The next three sections speak of other kinds of rescue. If you are in need of God’s rescue, then read on past verse 7. Find hope and promise in the word of God.

The Psalm begins with a declaration and an invitation. In verse 1 we read, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever!” God is indeed good. And, yes, God’s love will never end. Even after all is made new when Jesus returns, God’s faithful love will pervade the new heaven on earth. Evidence of God’s goodness and love comes in verses 3-7. But first, in verse 2, we are asked a question: “Has the Lord redeemed you?” Anyone who has walked with the Lord for very long will answer, “Yes!” If so, may we follow the instructions that come next: “Then speak out!” May we tell others of the ways that God has rescued and redeemed us, opening hearts and minds to the ways that God might transform their lives too.

In verses 4 and 5 we read of some who need rescued: the lost, the homeless, the hungry, the thirsty. We’ve all been these things. If not physically then certainly spiritually, emotionally, relationally. When we’ve cried out for help, God has rescued us. When we cry out again, we trust that God will rescue us again, just as God rescued Israel again and again and… We have been and know that we will be guided to safety – and to connection, hope, strength… May this be the story we tell. God is good. God’s faithful love lasts forever. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, again and again you have been faithful and good to us. We’ve known your love and the rescue that you bring. Lead us to tell others our stories, helping them to see how your goodness and love can transform their lives too. Guide us to continue to trust in you and to seek your rescue and redemption in our own times of need. In you is all of our hope. Amen.


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Come and Listen, Trust and See

Reading: Joshua 3:7-17

Joshua 3:9-10 – “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says. Today you will know that the living God is among you.”

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Our reading today begins with God assuring Joshua that God is with him, just as God was with Moses. Because of this promise, Joshua will be a “great leader” too. This assurance is quickly followed by some testing. God instructs Joshua to instruct the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant to step into the Jordan River. It is at flood stage. These instructions test both Joshua and the priests. Will Joshua issue this difficult instruction? Will the priests trust that God is with Joshua? What “rivers” might God be asking you to step into or to cross in order to witness to your faith in God?

Joshua calls all the Israelites together, just as Moses had done many times. Joshua says to them, “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says. Today you will know that the living God is among you.” God will be present. God will make a way: clearing their enemies, parting the waters, guiding the people of God forward into a land of abundance. Each tribe is to choose a man to represent their tribe: a leader. As the story continues, after all have crossed over, these men will take a stone from the place that the priests stood in the middle of the river. These stones will be piled up to be a memorial to God’s power and presence. This memorial will be a tangible reminder of this God moment.

When I moved to the church I’m now serving, two good friends gave me a small jade plant. On the pot they wrote, “Bloom where you’re planted!” New things are hard. It was the middle of COVID. Their encouragement helped me to trust into God’s power and presence. That small plant now fills a large rectangular planter. It is a sign of God’s faithfulness. It is a sign of trust. As you step into your “river,” trust that God goes with you. And look for a sign or symbol to take with you as a reminder of God’s power and presence.

Prayer: Lord God, inspire us today to come and listen, to trust and to see that you are good. Open our eyes and hearts to the guidance of your Holy Spirit. Give us the trust to step where you are leading and are already present in power. Amen.


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Images

Reading: Matthew 22:41-46

Matthew 22:42 – “What do you think about the Messiah?”

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After answering the Pharisees’ question about the greatest commandment, Jesus asks them a question. It is interesting to note the phrase “surrounded by the Pharisees.” Matthew implies that every single Pharisee is there that day. In your mind’s eye, can you picture Jesus standing there, surrounded by a large group of men in religious robes? And a second question: in the picture you created in your mind, what did Jesus look like?

Jesus asks the Pharisees, “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They know the answer given in the scriptures. The Messiah will come from the line of David, their greatest king. They know that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem, the city of David. They know… And they know that this man standing in their midst cannot be the Messiah. The Romans are still there. Israel hasn’t been restored to greatness and glory.

Correcting them, Jesus quotes from Psalm 110, verse 1. The Messiah, the one David called “my Lord,” will be greater than David. But Jesus, what could be greater than restoring Israel to greatness and power? That is the Messiah that the Pharisees have in their mind’s eye as they image a time in the near future. Do you think they saw a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Jesus standing triumphantly? This image is likely what most of us saw in our mind’s eye as we pictured Jesus amongst the Pharisees.

Returning to Jesus’ question, “What do you think about the Messiah?,” how would we answer this question? The temptation is to shape Jesus into something or someone that meets our needs, our wants, and our expectations. This Jesus really loves us. But yesterday we were reminded that the call is to love God with all that we are and to love our neighbors more than ourselves. This is the Messiah that laid down his life in humble obedience, loving us enough to suffer and die for us. This is the model and example that we are to follow. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, our images of Jesus tend to make him into our image. Remind us that the reverse is true: we are made in your image and therefore in his image. Guide us to live with the correct order. Lead us to hold Jesus as the Lord of our lives. Amen.


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Supply for the Demand

Reading: Matthew 22:34-40

Matthew 22:40 – “The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

The Pharisees come to Jesus with a trapping question. One of them, “an expert in religious law,” steps forward. The Pharisees, a legalistic and exclusive religious group, have classified the Law. In this process, some laws of God were deemed more important than others. This group had become so focused on keeping the letter of the law, they neglected the call for Israel to be a blessing to the world. A representative from this group asks Jesus what the most important command is.

Jesus’ response focuses in on the command to love. This action, at its essence, is who God is. It is what Jesus sought to be in the world. Quoting from Deuteronomy and Leviticus, Jesus does identify the two most important commandments, tying them together. One must love God with all that they are and one must love neighbor at least as much as you love yourself. Just as it was with Jesus, these commands define our mission on earth. That is why Jesus concludes with, “The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

We live in a world where it often feels like love is in short supply. There is oppression and war, injustice and broken systems all around. People are lonely and are living outside of community. Because of these things, many question if they are even worthy of love. Here is where faith can meet the harsh realities of this world. God’s will is to build blessed community, to bring justice and wholeness, to love all people so that all will know that they are the beloved of God. Love has the power to change lives and the world. Because it is in short supply, there is great demand. May we be people who love God with all that we are as we strive to love all of our neighbors more than ourselves.

Prayer: Lord God, oh to be love in the world. We know what it feels like to be loved unconditionally by you. Use us, then, to help others know this feeling. Use us to meet the great demand for love. Amen.


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The Commitment

Reading: 1st Thessalonians 2:5-8

1st Thessalonians 2:8 – “We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s good news but our own lives, too.”

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Moving on today to the rest of this week’s Epistle reading, Paul continues to review his visit to Thessalonica. He is doing so as a way to refresh these new believers’ understanding of how to disciple others. Because we read these words today they are instructive to us as well.

Paul and his co-workers did not try flattery as a means to bring people to Jesus. Their words and actions stayed focused on the truth revealed in and through Jesus Christ. Speaking the good news honestly and directly, Paul and his companions earned the Thessalonians’ trust. To further this trust and to deepen their connections to these new believers, the apostles did not seek financial gain or human praise. Without any hidden agendas, Paul and his co-workers could keep the focus on God’s message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

To the Thessalonians, Paul and his companions were gentle and caring, “like a mother feeding and caring for her children.” The intimate nature of this family relationship is what Paul and his co-workers for Christ sought to build with these new believers. In verse 8 we learn more about this effort and about true discipleship. Here we read, “We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s good news but our own lives, too.” The commitment begins with love. It is the foundation of all relationships. The apostles’ commitment went far beyond preaching or sharing God’s message. It got down into the day to day living of life, to an intertwining of lives. Paul and his companions were there, sharing all of themselves with these new believers. The apostles lived out the words that they were preaching. When life gets hard, when the valley gets dark, when tragedy or hardship strike, are we right there with those we are sharing the good news with? May that be the commitment we make as we seek to bring others to Jesus’ saving love and grace.

Prayer: Lord God, as we share our faith with others, may they first sense our love for them. Help us to reveal it in the ways that we keep showing up and keep engaging in the struggles as well as in the joys. Reveal it in the ways we walk alongside others through all of life and in the ways that we pour ourselves into their lives. Through our love may others know your love. Amen.


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God Knows

Reading: 1st Thessalonians 2:1-4

1st Thessalonians 2:4b – “Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.”

Who we really are tends to rise to the surface when we are tested. It is easy to create a certain image on Facebook or TikTok or even on a television channel. We can report only what we want to report, doing so in ways that paint the picture that we want to reveal. And yet at our core we know who and what we are. God knows too. We can pretend. We can “believe” the lies that we tell ourselves. We can be different people in different settings. Deep down we know who and what we are – if we’re honest with ourselves. God always knows.

Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians shifts in chapter 2. The first chapter was all about the faithfulness of this new community of believers. In chapter 2 Paul reminds them of his visit. It was successful. The fruit of their faith is both evident and well-known. (See chapter 1.) Paul then reminds them of the courage it took to continue preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. He and Silas had been put to the test. They were persecuted and put into prison in Philippi. Released, they did not retreat. No, they moved forward, on to Thessalonica, where they preached boldly. There was no deceit or trickery. Even those in the church today can paint the picture or tell the story in ways that cater to a certain audience or soften the red letters in the Bible, making Jesus something he’s not.

Not Paul. He has been tested. He has suffered. And still he proclaims the good news of Jesus Christ. Why? The reason is found in verse 4b. Here we read, “Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.” God knows why Paul preaches. God knows Paul’s heart. Paul always keeps the first thing first: Jesus. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, help us to be real – mostly real with ourselves because then we are more likely to be real with others. You know us inside out. You wove us together in the womb. You designed us with certain purposes in mind. Examine our hearts and shape our motives so that who and what we are aligns with your plans and purposes for our lives. Give us courage and strengthen us for the day ahead. Amen.


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Love Poured Out

Reading: Psalm 90:13-17

Psalm 90:14 – “Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy at the end of our lives.”

Credit: Rebecca Gelaney

Continuing in the Psalm of Moses, we jump to verses 13-17. These verses reveal the ebb and flow of connection to God. In the opening verse Moses asks a question we often ask in times of hardship or suffering: How long? This question is fueled by the feeling that God is not present or, worse yet, is absent. Moses cries out for God to act and, by doing so, to become tangibly present. In reality, God is always with us. God is always present.

Hope and presence return to Moses in verse 14, where he writes, “Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy at the end of our lives.” This is a request for daily presence with proof: joy. Every morning, joy. It is good to awaken each morning, to connect into and to sense God’s presence, to allow the joy to well up within us. To seek this joy and to hold tight to God each day keeps us walking in faith. And it works against us yearning for or returning to our former years, to a time of misery and evil. Those “old self” things pull at us even as we are walking in faith. Yes, Lord, fill us with joy and gladness and good!

Moses closes with an eye to the future. He wants the children, the next generation, to see God’s hand at work. This builds their foundation of faith. The prophet closes with a double request to “make our efforts successful.” God has walked with Moses and with the Israelites. He desires to see this continue, so that Israel will be blessed with joy and gladness and faith. We also desire for faith to grow in our children and one day to be passed on to the next generation. O Lord, may it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, pour your love into our hearts every morning, filling us with joy and presence, with hope and trust. Take that love and all that comes with it, O God, and pour it out into others – our children, our brothers and sisters in Christ, our friends, and, yes, even into the stranger on the street. Amen.