pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Monthly Archives: August 2023


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God Will Deliver

Reading: Exodus 1:8-22

Verse 11: “They put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor.”

Time in Egypt rolls on. Joseph, his brothers, and all of their generation passes on. A new ruler comes to power. There is no connection to Joseph or his family or his people. All the new leader knows is that the Israelites are growing in number. Fear rises up. The Egyptians enslave the Israelites. In verse 11 we read, “They put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor.” But the more they worked them, the more the Israelites grew in number. The labor ramped up and “made their lives bitter.” The Pharaoh then tries to force the midwives to kill the baby boys. God guides them. The Israelites increase in number. A new law is passed as fear continues to rise. Even through this, God will deliver God’s people.

At times we can experience negative attention. It can be because of our faith or simply because of how we act. Both can be seen as a threat to the powers that be or to people we know. Other times our faith calls us to stand up for someone or to call out an injustice. These actions will surely draw fire as well. In these moments, God’s presence remains with us. The Spirit leads and guides us; it gives us courage and the words to speak. In Spirit, God walks with us. If we, like the people of God in Egypt, choose to trust into God’s plan, then the Lord will deliver us again and again. May it be so for us all.

Prayer: Lord, in this life you said we would find trouble. Our faith – when lived out loud in the world – it will draw fire. You promise to always be with us, to never forsake us. You’ve walked a long, long time with your children. Continue to walk with us. Amen.


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Steadfast and Resilient

Reading: Matthew 15:21-28

Verse 22: “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Photo credit: Rainier Ridao

Returning to Matthew’s gospel today we move from ‘clean and unclean’ to Jesus’ encounter with the Canaanite woman. She comes to Jesus seeking healing for her daughter. She is demon-possessed. The clean/unclean conversation centered on the condition of our hearts over and above the keeping of the traditions and the Law. In the culture of the day, we must recognize that a devout Jew would avoid engaging with a Gentile, especially with a woman.

This woman comes to Jesus and says, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!” She is acknowledging his power and his lineage. She is acknowledging his ability to do what she asks of him. She is so desperate for this ability to focus on her daughter that she ignores tradition and approaches Jesus. And Jesus ignores her. But she persists – enough that the disciples finally ask Jesus to send her away. They do not ask him to hear or to grant her request – just send her away. Jesus takes two runs at doing just that. Or is Jesus using this encounter as a way to show his disciples and others what a heart filled with faith looks like and can ultimately yield?

Pushing past these barriers and remaining steadfast in her faith in Jesus, she kneels at his feet and eventually receives praise from Jesus for her great faith. Her daughter is healed “that very hour.” This story is a great reminder to keep our faith strong no matter the barriers or obstacles we face, trusting in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As we are steadfast and resilient in our faith, we too will experience Jesus’ power.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the Canaanite woman’s example of great faith. Thank you for her example of brave faith too – a faith that overcame and triumphed. In those times when we feel things are against us, help us to remain faithful and true to you and to our faith. Amen.


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Irrevocable and Forever

Reading: Romans 11:29-32

Verse 29: “God’s gifts and God’s call are irrevocable.”

Photo credit: Shane Rounce

Paul writes today of the unmerited gift of God’s mercy. It is a mercy that has been present since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. Since that moment humanity has been sinful and fallen. We too stand in this long line of those who have received mercy and its companion, forgiveness. Instead of the punishment that our sin deserves, again and again we receive God’s mercy.

Writing to the church in Rome, Paul reminds them that “God’s gifts and God’s call are irrevocable.” He reminds them that they once were disobedient to God and yet received mercy. And he reminds them that others will be disobedient so that they too can have the opportunity to experience mercy. We, like the church in Rome, need this reminder. We, like the church in Rome, need to remember that all people are worthy of God’s love and therefore of God’s mercy. We, like the church in Rome, can become guardians and gatekeepers, wanting to limit or control who can enter the circle of God’s unmerited mercy.

The mercy of God is available for and is offered to all people. It was for the sinner then, it is for the sinners now, and it will be for all the sinners yet to come. Mercy is an abundant and generous gift, a gift that is irrevocable and forever. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, your mercies are new every morning – and every evening and every moment in between. Your mercy makes it possible to walk as a child of grace. Without this gift I’d be lost in my sin. So, thank you for your great love that extends mercy over and over. You are an amazing God! Amen.


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Out of the Heart

Reading: Matthew 15:10-20

Verse 18: “The things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.”

As Jesus calls the crowd to himself he is really unpacking the clash that he just had with the Pharisees. Chapter 15 opens with a question from the Pharisees: “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders?” This law-focused religious group is “concerned” that the disciples didn’t wash their hands before eating, making them ceremonially unclean. This is not following the traditions established by the ancient elders of the faith.

Gathering the crowd – which would still have included the Pharisees – Jesus tells them that it is not what goes IN the mouth that defiles. Food simply passed through our digestive system. The stomach… has nothing to do with the condition of our soul. Instead, Jesus teaches, it is what comes OUT of our mouth that can make one unclean. The heart has everything to do with the condition of our soul. When we sin, this is always rooted in what we’ve allowed to come into our heart. That seed of lust or envy or greed or pride or… has grown into a sin and as that makes its way out of our hearts, that is what makes us “unclean” or unfit for entering into God’s presence in worship.

Today we are not immune from forms of legalism. We can surely get caught up on whether or not someone did this ‘thing’ – like going to church every Sunday – rather than being concerned with the condition of their heart – how they are living out God’s love in their lives and in the world. Yes, communal worship is an essential part of a Christian’s faith and life. But sitting in a pew each Sunday does not make one a Christian. It is that good that fills and then flows out of the heart that reveals our connection to, our belief in, and our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, guard against the evils that I am tempted to allow into my heart. By that same power, lead me to fill my heart with the love and light of Jesus Christ. May this then be what flows out into the lives of all I meet. Amen.


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TBTG

Reading: Romans 11:1-2a: “I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew.”

Rejection. This is something that we can easily do to one another. Human beings can quickly find all sorts of reasons to reject someone: they were mean to me… they lied to me… they didn’t do what they said they’d do… they are not like me… they see things differently than I do… they believe things that I don’t… The list could go on and on. We’ve both rejected others and we’ve felt the sting of rejection. This is an intimate subject.

A couple of the things on the list above (and probably a few more) have created division between the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians in Rome. Paul spent all of chapter 10 discussing Israel’s unbelief. Most of the Jews did not accept Jesus as the Messiah. They rejected him. The issue creating the rift and the question that Paul addresses today is this: Has God, in turn, rejected Israel? “In turn” is often why we reject someone – they don’t like me so I don’t like them!

Paul answers the question emphatically: “By no means!” Thanks be to God, right? Thanks be to God because God has every right to ask all those things listed above about you and me. Regularly. Yet rejection does not follow. Paul writes, “God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew.” The key here is “whom God foreknew.” God designed us, knowing we’re imperfect. God created us for relationship with God, knowing we’re prone to sin and failure. Is God “sad” that people reject a relationship with God? For sure! But the door never closes. It is always open. Again we say, thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, I am so grateful for your grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness. Without these I’d have been lost forever years and years ago. Guide my response to be to live and be in this world this way too – seeing everyone as worthy and beloved. Use me as an example of your grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness. Amen.


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Community and Unity

Reading: Psalm 133

Verse 1: “How good and pleasant it is when [all] people live together in unity!”

Photo credit: Jon Tyson

In Psalm 133 David writes about unity and community. As we begin, though, let us recognize that these concepts have changed a great deal since David wrote these words. Note the [ ] as a glaring example of the difference between who is in our circle and who would’ve been in our circle. In the NIV Bible I use at home, this verse read “when brothers…”. The online version attached to this devo uses “God’s people…” Our understanding of God’s idea of unity and community has been growing very slowly but steadily over the eons of creation. One day perhaps we will grow to love so completely that a circle isn’t necessary any more.

In our world yet today there is division, barriers, walls, brokenness, exclusion, and many -isms that work against true unity and real community. All of these things work against the kind of community that God in Christ spoke of and sought to live out. Modernizing David’s words to reflect this idea of a world without anything that divides us from one another begins to reflect God’s love for all of creation.

The Christian understanding of unity and community should align with Jesus’ words and prayer about “being one” as the body of Christ. In today’s Disciplines devotional Bishop Mokgothu said it this way: “Living together is not just convenient tolerance and political correctness.” This is surface level unity and community. Christ calls us to a much deeper and more authentic living out of community and unity. It begins with real relationships and true acceptance of one another. From there it extends to include the “other” – the poor, the disenfranchised, the vulnerable, the outcast, the lost…

When this is how we practice unity and how we live in community then we will also live into the words of verse 3b: “There the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” O Lord, may it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, your vision and plan for unity and community is beautiful yet is still unfolding. It is based on a love as pure and generous as your unconditional love. Work in my heart today, O God, pushing my understanding and my practice of who is welcome in my circle. Make my love more like your love. Amen.


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To Preserve a Remnant

Reading: Genesis 45:5-15

Verse 7: “God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth.”

Photo credit: Tyler Milligan

As Joseph’s reunion with his brothers continues, he offers them words of assurance and encouragement. Joseph fully believes that it is God’s plan unfolding. He is 100% sure that God’s plan has both human and divine purposes.

There are a few human purposes. The first is to preserve lives. Joseph is placed in mighty Egypt, in a country with large enough resources to grow and store enough extra food to sustain themselves and others during 7 years of famine. That is a monumental task. God gifted and directed Joseph to orchestrate this massive food program. Without Joseph there it is unlikely that any of this would’ve happened. And God sent Joseph ahead to be in a spiritual place to offer grace and forgiveness to his brothers. The trials and sufferings accompanied by the joys and victories have readied his heart to reconcile with his brothers.

As amazing as this all is, there was a greater purpose being worked out: “God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth.” Everything that has happened is wonderful. But the main purpose was to preserve a remnant of God’s people to keep alive God’s covenant promises. The family of Israel moves to Egypt and not only survives but thrives. They become a great nation. This is ample proof of God’s love for Israel.

Today I look at the church and the word remnant comes to mind. God and faith seem to have less and less space in our collective hearts. The church’s influence feels in decline. Yet God is faithful. In the end we know that Jesus returns and makes all things new. Evil does not win. This brings to mind a question: How is God using you and me to preserve a remnant that will ultimately triumph over all?

Prayer: Lord God, you are faithful and true. Not a word has gone out or will go out from your lips that isn’t forever. Give us hope. Encourage us as we seek to be your faithful disciples here on earth. Amen.


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Restore, Reconcile

Reading: Genesis 45:1-4

Verse 3: “His brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.”

In chapter 45 of Genesis, Joseph finally reveals who he is to his brothers. In the previous 3 chapters he has demonstrated his power and might. Joseph has used his position of authority to both provide for and to test his brothers’ hearts. The brothers have felt totally powerless before this man who is second in command in all of Egypt. As chapter 44 closes it is Judah (the one who came up with the idea to sell Joseph to the traveling merchants) who begs for mercy, offering himself up in place of Benjamin. Judah tells Joseph that losing a second son would kill his father.

The willingness to sacrifice self for others finally breaks Joseph. He clears the room and sobs wildly before his brothers, so overwhelmed is he by this act of courage and love. Joseph then reveals his identity to his brothers. In the text we see their reaction: “His brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.” How they must’ve feared for their lives. What revenge would he seek? What justice would he extract from them?

Joseph does not want to punish. He wants to restore and reconcile. He wants a new relationship with his brothers. This type of love and mercy and grace and forgiveness is modeled for us almost 1,600 years later as Jesus offers these gifts from the cross. Even to those who treated him so, Jesus offers grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness. These are the first steps towards a new and right relationship. Through Christ, God desires a relationship with you and with me. Through Christ we are offered restoration and reconciliation. May these, in turn, be offered outward as we strive to truly love our neighbors today and every day.

Prayer: Lord God, what love and grace are modeled for us first in Joseph today and then ultimately in Christ Jesus. What depth of mercy and forgiveness that you offer to me, a sinner. As you continue to change my heart, O God, use me more and more to spread abroad your love and grace, your mercy and forgiveness. Amen.


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Beautiful Feet

Reading: Romans 10:14-15

Verse 14b: “And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?”

Returning to Romans 10 today, Paul follows up his proclamation that “all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved” with a few questions. While we hope that Peter’s proclamation will one day include all people everywhere, the reality is that many people do not have the opportunity to call on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This middle question in verse 14 really resonated with me: “And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” Really, how can they?

Many years ago Christians read this question and thought of places like Africa. While Africa remains a place of mission today, this question increasingly applies to where we live. Faith is no longer a guiding force in our nation and in most of our communities. Today we are living in the post-Christian era. In the US and in Europe church and faith are on the decline. Just 2 generations ago almost everyone went to church each Sunday. Today 1 Sunday a month is considered “regular” attendance. On any given Sunday about 17% of the population is in church. We have many people in our communities who are disconnected from faith in Jesus Christ.

Yes, as Paul writes, those who preach and those sent on mission are important parts of the faith process. But the heart and soul of faith and of the church remains those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It is these folks who put on Christ and go forth, taking Jesus with them to work, to school, to the neighbor next door. This is how non-believers get to know Jesus. This is how the lost hear the good news of Jesus Christ. May we all have beautiful feet this week.

Prayer: Lord God, move us all out into the world as your love, being poured out into the lives of those we meet. Use each of us to make Jesus Christ known. Use each of us to proclaim the good news every day. Amen.


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Faith Rises Up

Reading: Matthew 14:24-33

Verse 27: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

As Jesus sent the disciples off across the lake all seemed well. Jesus often went away to pray. But what began as a simple journey across the lake became a scary and dangerous situation. “Life” can happen like this to us too. We’re sailing along and all of a sudden we’re in the middle of a storm. The storms of life can be physical, relational, emotional, spiritual, or a combination of these. As it was with the disciples, fear and doubt and worry often arise in our storms.

Late into the night, when the wind and the waves have been against them for a long time, the disciples first see Jesus as a ghost. He has not been their focus so far. If he was, they’d have recognized him. Speaking into their storm, Jesus says, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” He encourages them with his presence. With him they can find courage – and hope. Both come with Jesus’ presence. So they do not need to fear or doubt or worry. Once again in his presence, their faith rises up against the storm. This allows Peter to step out onto the waves.

In the midst of our inevitable storms, when will we choose to look for Jesus? He will be there from the start because he is always with us. When we choose to look past the wind and the waves, when we choose to look beyond our fears and doubts and worries, we will instantly be in Jesus’ presence. There, our faith will rise up. In his presence we too can step out onto the waves, knowing that we are not alone. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, in my storms may I choose to turn to you as the wind and waves rise up. Lead me to look to you before the fears, doubts, worries… climb high. Grant me the courage to trust into your presence and to reach out to you. Amen.