pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Monthly Archives: November 2023


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The Presence of Grace

Reading: 1st Corinthians 1:3-5 and 8

Verse 5: “For in every way you have been enriched in God, in speech and knowledge of every kind.”

In this week’s Epistle text Paul writes about grace. Most simply put, grace is God’s presence in our lives. Paul begins by asking for God’s grace and peace to be with the Corinthian church. These two things often go hand in hand. God’s presence often brings a sense of peace to our lives. This peace is one of the marks of a Christian.

Paul then offers words of thanksgiving. He begins by offering thanks for the grace that is clearly evident in the lives of the people who make up this community of faith. This presence of God is what makes them stand out. It is that “there’s something different about you” that people notice when they’re around a person of faith.

As the church lives out its witness in Corinth, filled by and guided by the Holy Spirit (that’s God’s constant, indwelling presence), their lives are “enriched.” Paul notes that this enrichment is “in every way.” That’s the thing about grace – it doesn’t come and go. It is with us all of the time. This grace is evident in the ways that the church members speak and think. It is in their words and in the ways that they live out these words. It is in the strength that they exhibit in their lives. People around them notice this presence of God that permeates their lives.

If we too open ourselves up to the grace of God that is always present and is always available to us, we too will be blessed as we are filled with grace. It will fill us with strength and with guidance, empowering us to witness to our faith in Jesus Christ. Filled we too will live in such a way that others notice the grace and peace in us. May it be so today and every day.

Prayer: Lord God, pour out your presence into my heart and into my mind. Fill me with a grace and peace that overflows into the lives of all that I meet today. Equip me to witness well to your love today. Use me to be a connection point to you. Amen.


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Restore Us

Reading: Psalm 80:19 – ‭‭“Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.”

As the psalmist writes these words, loss is heavy upon the people. Written in about 700 BC, this lament most likely comes from the remnant, those who survived the fall of the northern kingdom. It was a brutal and sobering experience for the people of God. Prayers for restoration and salvation are ‘normal’ in times of great loss and deep grief.

When we’ve experienced a difficult loss, often our first hope is to go back to how it was. Soon, though, we come to the hard realization that this will not happen. Our loved one is gone, the job is forever lost, the dream will never materialize. This was the case for God’s people in Psalm 80. The siege and destruction and death and loss are irreversible. So these prayers for restoration and salvation are prayers that look forward. It is initially often very hard to look forward and to find hope in the immediate aftermath of a great loss. It is through faith alone that God’s light and love can begin to again shine in our darkness.

God promises to love us always, to be with us in all things. It is these promises that the psalmist clings to. It is with faith that he or she writes, “Restore us, Lord God Almighty.” Bring us new life. Bring hope into our hearts once again. “Make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.” Light our path, help us to take one step forward. Save us from our situation, from our pain and suffering, from our loss and grief. These are prayers of faith and trust. In times of loss, may these be our prayers and our hope.

Prayer: Lord God, there will be times of loss, pain, and grief. Some of us are in the midst of this season right now. In these moments and in these seasons, remind us again and again of your great love for us and of your desire for us to find hope and joy in this life. In our times of need, guide us to this place of faith and trust. Amen.


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Patiently, Attentively, Actively

Reading: Psalm 80:1-7 and 17-19

Verses 2-3: “Awaken your might; come and save us. Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.”

In this week’s Psalm the people of God are waiting to hear from God. The Psalm begins, “Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel.” They have lifted prayers to God and eagerly await God’s response. This is not like that text or email that we send that says, ‘Call me when you get a chance.’ This is lifting a prayer to God and then actively and attentively waiting for a response from God. Devotional writer Willie James Jennings beautifully describes it this way: “It is waiting inside a conversation that is happening inside a life with God.” The prayers of the psalmist and the prayers of the people are words offered within an intimate and personal relationship with the Lord.

At this point, as was the case in Isaiah’s passage yesterday, the Israelites feel or sense separation from God. Their sins have created this feeling. Sin isn’t the only thing to create a feeling of separation. Challenges that life throws at us can also cause these feelings. I think today of my beloved relationships. When I have caused hurt in these, I offer words of apology or healing and then I wait for a response. I don’t offer these words and then go off to do something else. I wait patiently and attentively.

The great plea offered in Psalm 80 comes in verses 2-3: “Awaken your might; come and save us. Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.” There are words of restoration and salvation in this plea. There is a hope and a trust that God will respond. These lead to waiting for God’s response, waiting patiently, attentively, actively with an open and obedient heart. In our moments and seasons when we feel separated and in need of restoration and salvation, may we too wait patiently, attentively, and actively.

Prayer: Lord God, I’m waiting here for you. In my distress and in my trial, I come to you seeking guidance and direction, a restoration to wholeness. Pour out your healing power, lay on the balm of your love. I will wait in hope and with trust in you, O God. Amen.


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Drawn Back

Reading: Isaiah 64:1-9

Verse 8: “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

Photo credit: Rainier Ridao

In ‭Isaiah‬ ‭64, God seems absent to Isaiah and to the people of God. The prophet longs for God to “rend the heavens and come down.” Isaiah longs for the people of God to once again know the God who “acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” When God has been known and then feels absent or withdrawn, one feels that. Life seems abnormal. We’ve all experienced this.

Isaiah recalls that God has indeed “come to help those who gladly do right.” When one lives faithfully and obediently, God is definitely active and present in one’s life. When we are aligned with God’s will and ways, it feels like we are walking closely with God. We too have experienced this.

Continuing on, Isaiah recognizes that the people have remained in their sin. They are “unclean” and right now “no one calls on God’s name.” They are out of alignment with God. They are not even seeking God. It is no wonder that God feels distant and disconnected. We too have experienced this.

Turning to verse 8, we find hope. Isaiah holds to a sure truth: God is present and just waiting to act. God does not abandon us ever. Speaking with hope and confidence Isaiah says, “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” God is yet there, ready and willing to shape and form the people back into who God created them to be. The prophet asks God to look upon them once again. Isaiah longs for restoration and reconnection. God is faithful. The people will be drawn back to God. We have experienced this too. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, when life leads me to question your presence or your love, when my choices or actions create a feeling of separation – draw me back to you. May the Holy Spirit call out my name; may my faith be rekindled, drawing me back to the only source of true life. Amen.


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Criteria

Reading: Matthew 25:31-46

Verse 45: “Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”

Today’s passage takes us to the end of this world as we know it. Jesus is sitting on the throne or on the judgment seat. In the opening verses we read that “all nations” will be gathered before him. Jesus will then separate those destined for heaven from those destined for hell. Even if we die before this day, we will still be judged worthy or unworthy of heaven.

It is interesting to me that both the sheep and the goats address Jesus as “Lord.” To me it feels like more than a polite title. It feels like even the goats thought they were worthy of inclusion in heaven. So what then is used to separate one from another?

In verses 35 and 36 Jesus lays out the criteria. In his own words it is whether or not one fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, invited the stranger in, clothed the naked, cared for the sick, and visited the imprisoned. Both groups want to know when they saw Jesus hungry, thirsty… The answer is pretty much the same to both the sheep and the goats. They each saw Jesus in “the least of these” – the outcast, the leper, the Samaritan, the tax collector, the woman at the well… Some chose to have compassion and to act to meet needs. Others did not.

The challenge of this passage is to ask where we fit. To which herd do we belong? Maybe we’d like to tell ourselves that this is just one of the many criteria that Jesus will use to judge us worthy or not. But what if it is the only criteria that he uses?

Prayer: Lord God, change my heart, O God. Raise up a compassion in me that sees and responds to needs consistently, not just when convenient or easy. Yes, change my heart, O God. Amen.


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More and More

Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23

Verses 22-23: “God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body.”

Photo credit: Shane Rounce

After opening his letter to the church in Ephasus with a reminder of their spiritual blessings, Paul offers words of prayer that they would live into these blessings. He has heard of their faith and love and he has prayed each day for them. This is not just a prayer of thanksgiving but it is also for growth and greater understanding. Paul wants to see their faith mature and deepen.

To this end, Paul prays for “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.” These abilities, enhanced by the Holy Spirit, will enable them to “know him better.” The “him” and the “he” that Paul keeps referring to is Jesus. Adding to head knowledge, Paul prays that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened.” Here Paul connects to the spiritual blessings that he wrote about in verses 3-14. With hearts open to fully receive, Paul prays for them to know the hope of their salvation, the glorious inheritance that is guaranteed by their adoption into the family of God, and the power that is theirs through Jesus Christ – the one who came to “bring all things in heaven and in earth together.”

Paul then reminds the Ephesians and us that God raised Jesus up and placed him “at his right hand,” giving Jesus full authority over all things. In verses 22-23 we read, “God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body.” There is a totality to Jesus’ reign. While this has not yet been fully realized, it will be a complete reality one day. In the interim, for the church in Ephasus and for the church today, our task is to live in such a way that makes this more and more of a reality day by day. May it be so for us all.

Prayer: Lord God, your desire is to be in all and over all and through all. You want to sit squarely on the throne of our hearts. You want us to give ourselves to you and to this world more and more each day. Yes, may it be so, O Lord. Amen.


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Love and Goodness

Reading: Psalm 100:4-5

Verse 5: “The Lord is good and his love endures forever.”

Returning to Psalm 100 today we are once again encouraged to praise the Lord our God. We are invited to be thankful as we enter into God’s courts to offer God our praises. The image created here is one of people entering the temple to spend time in worship, praising God for all of God’s blessings. We have inherited the idea of sabbath worship. We enter the sanctuary once a week to spend an hour or so in worship. During this time we praise God and we offer our thanks for the many ways that God has blessed our lives.

The danger in this system comes in doing to God what we do to the rest of our lives. We can segment God into that time slot on Sunday mornings. By noon we’ve done our God thing and we can get on to the next thing in our lives. This can be part of our tendency to compartmentalize our life. I go to work from x to y on these days. I parent my children in these times slots. I have a date night on the second Friday of each month… We can be so busy. Having times and places for each part of our lives feels easier to handle. It feels more manageable. But faith does not fit into this model. When we try and keep that “God thing” penned into a time slot once a week, then we are practicing religion not faith. Faith is meant to be a part of every aspect of our lives. God desires to be our all in all.

In verse 5 we get a sense of this desire. Here the psalmist writes, “The Lord is good and his love endures forever.” There is a reality here: God is always God. God’s love and goodness are always there. The challenge for us is to be and to bring God’s love and goodness into all of life. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, you are faithful to all generations. Your love and goodness are constants in this world. So, Lord, use me to reflect that love and goodness each moment of each day. In and through me, may others come to know you more and more. Amen.


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Generously and Graciously

Reading: 2nd Corinthians 9:6-15

Verse 13: “Men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ.”

On this Thanksgiving Day we read Paul’s words about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ “generously.” I wonder, is that how others would describe the way you and I live out the great commission to make disciples of all peoples?

Paul used a farming analogy to encourage how we answer that question about how we share the good news. He begins by telling us that if we sow sparingly, we will reap sparingly. A seed here and a seed there may produce a few plants. But we’re looking for a crop. A seedling here and there soon withers and dies. A crop grows to produce a harvest. Half-hearted or lukewarm or reluctant sharing of the good news will not result in a bumper crop. Non-believers must feel the intensity of our Jesus relationship. They must come to know that Jesus is the source of the love and grace and hope and peace and… that they feel and see when they encounter you and me.

We’re also reminded that we do not work alone. God supplies all that we need to sow seeds of faith generously in the world. Equipped by God, our task is to “abound in every good work.” When we live out our faith in this way, then “Men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ.” This can be our truth every day.

May we generously and graciously share the gospel of Jesus Christ with all that we meet. Doing so we will draw others to Christ. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, as we respond to your call to be sharers of the gospel, may your hand nurture the seeds we plant. As we bear witness to your love and grace with our lives, may your power produce an abundant crop for the transformation of the world. Amen.


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Giving Thanks

Reading: Psalm 100:1-3

Verse 3b: “It is God who made us, and we are God’s; we are God’s people, the sheep of God’s pasture.”

Psalm 100 is subtitled “A Psalm. For Giving Thanks.” in my home Bible. It is a fitting passage for today and tomorrow, for collectively offering our thanks for God’s blessings and presence in our lives and in our world. The psalmist begins by encouraging us to “shout for joy” and to “worship the Lord with gladness.” This is an encouragement that we need often.

We need to be reminded because life often happens in ways that can derail our joy and that can dampen our gratitude. Those unexpected twists and unwanted turns can leave us anything but thankful. It is precisely in these times that we need the words of Psalm 100 – especially verse 3.

Verse 3 begins with a reminder and a call: “Know that the Lord is God.” In all and through all and over all, God is God. God does not cause our hardship or difficult situation or unwanted change – these are part of life – but God does desire to be with us in all of life. By making the intentional choice to walk with God, we make our journey lighter, our road less rocky, our valley less challenging… because we are not alone.

The verse continues with these words: “It is God who made us, and we are God’s; we are God’s people, the sheep of God’s pasture.” This verse speaks of the deep connection and foundational relationship that we have with God. We are God’s and God is ours. We are the sheep of God’s pasture. God is our good and loving shepherd. In all and through all and over all, God is with us and we are with God. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, I rejoice in your love for us, your family. With joy and with thanksgiving I praise you for your presence in all of life. You chose us before our lives even began. You desire to walk with us every day. May we choose you always. Amen.


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Hear the Invitation

Reading: Ezekiel 34:20-24

Verse 22: “I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another.”

Continuing with the prophet Ezekiel today he first addresses those who are harming the flock. In verse 20 God declares that there will be judgment of “the fat sheep and the lean sheep.” The fat sheep are bullying the lean sheep. They shove and goad those with less power, less voice, less everything. In New Testament terms, the fat sheep are not loving their neighbors. They are, in fact, doing just the opposite. The rich and powerful are plundering the weak. God promises, though, to save the whole flock – the fat and lean alike.

Yes, God’s promise is to all the sheep. God promises both salvation and rescue. God foretells a time of judgment to come. These gifts from God are for all people. Some have accepted God’s grace and have entered into a personal, saving relationship with the Lord. Others sense God’s presence and can feel God reaching out to them but haven’t yet accepted the invitation. The open invitation remains there today. Our question is this: Who do we know that needs to once again hear the Invitation that Christ offers to all people?

Our Old Testament passage closes with the promise of a new king, of one from the line of David. Ezekiel isn’t speaking of the actual King David – he lived about 400 years before Ezekiel. He is speaking of one who will come from David’s line, from the root of Jesse. Ezekiel is speaking of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is speaking of the hope of all the world, the Messiah.

Prayer: Lord God, you are ever reaching out, ever seeking to walk in relationship with your creation. Thank you for the connection we have, for the relationship that daily guides our living. Use us to help others to know you as Lord and Savior, coming to know the power of salvation and the gift of grace. Amen.