pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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God Who Is Near

Reading: Acts 17:22-28

Acts 17:27-28 – “In fact, God isn’t far away from any of us. In God we live, move, and exist.”

In Acts 17 Paul acclimates himself to Athens, walking around, observing, listening. Eventually he engages in conversation. Unfortunately his speaking leads to being taken into custody. Paul is brought before the council. Fortunately these men are part of the crowd who “spend their time doing nothing but talking about or listening to the newest thing.” Taking his opportunity, Paul addresses the council and those gathered on Mars Hill.

Paul begin by acknowledging their very religious nature, commending them for this. He then notes that while walking around, looking at all of their objects of worship (idols,) he found one that read, “To an unknown god.” Because he is connecting to who and what the Athenians are and believe in, he can then speak words that might resonate. Establishing this positive connection, Paul introduces his “new thing.”

This “unknown god” Paul says, let me tell you about him. Paul says this to the council just as we could say it to anyone seeking God, whether they know it or not. Paul declares his God to be the maker of all creation. Countering their idolatry indirectly, he states that his God doesn’t live in temples and isn’t made by human hands. His God is far above humans in this sense but this God also created people to reach out, to seek and find him. Paul’s God is a God of relationship. Continuing this line of thinking, Paul adds, “In fact, God isn’t far away from any of us. In God we live, move, and exist.” Paul’s God – and our God – wants to know us and to be known by us. This God who dwells in our hearts, this God of relationship, this God loves us and all of creation. May this be the God that we know and follow, that we reflect to the world.

Prayer: Lord God, give us eyes to observe, minds to consider, ears to listen, and lips to speak. Use us as you used Paul, to meet folks where they are at, to connect to them personally, just as you seek to do with us. Use us to connect seekers to you, the one true God. Amen.


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The Path We Choose

Reading: Ezekiel 18:30-32

Ezekiel 18:30 – “Turn, turn away from all your sins. Don’t let them be sinful obstacles for you.”

In today’s passage Ezekiel addresses individual responsibility. Yes, the bad shepherds led Israel and then Judah into sin and then exile. Yes, they set a poor example for those living under their care. Yes, these actions made it easier for the common people to go astray and to wander away from God. But at the most basic, individual level, each person has to choose to remain faithful to God or to live selfishly and sinfully. The same is true today. You, me, all of us – we are in control of ourselves. We alone choose the path that we walk.

Verse 18 opens our reading with this reminder: “I will judge each of you according to your ways.” In this life and in the moment that we stand before our Creator, God will judge us on what we alone did or did not do, say, and think. Therefore, God says, “Turn, turn away from all your sins. Don’t let them be sinful obstacles for you.” Make a better choice, a holier decision. This is a call to repent, to change our ways. Our sins are very much obstacles to a healthy and whole relationship with God and with one another. God calls us to “abandon” our sins.

God encourages the faithful to “make yourselves a new heart and new spirit.” While it is with God’s power alone that this is possible, we must take the first step by turning away from our sin. This choice is essential to the transformation that God can and desires to work in us. The passage closes with the clear cut options. One is stated and one is implied. God declares, “Change you ways, and live!” The opposite is also true, also an option. May we choose faith so that we can truly live.

Prayer: Lord God, while the way that leads to life is narrow, this path is filled with joy and peace, with hope and grace, with love. The path of the world, the path of destruction, it is wide and filled with greed, with pride, with envy and want. Guide us to walk your narrow way, for there you walk with us. Lead us to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, finding strength and encouragement for our journey. Amen.


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A Good Shepherd

Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12 and 20-31

Ezekiel 34:27 – “They will be safe on their fertile land, and they will know that I am the Lord when I break the bars of their yoke.”

Photo credit: Ronnie Khan

Chapter 34 begins with the denouncement of Israel’s current leaders. What was the case before exile has continued in exile. God through Ezekiel pronounces doom on these poor leaders for living in luxury while ignoring the weak, the sick, the injured, the strays, the lost. There are many injustices so the flock scattered and then became prey. God promises to hold these bad shepherds accountable.

Beginning in verse 11, God offers the remedy. Here God proclaims: “I myself will search for my flock and seek them out… I will rescue them…” God will gather the scattered and care for the weak, the sick, the injured… As we continue in our reading we see that God will judge between the “fat and lean” sheep – between those living in luxury and those who struggle to survive.

God promises restoration, a new era. A David-like ruler will be appointed and a new covenant of peace will be established. Rains of blessing will pour down. Oppression and injustice will be no more. In verse 27 we read, “They will be safe on their fertile land, and they will know that I am the Lord when I break the bars of their yoke.” Without the yoke of oppression and injustice, there will be peace. There will be no famine; there will be no disgrace.

While the bad shepherds ignored these words of judgment, these words would offer great hope to the weak, the sick, the injured… to those living on the margins and edges. These words feel very relevant today. As injustices scatter people, as oppression sits heavy on others, as callous acts increase hunger, the people of God long for a good shepherd – not just for ourselves but also for the least of these among us. God’s children long for the rains of blessing and for a time of peace and grace. O God, may it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, you’ve always, always, always had a heart for the weak, the sick, the injured… You’ve always, always, always called for the faithful to join you in your care for the least of these. Lord, bridge the huge gulf between our reality and your preferred future. Use us to be a part of that bridge, each in our own ways caring for the weak, the sick, the injured… for the scattered and the oppressed. Amen.


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Shepherd of the Flock

Reading: John 10:11-16

John 10:14 – “I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me.”

Photo credit: Patrick Schneider

In the agrarian society of Jesus’ day, he often spoke in ways that connected to this reality. Sheep in particular are a common subject in Jesus’ teachings. He comes by this naturally. In tomorrow’s reading God identifies as “the good shepherd” too!

For the most part, Jesus attracted a crowd from the lower levels of society. “Blue collar” folks and people who lived on the edges were drawn to Jesus. His normal audience would be familiar with his shepherd imagery. Jesus states two times in this passage that he is the “good shepherd.” In the first instance, he declares that he will “lay down his life for the sheep.” He will not run away because the sheep truly matter to him. He will face the cross.

The second time, Jesus says, I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me.” Here Jesus is speaking into the intimacy between shepherds and their sheep. Sheep learn the voice of their shepherd(s) and will only follow the voice(s) they know. Jesus sets the example in the ways that he follows God’s voice. He calls his sheep to do the same. Jesus then reiterates the fact that he will give his life for the sheep. In this spirit we too are called to sacrifice for others.

Jesus then extends the circle to include those who are not yet following him. Here Jesus is referring to both Jews and Gentiles, which really is another way of saying “all people.” Jesus longs to be known by all people, to shepherd them in his love. One day, may this be so, O Lord.

Prayer: Lord God, you lead us beside still waters and into green pastures. You provide rest and you offer sustenance. You protect us and you guide us. When we wander, you find us and bring us back home. You gave everything for us and continue to do about anything to keep us in the flock and to add to the flock. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.


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Breathing New Life

Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-11

Ezekiel 37:6 – “When I put breath in you, and you come to life, you will know that I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel witnessed Nebuchadnezzar’s siege and defeat of Jerusalem. He saw the leaders and then many others, himself included, taken away into Babylonian exile. Judah, like Israel to the north, was devastated. The temple was destroyed. Their relationship with God has been broken by their sin. Living in exile, hope was growing very thin and despair grew daily.

In chapters 33-36 Ezekiel begins to speak of redemption and restoration. He writes of changing their ways and of receiving a “new heart.” He leans into the image of God as the good shepherd who promises to rescue and protect the sheep. Speaking to the mountains of Israel, God through Ezekiel promises that the cities will be rebuilt and inhabited. Even with all of these hopeful words spoken, for those living in exile, the despair felt too great. Was all this even possible? Could God do it? Our passage today is God’s response to these questions.

In chapter 37 Ezekiel is taken in spirit to a valley full of very many dry bones. God asks the prophet if he thinks the bones can live. (Talk about impossible, right?) Ezekiel responds, “Lord God, only you know.” God says they can. After coming together, God adds sinew, flesh, and then skin. Then God says to the bodies, “When I put breath in you, and you come to life, you will know that I am the Lord.” Through Ezekiel’s words, new life enters the bones, “an extraordinarily large company.” They stand in the valley, as if waiting. God then tells Ezekiel (and therefore Israel), “Human One, these bones are the entire house of Israel.” God will restore and redeem not just some of God’s people. God will restore and redeem all of God’s people.

In our dry seasons of faith, in our times of sin and separation from God, in our experiences in the wilderness and in exile, God longs to redeem and restore us, to breath new life into our faith. O God, may it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, you will stop at nothing, you will do anything, you will try everything in order to bring us back into right relationship with you. This is true no matter how far we’ve run, no matter how deep we’ve fallen, no matter how long we’ve wandered. Thank you for your unconditional love and your unfailing grace. Amen.


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New Life in Christ

Reading: Romans 7:4-6

Romans 7:6 – “We have died with respect to the thing that controlled us, so that we can be slaves in the new life under the Spirit.”

As we begin this week focusing on having lips to speak and ears to listen, we begin in Romans 7. In our walk of faith, one of our greatest struggles is often choosing what voice(s) to listen to. For Christians this struggle often centers around what the world or our culture tries to tell us. This voice tells us that “things” matter most: wealth, power, status… Our inner being, “self,” can be drawn into this narrative because we are innately selfish, greedy, prideful…

In today’s passage Paul writes about choosing new life in Christ instead of trying to live under the Law of Moses. For devout Jews at this time following the Law was almost all that mattered: offer this sacrifice, say that prayer, attend the festival, give, worship. On the surface these can sound and can be good. But when one’s faithfulness to the rules leads to judging and rigidity in things like compassion, empathy, and service, then it can become a bad thing. And failing to uphold the Law led to a guilt and a shame that the Law could not remove.

Paul shares how this changes with the coming of Jesus Christ: “We have died with respect to the thing that controlled us, so that we can be slaves in the new life under the Spirit.” The religion of checking the boxes, the life that leads to death, has been superceded by faith in Christ. Living the new life in Christ, through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, tunes our ears to the will and way of God. This leads to a life that bears good fruit. Rooted in love, this fruit is peace, patience, joy, hope, forgiveness, self-control… Thanks be to God for the new life that we find in Christ!

Prayer: Lord God, as we die to self and to the ways of the world, what freedom we find. Instead of chasing after and worrying about accumulation, we become filled with content and peace, we practice presence and generosity. Instead of seeking to elevate self, we praise and glorify God as we lift others up. Thank you for the life of joy and hope, of love and grace found in Christ. Amen.


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Suffering, Hope, and Patience

Reading: Romans 8:18-25

Romans 8:19 – “The whole creation waits breathless with anticipation for the revelation of God’s sons and daughters.”

Today’s passage is titled “Our Suffering and Our Hope” in my Bible. Verse 18 really sums this up nicely. Paul reminds his readers and us that our present suffering is “nothing” compared to the glory that will one day be revealed. While Paul is looking forward to heaven here, the glory of God is present in this world as well.

In verse 19 we read, “The whole creation waits breathless with anticipation for the revelation of God’s sons and daughters.” All of creation is subjected to decay and to the impact of sin. All of creation longs to be set free from these things. Paul describes this longing using the birthing process – the groans and labor pains of a mother are like those of creation. Most of us have been in the spot that Paul is connecting to hear, breathlessly waiting, anticipating that first cry, longing to experience the joy of new life. In Paul’s mind this new birth hinges on the revelation of God’s sons and daughters. Paul understood his role and the role of all believers as active participants in God’s work of redemption and restoration. Paul understands that all of creation is waiting for the church to be the church, actively working to bring wholeness and new life to all of creation.

Paul also speaks of a believer’s longing to one day be set free from this body and from this world. While we long for this we do so with hope and with patience. Our hope is set on Christ, the first of many to be set free. We wait with patience, trusting in God’s promise to one day make all things new. We wait with this sure hope. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, guide us to live our our faith day by day, seeking to partner with you in bringing healing, wholeness, and new life to all of creation. Lead us by the Spirit. While our eyes and hearts are set on the glory to come, also enable us to see the suffering and pain of this life. Seeing, move us to respond. Amen.


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With Us, For Us

Reading: Isaiah 40:26-31

Isaiah 40:28 – “Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The Lord is the everlasting God.”

Photo credit: Greg Rakozy

As we turn to Isaiah 40, much of Israel is dispersed across the vast Babylonian empire. In this disconnected state it was hard to hold onto hope. So Isaiah invites Israel to look up at the stars, to remember who created this vast array. The prophet invites them to remember who brings the stars out “one by one, summoning each by name.” Ah yes, it is God. This God of “great strength and mighty power?” Yes, God knows you by name. Yes, God will summon you out of exile.

So then, Isaiah ponders, why do you say that God doesn’t know your plight, that God ignores your exile? We too ask these questions. We think God is absent at times, that God is not powerful enough at other times. We can think that God ignores our great needs. We too need to look up at the sky in awe. We too need to hear, “Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The Lord is the everlasting God.”

Our everlasting God does not get tired or even know weariness. Our great God’s understanding is far, far beyond our understanding. So, yes, sometimes we don’t get what God is doing. But if we trust God, we find that God does give us power when we’re tired, that God does revive us when we’re exhausted. We will be tired and exhausted. These things happen. And the promises remain: God is present. God will renew our strength, enabling us to “run and not be tired” and to “walk and not be weary.” Our God is with us. Our God is for us. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, when we are tired, when we are weary,v when we feel defeated or all alone, call us to look up. Whether the stars at night or the vast blue sky, remind us that you are present in all of creation, that you are present within us. Fill us with hope, renew our strength. Thank you. Amen.


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Mighty King

Reading: 1st Peter 5:6-11

1st Peter 5:10 – “The God of all graces, the one who called you into eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself restore, empower, strengthen, and establish you.”

In this world, Satan seeks to steal our faith, to destroy our love of God and neighbor, to separate us from the peace, the contentment, the joy that we find in Christ. The evil one uses many tricks, traps, snares, lies, and half-truths to lead us into sin. In 1st Peter 5, Peter offers some thoughts on how to combat these attacks of the devil.

First, Peter encourages us to humble ourselves under God’s power. This means submitting our will to God’s will and surrendering having our way to living by God’s ways. Second, Peter invites us to throw our anxieties up on God, as well as our doubts, fears, worries… We can do so because God cares for us and wants to help us, bringing relief, assurance, confidence, and presence, easing our negative thoughts.

Peter calls us to be alert and clear-headed. The devil is always on the “prowl,” ever seeking to “devour” us with our own sin. We are encouraged to “resist him, standing firm in the faith.” We can do so with the God of love and power on our side. Yes, Peter acknowledges, we may suffer for a time or even for a season, but, “The God of all graces, the one who called you into eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself restore, empower, strengthen, and establish you.”

Prayer: Lord God, as we seek to walk faithfully with you, we face so many challenges, so many tests. The voices of this world are so loud and so convincing, so tempting. As darkness rises or even begins to creep into our hearts, shine your light into our hearts, guide our steps, protect our hearts. Thank you, O mighty king. Amen.


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Awareness and Compassion

Reading: Psalm 24:1-2

Psalm 24:1 – “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.”

In the children’s book Horton Hears a Who! the main character is Horton the elephant. Because he has ears to hear he discovers a whole world living on a speck of dust, people with houses and grocery stores and churches. Horton then goes to great lengths, endures scorn and ridicule and abuse, and gives his all to save, rescue, and protect these tiny people. This is because he believes in his heart that “a person is a person, no matter how small.” Because of his compassion and dedication, others join him in his cause.

In Psalm 24:1 we read, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” As the Creator, yes, the world is the Lord’s! We are included in that “everything.” Whether we are in the ruling party or in the smallest majority, whether we are flush with money or in deject poverty, whether we are the center of our own universe or the humblest servant – we are the Lord’s!

Volunteering this week at a high school church camp, we named the injustices we see in the world and we talked about solutions and needed resources to remedy these injustices. I was amazed by the breadth of the student’s awareness and the depth of their compassion and empathy. Some injustices had touched their lives, others touched their hearts. In these ways they were like Horton, who is like God, who we’re called to be like.

Our question to wrestle with is this: Who or what cries out, needing us to rise up, to stand up, to speak up, to walk alongside? As people of faith, may we be people of awareness and compassion.

Prayer: Lord God, you created all the earth and everything on it and in it. Because all this is the work of your hands, all declared good, may we see, treat, and understand all of creation as good, as sacred, as an extension of you. With this heart and within this mentality, may we be and bring your light and love, your healing and redemption into the world. Amen.