pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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A Hand Always Extended, Always Giving

Reading: Isaiah 55:6-11

Isaiah 55:9 – “Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my plans than your plans.”

Today we turn to Isaiah 55, at the end of what is known as ‘Second Isaiah.’ This middle section jumps to the time in exile in Babylon, which is drawing to a close by chapter 55. This chapter is titled “An Invitation to the Feast” – an invite to return to covenant relationship with God. Verse 6 begins our reading today with “Seek the Lord when he can still be found.” God is extending a hand to Israel. Will they take God’s hand? Do we take it when God extends it to us?

The wicked are invited to abandon their evil and selfish schemes. If willing, they are then invited to return to the Lord, “so that he may have mercy on them.” This too is God extending a hand. Yes, all are invited into relationship with God. Why? “Because he is generous in forgiveness.” Being in relationship is more important to God than holding onto past sins. How gracious!

And how unlike us. Yes, God is not the same as us. God’s plans are not our plans. Our ways aren’t naturally God’s ways. That is why we must work at being in a relationship with God. In verse 9 we read, “Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my plans than your plans.” We must work at our relationship with a God who we’ll never fully understand or comprehend.

The passage for today closes with an illustration of verse 9. God designed creation so that the rain and snow water the earth, providing for humankind’s physical needs. In the same way, God’s word doesn’t return empty. It has purpose. God’s word enters in and settles into our hearts and minds, providing for our spiritual needs, accomplishing God’s purposes. Sometimes the word is like a seed, planted until the time comes for it to take root and grow. Other times God’s word gives us just what we need in the moment – encouragement, hope, comfort, peace, strength… So generous! Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, your hand is always extended to us in love. In all situations and at all times, you desire to be present and to give us what you know we need. Help us to understand and accept your provision, especially when it is your will and way, not ours. Humble us to walk in covenant relationship with you. Amen.


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Choices Remain

Reading: Jeremiah 4:13-18

Jeremiah 4:18 – “Your own conduct, your own deeds have done this to you.”

As we turn to Jeremiah, the Assyrians have given way to the Babylonians. Jerusalem was miraculously saved from the Assyrian siege but soon returned to their evil ways. In verse 13 Jeremiah acknowledges the coming disaster – advancing “like a tempest, horses swifter than eagles.” Horrible doom draws near. Yet even then God says through the prophet, “Cleanse your hearts of evil, Jerusalem, that you may be saved.” God is ever ready with grace and mercy.

We find ourselves in this place at times. We’ve created a mess of our lives and we get to a point where we can see that things are about to come crashing down. Whatever wrong or sin we committed is about to catch up with us. We ponder what we could do to avoid the destruction. Sometimes there is nothing we can do. Other times we are like Judah, hoping for a miracle but unwilling to do anything to provoke God to act on our behalf.

God’s declaration against Judah sounds very similar to the judgment brought against Isaiah’s generation: “she has rebelled against me.” That is what we do when we decide to commit that wrong or that sin. Continuing on, in verse 18 we read, “Your own conduct, your own deeds have done this to you.” The payment is bitter. It pierces deep in the heart. It is true for Judah; it is true for us. Our choices remain clear: God or self? Blessing or curse?

Prayer: Lord God, without you, without your guidance and direction, on the one hand, we soon find ourselves in places we can hardly believe we got to. On the other hand, we can see how our selfish and sinful choices led us to the time of atonement. Gracious God, pour out your forgiveness. And loving God, by the power of your Holy Spirit, help us to walk closer with you each day, keeping to the path that you have laid out for us to walk. Thank you. Amen.


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Choices

Reading: Isaiah 1:15-20

Isaiah 1:19… 20… – “If you agree and obey… But if you refuse and rebel…”

Isaiah was a prophet called by God to speak God’s word to Judah, the southern kingdom. Isaiah called Judah, particularly its leaders, to a radical trust and faith in God and away from their sinful behaviors. Judah is characterized at the start of Isaiah 1 as children who have turned away from God. The nation outside of Jerusalem is ravaged and the cities burn as Assyria wages war against Israel and Judah. But still Judah refuses to turn towards God. Yes, they are going through the motions of worship but their hearts are far from God. In fact, God calls all of their offerings “worthless.”

Because their worship is full of hypocrisy, God’s eyes refuse to see their extended hands. God’s ears are closed to their lengthy prayers. All because Judah’s hands are “stained with blood.” God even implores them, “Wash! Be clean!” Yet it is not the blood of warfare that stains their hands. The blood comes from within Judah. God instructs them, “Put an end to evil; learn to do good.” What good? To champion justice and to care for the oppressed, the orphan, the widow.

As if in a courtroom setting, God says to Judah, “Come now and let’s settle this.” With promises of their scarlet sins being made white as snow, God tells Judah, “If you agree and obey you will eat the best food of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Choose God or idols. Choose good or evil. Choose life or death. The same choices lie ever before you and before me.

Prayer: Lord God, since the beginning of creation these have been our choices. Until Jesus comes in final victory these will be our choices. Just as Isaiah spoke words of warning and words of life, may your Word and your Spirit guide us to faithful obedience. Lead us to walk your path in faith and trust, O Lord. Amen.


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God of Truth

Reading: Psalm 52:1-5

Psalm 52:3 – “You love evil more than good; you love lying more than speaking what is right.”

Psalm 52 is from David. These words he writes tell of a time when a powerful man spoke lies against him. It was during a time when King Saul was struggling – mentally and to hold onto the kingship. Doeg the Edomite saw an opportunity to better his own situation. David was caught in the cross hairs. In life we may find ourselves here. At the very least we see this kind of behavior at work in the world.

In verse 1 we learn that Doeg is powerful. And evil. The words he speaks are meant to bring destruction to David. Doeg’s tongue causes deception. In verse 3 we read, “You love evil more than good; you love lying more than speaking what is right.” Through lies and deceit Doeg seeks favor with Saul at David’s expense. His words create chaos and problems for David. Maybe in our lives and certainly in our world, spoken words hold power. When someone chooses to use lies for dishonest gain it can have very negative impacts on us or on those we know.Finding himself in a messy situation, instead of retaliating or seeking revenge, David trusts in God. He believes that his good God will deal with this evil. Choosing faith and righteousness, David relies on the God of Truth, the one who will “uproot” evil from “the land of the living.” God is in control. God is with David. God will be with us in the trials of this life. Thanks be to God.Prayer: Lord God, when evil, false accusations, lies… assail us and our reputations, remind us of your love and your all-powerful protection. Even though life can be messy, when we trust in you, we can be assured that good will triumph over evil, truth over lies. Empower us to trust you always. Amen.


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To Trust in Faith

Reading: Matthew 26:36-39

Matthew 26:39 – “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me.”

As we wrap up a week on faith overcoming our fears, we turn today to Jesus’ time in the Garden of Gethsemane. It has been a tumultuous week in Jerusalem. Jesus has clashed with the religious leaders. He has washed the disciples’ feet and instituted holy communion. He has spoken of betrayal and denial. As the time for his arrest, trial, suffering, and death nears, Jesus goes to a place of prayer that he has frequented. The disciples know this about Jesus and this place.

Entering the Garden, Jesus leaves most of the disciples, instructing them to “stay here” while he goes to pray. Taking Peter, John, and James a little further into the Garden and into his struggle, Jesus tells them, “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying.” He tells them to stay they and to “keep alert” – pray! Falling to the ground, Jesus prays, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me.” The human piece of Jesus fears what is soon to come: the arrest… The Divine piece of Jesus fears the separation from God when he takes upon himself our sins.

Choosing faith and trust over fear, Jesus prays, “However – not what I want but what you want.” What’s coming will be extremely hard, painful, difficult. But it is God’s plan. It’s always been the plan. In our moments of fear, when we can see what’s coming and when it is the unknown that raises up fear in us, may we too choose to trust in faith, knowing that our good, good God loves us and is in control. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, fear is something that we deal with often. It rises up in times of risk and danger; it rises up in times of challenge and trial. In the moments when fear is beginning to grip us, Lord speak into our hearts and minds. By the power of the Spirit, remind us that we are yours and yours alone. Amen.


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Freed to Live

Reading: Romans 8:12-17

Romans 8:14 – “All who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons and daughters.”

Romans 8 begins with Paul reminding us that we are set free by the Spirit. As Paul develops his argument, he tells us that we have been set free from the law of sin and death. Living by and under the law of Christ’s Spirit, we receive life and righteousness. As we lean into today’s reading Paul reminds us that because we are living under Jesus Christ, we have an obligation. It is not an obligation to selfish or sinful living. That life leads to death.

Our obligation is to live by the Spirit, putting “to death the actions of the body.” Doing so we become part of verse 14: All who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons and daughters.” The Spirit of Christ adopts us as children of God. Therefore we don’t have to live in fear under the old spirit of slavery, under the ways of the world. We can remember the fears we felt back when we were children of the world: Am I good enough? Do I have enough? Amen I popular? Am I powerful?…

Living under Christ, our identity is rooted in our place in the family of God. Paul reminds us that because “we are children, we are also heirs.” Although we may suffer at times with Christ, we will also one day be glorified with him. This is the outcome of our faith: the salvation of our souls. Trusting in this we are freed to live as Jesus lived in this world, loving God and loving neighbor every day. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, what a blessing it is to live as your child, led and guided by your Spirit within us. Attune all that we are to your will and way, reflecting who and what you are to the world. Use our words and actions to glorify you. Amen.


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Don’t Be Afraid

Reading: Matthew 10:26-31

Matthew 10:31 – “Don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”

Photo credit: Saad Chaudhry

Today’s passage begins with “Therefore,” a great connecting word. Jesus has just finished talking to his disciples about standing firm, even though they will be persecuted for their faith. While persecution in this sense is not a true reality for most of us, there are costs to following Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Choosing the path of discipleship means choosing not to live according to the ways of the world. While not usually physical, the costs to being a follower can be felt in other ways – financial, social, political…

Jesus begins by telling us not to be afraid of “those people” – the ones who persecute. We are reminded that in the end, all things will be brought into the open. In the final accounting, good and evil will be sifted. Encouraging us to be bold in our faith, we’re invited to be light in the darkness of our world, announcing our faith “from the rooftops.” Here we are being invited to live a life of faith that all can see and hear.

Returning to the final accounting, Jesus tells us not to fear earthly powers but to fear heavenly powers. This life is temporary. Our “soul” is eternal. Our passage closes with a reminder of our all-powerful, ever-present God’s love. Not a sparrow dies without God knowing it. Each hair on our head is counted. This is Jesus’ personal and intimate way of saying, ‘God’s got you… “Don’t be afraid.” Thank you Lord!

Prayer: Lord God, when we wander towards the bright and shiny tempting things of this world, draw us back to you. Remind us once again of your eternal love – one that will never fade or rust. Guide us to live a transparent and living faith, being truth and love and light in our broken world. Amen.


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Protected and Safe

Reading: Psalm 27:1-5

Psalm 27:1b – “The Lord is a fortress protecting my life. Should I be frightened of anything?”

In Psalm 27:1-5 we find a song of confidence in the Lord. As a whole, though, the Psalm is a hopeful prayer offered in the midst of a time of suffering in David’s life. It is optimism and trust in the midst of a storm. These words speak of a security found in the protection of the Lord. The hope, trust, and assurance are not found simply in the moment of need but are built in the daily walk of faith, a walk taken regularly and steadfastly on the good days, on the hard days, and on all the days in between.

In verse 1 David declares that God is his light and salvation, his fortress of protection. Because of this belief David can ask, ‘Who or what should I wear?’ The answers are ‘no one’ and ‘nothing.’ Those evil doers? They will be the ones who stumble and fall. That ‘army’ that comes against me? I will trust in the Lord. My friend, God is our light and salvation, our fortress. We can trust in our God.

David expresses the one thing he asks God for, the one thing that he seeks in verse 4. It is “to live in the Lord’s house all the days of my life.” David us not talking about actually living in the temple. He is talking about walking and talking daily with the Lord, about being in a constant relationship and, therefore, always in God’s presence. In this ‘place,’ God will shelter David and will shelter us. In the presence of God, David is kept safe. So too will we be kept safe. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, give us the dedication and the stamina to walk with you each and every day. When it’s easier to skip time with you, whisper words of love into our hearts. Bless each time that we give to you so that we are drawn more and more to enter that space once again. Thank you for your unfailing and sure love. Amen.


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Claim and Proclaim

Reading: 1st Timothy 1:5-10

1st Timothy 1:7 – “God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled.”

Photo credit: Shane Rounce

Paul’s second letter to Timothy focuses on the character of a faithful pastor. It is the follow-up to the first letter, which focused on the character of a faithful church. Paul’s goal in this personal letter is to encourage a timid but gifted young pastor. As we focus on facing our fears this week, a key idea is faith over fear. Today in our reading, Paul seeks to build up Timothy’s faith so that he can minister faithfully in Ephesus. These words also offer encouragement to us as we seek to minister to our communities.

Paul begins by reminding Timothy of his “authentic faith.” It is a faith rooted in his family upbringing. It remains in him but is also present in his family that is close by. Paul reminds Timothy of the blessing he was given by God through Paul’s laying on of hands. The gift of the Spirit came through this blessing. Of this Spirit Paul writes, “God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled.” We too receive this gift and its power when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

In times of suffering and other hardship (when our fears usually rise up,) Paul encourages Timothy to “depend on God’s power.” Trust the faith and Spirit within – not on your own power. That will not be enough in the trials. Timothy is reminded that he was saved by grace (not by anything he did or can do) and that he has a “holy calling,” a purpose given him by God. We are all gifted by this sane grace and are all called according to our gifts. This is God’s purpose for us all, one body with many parts. Paul closes this section with a reminder that Jesus Christ brought life eternal through his death and brought true live now through the good news that he taught. May we claim and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, both for these days and for the life to come.

Prayer: Lord God, what encouraging reminders Paul offers to Timothy in today’s verses. These words and therefore this encouragement belong to us as well. Build up in us our faith through the Spirit. Fill us with power, love, and self-control as we strive to live out our faith in this world. Amen.


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Know This for Certain

Reading: Daniel 3:13-18

Daniel 3:18 – “Know this for certain, your Majesty: we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you’ve set up.”

Photo credit: Ricardo Gomez Angel

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have long stood out because of their faith. Since arriving in Babylon as exiles (along with Daniel), their strong faith in God has set them apart from the native population. It began, you might recall, when they refused to defile themselves with the king’s royal food. From that point forward, these four have risen up the ranks of civil service, causing envy, jealousy, and dislike.

Leading into today’s reading, King Nebuchadnezzar builds a 90 foot tall golf statue of himself. He gives the order that at the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, lyre… all must bow down and worship the statue (and therefore the king.) Some fellow administrators are quick to point out that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego ignore the order. They refuse to bow down and worship. In verse 13 we see that this enrages King Nebuchadnezzar. Brought before the king, the three are given a chance to bow and worship. The other option is to be thrown into the fiery furnace.

For most of us, the fear of death would rise up. For some, we’d consider losing all that we’ve worked hard for. And some might even bow and pray to the true God while pretending to pray to the statue. King Nebuchadnezzar asks Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, “Then what god will rescue you from my power?” Their response? Well, maybe God will rescue, maybe not, but, “Know this for certain, your Majesty: we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you’ve set up.” Maybe God’s glory will be revealed through rescuing Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, maybe it will be revealed through their steadfast and complete faith in God. May this be the faith that we have in the Lord our God.

Prayer: Lord God, what a faithful and courageous path Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose to walk. What a witness to faith. Lord, fill us with a faith that will choose to stand for you. From the big tests to the decisions that no one even sees, may you alone be the one we serve, the one we worship. Amen.