pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Three Questions

Reading: 2nd Timothy 4:6-8

2nd Timothy 4:7 – “I have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith.”

In verses 6-8 Paul is reflecting on his life of service to Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior. He begins by noting that his life has been “poured out like a sacrifice to God.” What a beautiful image this is. It is a great way to illustrate what it is to love God with all of our mind, heart, soul, and strength. These words make me pause and ask: Am I allowing myself to be poured out in this way?

In the next verse Paul offers one of his best one-verse gems: “I have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith.” Paul has stayed at it, both during the good days and the really hard days, always remaining faithful to his Lord. He has walked the long, slow, steady walk of faith, drawing near to the end of a life well lived. Paul looks forward to receiving the “champion’s wreath” given to the righteous. A second question: Can I truly say these things of my life and the way that I live it?

Paul concludes this farewell reflection with words of encouragement to Timothy and to all who will read and meditate on these words. He reminds us that all people can receive this “award.” Paul states that it will be given to “all who have set their heart on waiting for his [Jesus’] appearance.” Whether in this life or in the life to come, have I set my heart upon seeing Jesus? A good third question to ponder.

Prayer: Lord God, Paul is a great example of faith. He did so much for you, bringing so many to the faith. Maybe this is what you have in store for us. Or maybe it is just living daily with a heart set on loving you and loving those you send our way. Whatever your plans, great or small, Lord help us to walk daily with you, slow and steady, faithful and true. Thank you, God. Amen.


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Power and Presence

Reading: Psalm 65:1-8

Psalm 65:5 – “In righteousness you answer us, by your awesome deeds, God of our salvation.”

Photo credit: Diego Gennaro

Psalm 65 is a song of praise for all of God’s works. The psalmist intertwines and connects God’s works in creation and in our lives. In the first two verses we are reminded that God is the God of all living things. God is in the created world just as much as God is in you and me and in all of humanity. In response we praise God by being faithful in our living and in our praying. And, the psalmist reminds us, when we fall short, God forgives our sins. For David and for us, in drawing close to God we encounter happiness, goodness, and holiness. These traits of God become ours when we choose to enter God’s presence.

The focus shifts to God’s acts in verses 5-8. In verse 5 we read, “In righteousness you answer us, by your awesome deeds, God of our salvation.” God’s power and presence is evident in many ways. God holds all things, even to the “far edges of the sea.” In strength God established the mountains. In power God calms the storms and will calm the “waves” and “noise” of the nations. God’s power brings the morning and evening, day after day, giving us more reasons to praise God.

These are David’s observations and experiences of God’s power and presence in his life and in the world. We certainly experience some of these. In what other ways have you and do you see and feel God’s power and presence in your life and in the world? May these be a source of praise today.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your love and care. It is all around us. Open our eyes and hearts to see you in both the wonders of creation and in the daily ways that you work in our lives and in the world. For all of this we praise you! Amen.


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May Your Kingdom Come

Reading: Joel 2:28-32

Joel 2:32 – “But everyone who calls on the Lord’s name will be saved.”

Moving from yesterday’s suffering, sin, repentance, and hope, today we move into and beyond the ‘now and not yet’ of Joel 2. Once God has brought the exiles home and returned abundance to the land and to the people of God… or at some point in the future… God says, “After that I will pour out my Spirit upon everyone…” For Joel and his audience, this would be when the Messiah came, inaugurating a new era with a new heaven and earth.

Just proceeding that new era, sons and daughters, old men and young men, even slaves, will receive the Spirit. They will speak of and dream of this new coming kingdom. On that day, when it comes, there will be “blood and fire and columns of smoke” and it will be a “great and dreadful day.” And there is a ‘but.’ In verse 32 we read, “But everyone who calls on the Lord’s name will be saved.” God’s faithful will be saved.

As the story of the Bible continues, thoughts on this day evolve and develop. When Jesus arrived, he brought a dramatic shift in the understanding of the new kingdom. Jesus is clear that Joel’s (and other’s) visions of the new heaven and earth will indeed be glorious on that day, but… But, Jesus said, the kingdom is here now. Jesus taught us disciples to pray, “may your kingdom come… may your will be done… on earth as it is in heaven.” The time that Joel speaks of? Jesus is clear: the time is now. All people – men, women, young, old, slaves, free, rich, poor… – all people can receive the Spirit. All people are invited to live in and to be a part of God’s kingdom here on earth. All who call on the Lord’s name will be saved. O Lord, may your kingdom come and may your will be done! And may it begin with us.

Prayer: Lord God, open wide the doors of our hearts and of our churches! Opened wide, use us to build this kingdom where all are welcomed, where all know that they are beloved of you, and of us. Opened wide, use us to declare that each person, created in your image, one and all, are invited to your table of grace. Use us, Lord, to make this beautiful kingdom a reality here and now. Amen.


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Our Response?

Reading: Joel 2:23-27

Joel 2:26 – “You will eat abundantly and be satisfied, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God.”

The book of Joel begins with a lament over the destruction of Israel and the causes of this great devastation. The invading armies are like locust – they strip the land bare and leave suffering in their wake. In response, Joel calls for fasting and repentance, both as means to draw close to God once again. Midway through chapter 2 God promises to respond to the changed hearts of the once again faithful people.

As we turn to verse 23, through Joel, God invites the “children of God” to rejoice and be glad. God promises to send rain upon the land, “a sign of righteousness.” This abundant rainfall will lead to an abundant harvest. The grain, grapes, and olives will fill threshing floors and storage vats. In stark contrast to the years of suffering and hunger, God says, “You will eat abundantly and be satisfied, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God.” The peoples’ shame will be no more and they will know “that I am the Lord your God.” God’s love and provision will be clearly evident.

For those who haven’t faced hunger as a way of life, think of recent images in Gaza, in slums outside major urban areas, in poverty-stricken third world nations. Many in our world and even in our nation lack food security. Recent policy changes will likely put more people into this situation. In these places of suffering and hunger, as it was for the people of Joel’s day, shame is often present. Living today in a land of great abundance, we must ask ourselves why hunger is such an overwhelming issue for so many people. It should not be so. As the people of God, what is our response to this injustice?

Prayer: Lord God, open our eyes and hearts to the food needs around us. Whether it is people living in “food deserts” or people wrestling with the decision to buy gas to get to work or to buy food to put on the table, raise up your people to respond. Move us out into the world, filled with compassion, bringing our abundance along with us. Lead us to care well for those created in your image, so that they too might “praise the name of the Lord.” Amen.


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Seeking Justice

Reading: Luke 18:1-8

Luke 18:7 – “Won’t God provide justice to his chosen people when they cry out day and night? Will he be slow to help them?”

In our world today one would not have to exert much time or energy to find someone to substitute into the place of the widow in this parable. The brokenness and selfishness and greed of our world makes it too easy to find someone abusing the power that they hold over another, to find someone taking advantage of another for personal gain, to find someone with lots of resources walking above the laws that govern our lives. These are but a few of the many situations that cause people to cry out for justice.

The people who create and perpetuate the injustices of our world tend to be like the judge in our parable – people who are self-centered and only care about personal gain. Justice can be had – at a price or if you walk in their social or economic circles. Doing the right thing instead? Yes, that can come at times when a voice raised will not be quieted or silenced. Or when the people rally together to raise the injustice into the public’s consciousness.

As people of faith, we have a role to play in making our world and our societies just and compassionate places. This is so because our God is a compassionate God of justice. God’s goodness and mercy are bent towards justice, especially for people like the widow – the marginalized and the powerless. As the chosen people, may we cry out to God day and night, seeking a more just world. Doing so, we better align our heart and our actions with the heart and will and way of God.

Prayer: Lord God, use us, your people, to bring about a better, more loving world. Grant us the courage to see and to act when the Spirit moves our hearts towards your heart. Give us the words to speak and the steps to take to end injustices in our world. Make us justice-seekers. Amen.


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Sweeter Than Honey

Reading: Psalm 119:97-104

Psalm 119:103 – “Your word is so pleasing to my taste buds – it’s sweeter than honey in my mouth!”

Today’s reading is the thirteenth section of Psalm 119. This longest Psalm is an acrostic, each section using a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The 22 sections of this Psalm use that letter as the first letter in each verse in that section. Sadly, this is lost in translation.

What is not lost in translation is the psalmist’s love for God’s instruction. As we read these eight verses we can feel how in love the writer is with God and with God’s word. The scriptures are ever on the psalmist’s mind, bringing wisdom and understanding, insight and guidance. Because of this steadfast commitment to God’s word, the psalmist does not walk on “evil paths” and does not deviate from following the Law. This deep and faithful attention to God’s word brings great joy and contentment to the psalmist.

In verse 103 we read, “Your word is so pleasing to my taste buds – it’s sweeter than honey in my mouth!” While one cannot literally taste words – any words – we can relate to how the psalmist feels. At some point we’ve all received a note or a text or a card that has touched our heart, making us smile really big inside or making us feel like we were wrapped in love. Scripture holds this same power. We can read a passage and feel joy or assurance or peace. We can feel God’s love and grace in the words we read. As we daily turn to God’s word, may it richly bless us as it does the psalmist. May it be so!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your power and grace and love that flows throughout the Bible. We rejoice in the ways that your word touches our lives, carrying us through a struggle, comforting us in our pain, encouraging us in our steady walk of faith. We praise you for your living and active word. Amen.


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A New Covenant

Reading: Jeremiah 31:27-34

Jeremiah 31:33 – “I will put my instructions within them and engrave them on their hearts. I will be there God and they will be my people.”

The prophet’s words that we read today brought great hope to a people living in exile. Just as God had watched over a time of digging up, pulling down, and overthrowing, soon God will watch over a time of planting and growth. The season of experiencing the consequences of the previous generation’s collective sin is coming to a close. The proverbial taste of “sour grapes” will no longer be in their mouths. There is a personalization, an individualization, that will soon occur. Each person will be responsible for their own sins. While there can be great power – for better or for worse – in the collective, the true strength lies within the individuals that are a part of that collective or group or community of faith.

Beginning in verse 31 God speaks of a “new covenant.” It will be very different than the old covenant. The difference is found in verse 33: “I will put my instructions within them and engrave them on their hearts. I will be there God and they will be my people.” Imagine how God’s people, living in exile, would hear these words of hope. God’s will and way will be internalized, “written” on our hearts. Within God’s people, the voice of the Spirit will guide us, lead us, convict us, teach us… We will not have to say to one another, “Know the Lord!” Living within us, we will walk daily in a close, intimate, personal relationship with the Lord our God. What words of hope!

The hope and promise of the new covenant felt by the exiles has been realized in and through Jesus. His teachings and example are what work to “engrave” God on our hearts. His death and resurrection wash away the “sour grapes” of our sin and shame. Jesus’ ongoing presence through the Holy Spirit living in our hearts allows us to walk daily with the Lord our God. For this new covenant, we shout, thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, what a gift, what a friend we have in Jesus! Your living presence in us, showing us the way to go, forming our will to your will – what a personal, loving, powerful way to connect to you, to dwell in your presence, to live out the new covenant. Thank you, Lord, for being our God and for having us as your people! Amen.


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“Preach” Always

Reading: 2nd Timothy 3:14-4:5

2nd Timothy 4:2 – “Preach the word. Be ready to do it whether convenient or inconvenient. Correct, confront, and encourage with patience and instruction.”

Paul’s encouragement to Timothy begins with an invitation to stay focused on the word of God. Timothy began learning the word as a young child and has grown in his understanding of the scriptures. Paul reminds him that all scripture is useful – sometimes for teaching, other times for correcting, sometimes for training, other times for showing mistakes. As our guide to faith, scripture will equip the faithful “to do everything that is good.”

Shifting to chapter 4, Paul commissions Timothy “in the presence of God and if Jesus Christ.” The heart of his commission falls mostly in verse 3, where we read, “Preach the word. Be ready to do it whether convenient or inconvenient. Correct, confront, and encourage with patience and instruction.” While the formal preaching most often happens on Sunday morning, the most impactful sharing of the good news occurs outside of that 15-20 minutes. The bold and powerful witness, the sure and steady faith – this is how we “preach” our faith. Putting heart, voice, hands, and feet to service in the kingdom of God is the best possible way to preach the good news.

Paul warns Timothy that there will be challenges and suffering. He speaks of a time when people will “collect teachers who say what they want to hear.” Truth will be sacrificed for personal comfort and personal gain. In the midst of this, Paul emphasizes the importance of Timothy’s choices, advising him to “keep control of yourself in all circumstances.” Don’t engage in the ugly, don’t get caught up in the division. Prudent advice for our day too!

The apostle’s closing advice to Timothy is complete: endure suffering, do the work of sharing the good news, serve fully. Give God all that you are and all that you have. May this be our daily goal.

Prayer: Lord God, you ask for all of us – our energy, our resources, our time, our gifts and talents, our prayers, our love – given in witness to the good news of salvation found in Jesus Christ. Guide us, Lord, to preach always. Strengthen us when we’re weak. Encourage us when we’re challenged. Comfort us when we’re suffering. In all ways and at all times, use us to build the kingdom of God. Amen.


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Surrender All in Prayer

Reading: Philippians 4:4-9

Philippians 4:6 – “Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all your requests to God in your prayers… along with giving thanks.”

Our words today come from a section titled “Stand firm in the Lord.” Paul encourages us to be people who are faithful in all moments in life. He writes twice in the opening verse, “Be glad!” Allow the joy we find in Christ to be evident in our lives. Be that something different that others notice. Paul then encourages us to be gentle in how we treat all people. This includes ourselves. This too will be noticed by others.

In verse 6 we read, “Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all your requests to God in your prayers… along with giving thanks.” There will certainly be times when anxiety (and fear, doubt, worry, stress…) are present in our lives. An unwanted change, an unexpected loss, an unwelcome diagnosis, an unwarranted injustice will happen. This is life. In these moments, Paul reminds us, we have a choice: anxiety… or take it to the Lord in prayer. Bring our anxiety or our whatever to God, surrender that feeling to God, and God will bring us a peace that comes from beyond ourselves. Paul also reminds us to ever be thankful. When we thank God for other times when God brought us peace… in the past, then we are assured that our compassionate and loving God will bring us peace… once again.

Continuing, Paul invites us to focus on all that is excellent and admirable – all that is true, holy, just, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise. In other words, focus on Jesus and on the gifts that come through our relationship with him. And, Paul says, if you need a more present reminder, remember what Paul and his fellow ministers taught and lived out. Like these faithful men and women, when we live faithfully, when we trust into God’s presence, when we surrender all to God in prayer, then God’s peace will be with us. May it be so!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the peace that comes when we enter your presence and surrender to you our anxiety and other emotions that can separate us from you and from others. Fill us with your peace that passes understanding so that we can walk with you through all that life throws our way. And even in the midst of the trials and struggles, remind us to be grateful and gentle, just as you are with us. Amen.


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Rooted in Belief

Reading: John 6:25-35

John 6:29 – “Jesus replied, ‘This is what God requires, that you believe in him who God sent.'”

Photo credit: Marek Piwnicki

In today’s gospel reading Jesus redirects the peoples’ focus. The day before, this crowd had been part of the miracle known as “the feeding of the 5,000.” They have followed the disciples to Capernaum, hoping to find Jesus there, hoping for more bread. He quickly points out that they missed the work of the divine within the feeding miracle. All they “saw” was the food. Jesus tells them to quit working for that temporal “food” and instead to seek “the food that endures for eternal life.”

We too need to hear these words of Jesus because we often strive after temporal things. Even in our lives of faith, our striving can become like checking boxes. Yup, went to church on Sunday. Read my Bible this week. Check. Prayed for my neighbor in need. Check that one too! Hearing the call to the eternal, the crowd asks Jesus what we can ask: “What must we do?” Jesus’ response is a redirect. It’s not about doing at all. Jesus says to the crowd and to us: “This is what God requires, that you believe in him who God sent.” Faith starts with belief in Jesus and it grows from this foundational place.

Even though Jesus’ direction seems clear to us, the crowd again asks, “What sign will you do…” A million miracles in themselves will not lead to faith. The choice for faith, again, begins with belief in Jesus as the one who is “the bread of life,” the one who satisfies our eternal hungers and thirsts. In time, yes, faith through belief will lead to experiencing God’s power and presence in ways that feel miraculous and will lead to service in the kingdom of God. But faith must always be rooted in our belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, we can do easily get caught up in striving after things, in checking boxes to assure ourselves of our progress. Help us to understand that it is not in the doing that “things” happen. Instead, lead us to trust that you alone are the one “doing” the work, even when we are serving you and others. Grounded in our belief in you alone, may our faith in you witness to your powerful presence in our lives and in the world. Amen.