pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!


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The Way of the Lord

Reading: Isaiah 35:5-10

Isaiah 35:10 – “The Lord’s ransomed ones will return and enter Zion with singing, with everlasting joy upon their heads.”

Isaiah 35 speaks of God’s restoration of Israel. Likely proclaimed while in exile, the words of the prophet would give hope to those living as foreigners in a pagan land. Our passage begins with promises of healing for those with physical suffering: the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will walk, the mute will sing. God will restore all to wholeness and well-being.

God will also restore the land. What has become dry and harsh will become green pastures with flowing waters. Israel’s collective last memory of their homeland was the destruction left behind by the Babylonians in the north and the Assyrians in the south. They had ravaged the land. God will restore it. The exiles will return to a new version of the Promised Land.

In verses 8-9 Isaiah begins to lay out a vision of Israel’s actual return. God will make their path like a highway – smooth and easy to travel upon. Only the faithful will walk “The Holy Way.” No predators and no evil persons. Only the redeemed will walk on it. There will be joy and happiness. There will not be grief or groaning. In verse 10 we read, “The Lord’s ransomed ones will return and enter Zion with singing, with everlasting joy upon their heads.” How the Lord will forgive, restore, and return Israel to wholeness and faithfulness!

While these words were originally written to a nation living in exile, the promises are true today because the character of God does not change. If you or someone you know is in exile – suffering, alone, struggling with health or a difficult situation – God wants to bring wholeness and joy to your life, to their life, to all of our lives. Our God wants to ransom us all from our places of exile and thirst. The invitation to walk the way of the Lord is always there. We just have to step upon the “highway.”

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the vision and reminder of who and what you are and if who and what you want us to be. Help us to walk in your ways, to step into the plans you have for us, into who you call us to be. Walking with you, ransomed by your love, we will be restored and made whole. Draw each of us to walk in your ways. Amen.


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Lights to the World

Reading: Acts 13:48-52

Acts 13:50 – “However, the Jews provoked the prominent women among the Gentile worshippers… to harass Paul and Barnabas.”

Paul and Barnabas are in Antioch as our passage begins. They’ve been sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with Jews in the local synagogue. Some have come to faith in Jesus but most have not. In verse 44 the circle expands. Here we see that “almost everyone in the city” gathers to hear Paul speak. The Jews are jealous so they try to slander Paul. Filled with Holy Spirit courage, Paul quotes Isaiah 49:6 to them. The prophet speaks of being “a light to the nations” and about salvation going out “to the ends of the earth.” Talk about expanding the circle of God’s love!

In verse 48 we hear the Gentile’s reaction: “they rejoiced and honored God’s word.” Many heard Paul speak and came to believe in Jesus. The word was soon spoken throughout that region. Instead of rejoicing alongside Paul and Barnabas, “the Jews provoked the prominent women among the Gentile worshippers… to harass Paul and Barnabas.” They stirred up trouble. Their envy burned hot within them. Paul and Barnabas were forced to move on. But because of the powerful presence and work of the Holy Spirit, they left filled with happiness.

Envy and jealousy remain driving forces in our world and in our churches. They lead us to at least want to tear others down who find success when we do not. They urge us to cut corners and to skirt the rules to get what we want. They can instill hatred and contempt in our hearts when we cannot level up. And sometimes these sins will be directed at us, as they were at Paul and Barnabas. Like them, may we shake it off, rejoice in what God is doing, and continue in the work that God has placed before us.

Prayer: Lord God, all who follow Jesus are called to be lights to the world, to proclaim salvation for all people. Sometimes others find more success. Sometimes we are harassed for our efforts. In all cases, Lord, keep us focused on the charge to make disciples of all peoples. May it all be for your glory and praise! Amen.


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Pursuing God

Reading: 1st Timothy 6:5-12

1st Timothy 6:12 – “Compete in the good fight of faith. Grab hold of eternal life.”

As Paul closes his first letter to Timothy he lays out the difference between being faithful and wanting to look faithful. We see this today in our world as people claim to follow Jesus and then say and do things that Jesus would’ve never ever said or done. There is “constant bickering” in these circles and there is a constant desire for “more money” and for more power, more control, more… Paul’s words in verse 5 still ring true today.

Paul reminds Timothy that there is great profit in our faith. It is just not profit as the world defines this idea. Paul invites Timothy (and us) to be happy or content with what God has provided, whether food or clothing or whatever. This frame of mind helps to guard our hearts against loving and pursuing the things of this world. This contrasts sharply with those trying to “get rich” or to accumulate others things of this world. There folks easily “fall into temptation” as they become trapped in the endless cycle of “more!” Some of these have even “impaled themselves with a lot of pain” in their pursuit of earthly things.

Timothy is encouraged to “run away from these things.” Paul encourages him to pursue the things of God: “righteousness, holy living, faithfulness, love, endurance, gentleness.” These are the things we too are to pursue. Paul then implores Timothy (and us) to “Compete in the good fight of faith. Grab hold of eternal life.” To deny self, to not pursue the things of this world, it is a fight, a battle. In my study Bible the commentary notes, “In the end we will become not what we own but what we do.” Pursuing God, may we be transformed more and more into God’s image and character, day by day.

Prayer: Lord God, by the power of your Holy Spirit, fix our eyes and hearts on you. By this same power, guard our eyes and hearts against those things that our culture values. Lead us to find peace and contentment, joy and pleasure in all that you provide. Amen.


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An Intent to Obey and Honor

Reading: Luke 15:13-19

Luke 15:16 – “He longed to eat his fill from what the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything.”

Photo credit: Mitchel Lensink

The parable of the lost son is well-known. In his youthful pride the younger son demands his share of the inheritance. He is ready to be his own man. As our reading begins the young man gathers all he has and travels to a land far away to make his mark on the world. But the lost son was not ready. He quickly wasted his wealth in selfish and extravagant living. Far from home, with no resources, the young man suffers during the famine that strikes the land.

The lost son finds work feeding pigs, an unclean animal according to Jewish law. He is low as low can get. In verse 16 we read, “He longed to eat his fill from what the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything.” In deep trouble and in great need, the prodigal son comes to his senses. It may be tempting to tsk-tsk the young man, but we’ve all likely been there. For some of us, more than once or four times. We have tried everything we can think of. We’ve tried bargaining with God. At rock bottom, alongside desperation, humility begins to kick in. A willingness to offer apologies and to seek forgiveness replaced the pride that led us astray.

The young man resolves to go home, to admit his sin against his father and against God, and to ask to simply be a hired hand. This place of mind and heart reminds me of a line from John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer: “I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.” It is a prayer of surrender and humility. These words declare an intent to obey and honor God in all things. May this intent be revealed in all we do, say, and think.

Prayer: Lord God, pride is so dangerous. Not only does it place self first, it also places others below our judgment seat. When we enter this dangerous place, O God, lead us to a place of surrender. Maybe through suffering, maybe by another means, draw us back into relationship, back to a place where your will and way become our will and way. Thank you for your patience and for your grace. Amen.


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The Source of Life

Reading: Romans 11:17-23

Romans 11:18 – “If you do brag, be careful: it’s not you that sustains the root, but it’s the root that sustains you.”

Photo credit: Emma Gossett

Paul is writing to Gentile Christians. There was a great struggle in the early church around their place in the family of God. It was believed that the Messiah would first come to all Israel. Once the Jews accepted the Messiah, then the outside world would stream to Israel, coming to faith in the Christ. When most Jews rejected Jesus, alive and then resurrected, the church began to spread into the Gentile world.

In today’s text the branches broken off represent the Jews who rejected Jesus, choosing to not connect to the “root.” The branches grafted in are the Gentile Christians. Paul warns the believers in Rome not to brag about this role reversal. It can be tempting to feel superior or even to act arrogantly when you have supplanted the ones who were chosen first by God. This can happen when the outsiders become the insiders.

Paul seeks to counter this human tendency, writing, “If you do brag, be careful: it’s not you that sustains the root, but it’s the root that sustains you.” This reality check reminds the early church that Christ remains the source of life, his Spirit giving them the power to remain faithful. Paul warns that they too can be cut off if they get this relationship backwards. All of this remains true for us today. Therefore, through the kindness of God, may we daily walk humbly with Jesus, our source of life.

Prayer: Lord God, when we are tempted to feel special or to brag about our place in the family of God, remind us that faith is a gift. When we are tempted to judge those who have not yet chosen Jesus as Lord, remind us that we were once there too. With gratitude and joy, lead us to live faithfully and to witness generously, drawing others to the source of life. Amen.


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Love of World? Love of God?

Reading: 1st John 2:15-17

1st John 2:15 – “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them.”

Photo credit: Kelly Sikkema

In our reading today John contrasts love of the world with love of God. Much like Paul, John sees this as black or white. John begins by stating, “Don’t love the world or the things of the world.” John then gives us a partial list of what these things are in verse 16: the cravings of the flesh, the cravings of the eyes, and pride in one’s possessions. For John Wesley, the cravings of the flesh are our physical sins. These would be things like gluttony, exerting power over others, oppression, sexual promiscuity, violence, abusing substances. The cravings of the eyes are the sins we commit within our hearts: lust, envy, judging… These sins can lead to physical sins. And for Wesley, the sin of pride was revealed as a “quest” for glory. This quest was for possessions and for status, recognition, titles, wealth… The apostle John reminds us that all of these things “are not of the Father.”

At the start of our passage for today we read, “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them.” John’s focus in his gospel and in his three letters is ‘love.’ For the disciples, love is the defining characteristic of God and of a disciple of Jesus Christ. Love is antithetical to the sins listed above. Love naturally counters the cravings and pride so easily found in the human heart. Placing ourselves behind God and neighbor, resetting our priorities and decision making to reflect this servant status, results in “the world and its cravings… passing away.” This is a slow and gradual death. It is a hard fought battle. But, living as love, obeying the will of God, focuses our journey on an eternity in love’s presence. May this be so.

Prayer: Lord God, be with us in this battle for our love. Culture and those living for self model loving the world. Our desire to belong and our taught cravings are always tugging us in their direction. Counter these, O God, by the power of your love. Empower us to love as you loved when in the flesh, using us to model your kingdom in this time and place. Amen.


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Heaven-focused

Reading: Philippians 3:17-21

Philippians 3:19 – “Their lives end with destruction. Their god is their stomach, and they take pride in… earthly things.”

Photo credit: Aaron Burden

Paul, in much of his writing, is pretty black and white. There is some gray, but not a lot. For Paul, you are a follower of Jesus or you are not. You love God and neighbor or you do not. You live out grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness or you do not. Paul is arriving to paint a picture of faithful living that is 24/7. While we know this is the goal and we strive daily to reach the goal, we also must acknowledge that we are not perfect. We sometimes fail to always live out the example set by Christ.

In today’s passage Paul invites the Philippians to “use us as models.” Paul and companions strive to follow Jesus’ example. He then draws a contrast with those who “live as enemies of the cross.” Of these people Paul writes, “Their lives end with destruction. Their god is their stomach, and they take pride in… earthly things.” Do you know folks who live for pleasure and/or simply to fulfill their own desires and wants? Do you see people like this on social media and on other media? Were you once there?

Paul contrasts the life of a Christ-follower with those focused on earthly things. A Christ-follower is focused towards heaven and towards Jesus Christ, the one who will one day “transform our humble bodies” to be like his heavenly body. While Paul definitely encourages living the faith out in this present world, he also longed to be transformed. This is the “now and then” of our faith. Day by day may we live as Christ, each day growing closer to what we will be when we too are transformed.

Prayer: Lord God, you call us to walk the walk of faith all of the time. Our spirit is willing but the temptations are real too. By the power of your Holy Spirit, build us up, strengthen and encourage us to faithful living. And, Lord, when we stumble, draw us quickly back to you. Amen.


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Reality Check

Reading: Daniel 4:34-37

Daniel 4:37 – “All his [God’s] works are truth, all his paths are justice, and he is able to humble all who walk in pride.”

At the start of Daniel 4 King Nebuchadnezzar praises God as powerful and everlasting. God has just rescued Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace. Yes, they were thrown into the furnace because they refused to worship the 90′ statue made in the king’s likeness. God then brings Nebuchadnezzar a dream. None of the king’s sages, diviners… can interpret it. But Daniel can – “because the breath of the holy gods is in you.” The dream reveals that God will drive the king into the wilderness, living as an animal. He will live in this state until he acknowledges that “heaven rules all” – including him.

A year later the king is walking in the palace roof. He says to himself, ‘Isn’t Babylon great… this city built by MY mighty strength and by MY majestic glory?’ The words hadn’t left his mouth before God pronounced judgment on him. We see here how pride is ever there, often just below the surface. There are times when we’ll think how talented or beautiful we are or how wonderful that thing I did was or ___. You fill in the blank. We all can, many times over. Pride is something almost all of us battle with. And thinking too highly of oneself is not the only way pride is revealed.

Nebuchadnezzar’s sentence is immediately carried out. He lives as an animal in the wild for “seven periods of time.” We don’t know how long this was but we do know it was long enough for Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge God’s authority. In humility he says, “All his [God’s] works are truth, all his paths are justice, and he is able to humble all who walk in pride.” When we get too full of ourselves, when we start judging and playing the comparison game, when we refuse to do a menial task, when we… we too will get a reality check. It might not be immediately, but it will come. The way to avoid this? Walk humbly with God each and every day, acknowledging God’s power and strength over all things. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, how often we see pride leading to words, actions, and behaviors that are far less than you call us to be. When we fall into the sun of pride, open our eyes as we look in the mirror. Humble us when needed, returning us to the worship of you instead of self. To you, O God, is all the glory, honor, and praise. Amen.


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Praise – Our Response

Reading: Psalm 147:1-11

Psalm 147:11 – “The Lord treasures the people who honor him, the people who wait for his faithful love.”

Psalm 147 is a song of praise for God’s grace, care, sustenance, and love. In today’s reading, the first six verses focus on praising God for God’s gracious care for those in need. In verses 7-11 the praise shifts towards God’s care for all of creation.

Our reading opens with an invitation to sing to the Lord. The psalmist correctly identified why: it is good to do so and it brings pleasure – to God and to our spirits. The focus then shifts to God’s care for the people’s needs. It is post-exile. God is rebuilding Jerusalem and is bringing the exiles home. God heals their wounds, both physical and emotional/spiritual. This care and attention is just as careful and complete as God’s counting and naming all of the stars. So great and strong is God’s love and care, it cannot be truly grasped.

Verse 7 again invites us to praise God. Continuing we again receive why: for the rains and for the green grass that care for creation itself. God’s love extends to all of creation. There is no one excluded; there is no favoritism. Strength or speed (or anything else humankind may value) are not favored. No, God’s favor goes to those who walk with the Lord, to those who honor God by trusting in God’s faithful and steadfast love and care.

So here is our question: How will we praise God today for the love and care that we receive? What words – spoken, sung, prayed – will praise God today? What acts of heart and hands will honor the Lord today?

Prayer: Lord God, mighty are you and great is your love and care for us! From the smallest need to the greatest suffering, you are present to us and to our world. This day we ask that you would use us to minister to others, offering love and care in your name. Amen.


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One to Exalt

Reading: Isaiah 2:10-18

Isaiah 2:17 – “People’s pride will be brought down and human arrogance humiliated. The Lord alone will be exalted on that day.”

Photo credit: Shane Rounce

We return to the beginning of Isaiah again this week. In chapter 1 we read about Judah being far from God, turning to idols and foreign powers to save them. The leaders were taking advantage of and oppressing the least among them. Even so, God offered grace and mercy, forgiveness and restoration – if the nation would humble themselves, confessing and repenting of their sins. If only…

Turning to verse 10, Isaiah suggests that the people “go into the rocks” to hide from the Lord’s terror. The sin of Judah will be dealt with. The people’s “proud gazing” and “humanity’s arrogance” will be brought low. The day is coming, says the prophet, when all that is prideful, haughty, and lofty will be “laid low.” These sins have led Judah to the precarious place that they find themselves in.

Next we find a list of some of the things that humankind’s pride can be rooted in: natural resources, man made structures, the means of war. In our day, does the list look much different? Pride and arrogance continue to drive many of the sins and evil of our day. Again speaking of the difficult and painful day soon to come, in verse 17 we read, “People’s pride will be brought down and human arrogance humiliated. The Lord alone will be exalted on that day.” It is good and right to that God alone is exalted, that God alone is worshipped. It is a choice that we can make. May it be so in our lives. Yes, may it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, it can be so easy to look around, to see others with ‘things’ we’d like – power, status, possessions. Once there it is an easy step to lust and envy, to greed and want. But to desire and pursue these things us to move in the opposite direction of you. The world is all about self, elevating self, gathering things. In that arena, pride and arrogance are rampant and infectious. Shield us from these desires. Lead us to find our worth in you. Guide us to seek you above all else. Center our lives on worshipping you alone. Amen.