pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!


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Outside the Norms

Reading: Matthew 11:16-19

Verse 17: “We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.”

In today’s passage Jesus is concluding his response to John the Baptist’s inquiry about whether or not Jesus is the one, the Messiah. After speaking of their prophetic ministries in verses 4-11 he turns both to John and to the general audience and asks, “To what can I compare this generation?” In his answer to this question Jesus quotes a song sung in the market by children: “We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.”

Jesus’ ministry was one of welcome and hospitality, of engaging those who needed his saving love. Yes, Jesus taught in the temple and synagogues. But he also touched lepers and blind men and the lame, sending them away singing for joy. He ate with tax collectors and other ‘sinners,’ sharing the love of God in what we might call “low places.” John the Baptist preached repentance from sins and, yes, offered baptism as a sign of a changed life. He fasted and ate honey and wild locusts and lived out in the wilderness. Both John and Jesus ministered in ways far outside the norms.

Jesus’ ministry of love and joy, of welcome and acceptance, was likened to the flute played at weddings. Many in his generation refused to dance along with Jesus. John’s ministry was challenging and hard, calling people to look within, much like we do at funerals. This same generation refused to sing along with John’s call to holy and devout living. Jesus was dismissed as a “glutton and drunkard” while John was dismissed as one possessed by a “demon.”

Today in our generation people reject Jesus, God, faith… We too are called outside the walls of the church, outside the social and religious norms, and into the places that John Wesley called “vile” – all to find opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ with a world in need. In faith and trust may we too go forth to share the love of Christ with the least, the lost, and the lonely. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, drive us outside of the comfortable and the easy. Lead us to the questionable places and people, bringing with us a song of faith and hope and joy and love. Give us the strength to enter those hard places – places of loss, grief, change – in order to bring new life. Use us today, O Lord. Amen.


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Who Will Rescue?

Reading: Romans 7:15-25

Verse 21: “So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.”

Photo credit: Mahdi Bafande

Today’s “do” and “don’t” phrases are a lot to work through. There is great honesty, though, as Paul reflects on the state of his soul. Even though we are created in the image of God, and even though we have the spark of the divine in us, and even though we, like Paul, “have the desire to do good,” we too “cannot carry it out.” We are prone to sin. It is our human nature.

In verse 21 Paul honestly writes, “So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.” This too is our unfortunate reality. Temptation and sin are never far off. There is an almost constant battle that rages in us between good and evil. In our hearts we too “delight in God’s law.” And we also “have another law” that is at work within us, always trying to separate us from God. This can range from a simple snide comment or judging others in our mind to lust and greed to theft or adultery or worse. In verse 24 Paul candidly admits, “What a wretched man I am.”

Before we feel that it’s impossible or that all is lost, Paul reminds us of the truth and promise that we find in Christ. He asks, “Who will rescue me?” And in response he writes, “Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus can and will rescue him. Jesus can and will rescue us. Thanks be to God indeed!

Prayer: Lord God, strengthen my inner being. Attune my ears and heart better to your Spirit. Build up the good and encourage me as I seek to resist evil. Day by day root me in Christ. Help me to grow more and more each day into who you made me to be. Amen.


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With Joy and Gladness

Reading: Psalm 45:10-17

Verse 15: “Led in with joy and gladness, they enter the palace of the king.”

Our passage from Psalm 45 is part of a “wedding song.” David writes in verses 1-9 of the mighty groom. This king has been anointed with grace, majesty, truth, humility, and righteousness. He will sit on the throne forever. As Christians reading this Psalm, we understand the king to be Jesus Christ. This is the language that Jesus and others will use to describe Jesus and his relationship with us.

In our portion of the Psalm, David turns to the other half of the wedding party: the bride. The bride represents the church. Listen to the opening verses from this perspective: “Forget your people and your father’s house.” Turn away from the world and the things of this world. Commit yourself to God in Christ. “The king is enthralled by your beauty.” The king loves you, is enthralled by you, and sees you as beautiful. This is how Christ sees the church. It is how Jesus sees those in the church. This is how the king sees you.

The bride and her attendants are led into the king’s presence “with joy and gladness.” They are blessed and happy to be in the presence of the king. You and I are invited into this presence. We are invited to live in a relationship with our Lord and King. We are invited into his joy and gladness. May we choose to enter his courts. May we choose to dwell with the Lord forevermore!

Prayer: Lord God, oh what love you have for us, your church, and for me, your disciple. Lord, draw us deeper and deeper into your love. Pour out upon us your grace and joy, your humility and righteousness, filling us with all of you. Enable us to walk lovingly and faithfully all of our days. Amen.


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When God Calls…

Reading: Genesis 24:58-67

Verse 58: “I will go.”

After hearing the servant’s account of God’s leading and guiding, Rebekah’s brothers ask her if she will go with the servant. Without hesitation she says, “I will go.” The evidence of God’s hand at work must’ve been strong. She was leaving almost everything and everyone behind to go with a man she’d just met to marry a man she’s never met to live in a place she’d never been. This was a really big “I will go.”

We make choices and decisions all the time. Some are big and important – to marry, to move, to switch jobs, to have kids… We too experience God’s guiding and leading. This often helps in our decision-making. When “doors” open or close we perceive God at work. When the Holy Spirit whispers or nudges or speaks, we sense God at work. In the big decisions we often seek God through prayer or by studying the Bible. Because of this we are open to God’s presence and direction.

We can struggle, though, to sense God at work or to listen to or feel the Spirit in the ordinary. A young woman went to fetch water – for cooking, for cleaning, for the animals? It was for some task that she needed to do. How often do we ignore or put off the prompting because we have a meeting to get to or because we are focused on our task? She paused what she was doing to encounter the stranger and to meet his needs. It was a simple act of welcome and hospitality and generosity. And look where God took it from there!

In those moments when God calls or when the Holy Spirit rises in our hearts or minds, may we be as willing to respond, stepping into a role in God’s kingdom building. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, you are there in the small, everyday just as much as you are in the big and important. Help me to understand that I’m not as big and important as I tend to think. Help me to realize that all opportunities matter, that you are in all things. Amen.


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Kind, Generous, Serving

Reading: Genesis 24:42-49

Verse 42: “Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come.”

Photo credit: Ditto Bowo

In today’s portion of Genesis 24 the servant of Abraham lifts a prayer to the Lord. It is a prayer for the mission that he is on. Before he can say “Amen” a young woman appears. She is God’s answer to his prayer. She graciously gives him a drink and generously waters the camels. Rebekah would’ve had to make many trips to water the 10 camels. Can you imagine the thoughts that went through his mind and heart as he watched?

As they talk he learns of the family connection, further assuring him that she is God’s answer to his prayer. He offers gifts of jewelry, an invitation to a relationship. The servant praises God for this answer to prayer. This is something we’ve experienced and done too. God has answered our prayer and we express gratitude. Rebekah is God’s answer to prayer. The question for us to ponder now is this: When are we a Rebekah to others?

Sometimes we know the answer to this question and sometimes we do not. Some of the time we are clearly the answer to someone’s prayer. They tell us so with their words and/or with their actions. They are grateful and thankful. When we are kind or generous or serving others, we might be an answer to someone’s prayer. More often than not, we do not know our impact on others. God just works in and through us, accomplishing God’s plans and purposes. May we choose to have a spirit of kindness, generosity, and service each day, allowing God many opportunities to work in and through us.

Prayer: Lord God, use me as love poured out and made real today. In all things and with all people may I be generous and kind and compassionate. Use me today as a means for others to experience your love and provision. Amen.


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Abundant Blessings

Reading: Genesis 24:34-38

Verse 38: “Go to my father’s family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.”

In a day and age when we fall in love and court and get married to that very special someone, the story of Isaac and Rebekah might be hard to wrap our heads around. It might feel impersonal. It might feel odd or even icky to seek a spouse from one’s own family. All of this is true. Yet this is not the story of Abraham working everything out. It is the story of God guiding and directing and providing for the continuation of God’s promises to Abraham and Sarah and to you and me.

God continues to be faithful, even when Abraham and Sarah fail to be faithful. God continues to work with their failures and imperfections, working out God’s plan in spite of human-made detours. God’s covenant love flows on, making a connection between Isaac and Rebekah.

Today’s passage is a retelling of the events that just happened. The back story and actual events happen in verses 1-33. We get the recap in today’s verses. The Lord has blessed Abraham abundantly and now has blessed his son Isaac by providing him with a wife. Things unfolded with God’s hand clearly guiding and directing things. This is the culmination of the servant’s oath to “Go to my father’s family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.” How could this not be God’s hand at work?

This same covenant love continues to be at work in the world and in our lives. God’s good plans and the fulfillment of God’s promises remain at work, inviting us to be a part of the plans and to partake in the promises. May we choose to walk in covenant love with our God, experiencing God’s abundant blessings as we walk faithfully and obediently.

Prayer: Lord God, I know that you have good plans for those that love you. I know that you have sealed our salvation through the blood of your only son. I know that your love pours out mercy and grace along with provision, guidance, and blessing. Lead me in a faithful and obedient walk day by day as I seek to dwell in your covenant love and in an everlasting relationship with you, my Lord and Savior. Amen.


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Blessed

Reading: Matthew 10:40-42

Verse 40: “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”

Photo credit: Nick Fewings

Hospitality and welcome were two highly held practices in the Jewish culture. They were highly held by Jesus too, but in a broader way. Jesus’ circle of hospitality and welcome included people that were not inside the Jewish circles. Jesus pushed for the circle to be wider and more open. Inviting tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, and other “sinners” into his circle often put Jesus at odds with the religious leaders of his day. This is the reality that he sends the 12 out into.

Jesus sends them out into the world to do what he has been doing: teaching, healing, casting out demons. They are to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven has come near. They are doing so by going out into the world to be Jesus to the world. In verse 40 he tells them, “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” Those who receive the disciples will be blessed by the disciples and by Jesus and by God.

And the disciples will be blessed too. In verse 42 Jesus refers to “little ones.” This could literally be children and it could be those seen as “less than” or of little value by society and by the religious leaders of the day – tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, and other “sinners.” To offer hospitality and welcome to even these, to be like Jesus, will bring reward to the disciples. As we seek to live like Jesus, loving and caring for all people, we too will be blessed. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, may my circle be wide and open. As Jesus did, lead me to offer welcome and hospitality to all I meet. Remove any barriers or limitations that exist in my heart. May I be one who bears “cold water” to all who need to drink of your love. Amen.


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Choose Life

Reading: Romans 6:15-23

Verse 22: “Now that you have been set free from sin… the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”

As we continue today in Romans 6, Paul uses the term “slave” often. Paul is using this term to emphasize one’s total commitment and belonging to someone or something. In our passage, one is either a slave to sin or a slave to God. For each of these choices, there is an outcome. If you belong to sin, the outcome is death. If you belong to God, the outcome is righteousness. Paul rejoices that the Christians in Rome have obeyed the teachings of Christ, becoming slaves of righteousness. The rejoicing continues today. As Jesus taught, the angels in heaven rejoice when someone who was lost is found, when someone without Christ becomes saved.

In verses 19-21 Paul speaks of the weakness of our human nature and of the “benefit” of living in sin. He summarizes by stating: “These things lead to death!” He ends this section by contrasting this to living as ones belonging to God: “Now that you have been set free from sin… the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” What a contrast! Instead of death we find holiness and eternal life. Living a holy life bears witness to the world. It reveals the love and grace of God available to all people. Living a holy life brings an assurance of eternity lived within the love and light of the Lord. Freed from sin, we live as disciples of Jesus Christ, loving God and loving neighbor with all of our being. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, what a stark contrast: life or death? It seems such a simple choice. Yet the flesh is weak and the power of sin is strong. Lord, how I need you. Only with you can I choose life. Only with you can I be holy. Be present in my heart, O God, leading me to walk in the way that leads to life. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Holy Spirit. Amen.


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Choose Grace

Reading: Romans 6:12-14

Verse 14: “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”

Photo credit: Jon Tyson

Paul writes to the Christians in Rome. It is a body of believers made up of both Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. They are struggling with the place of the Law in the life of the church. Paul recognized that trying to be righteous through adherence to the Law was not sufficient. Through Christ he came to understand that grace was necessary in the battle against sin. With only the Law, the guilt and shame remained. One remained dead in their sin. Only through grace could one be made new again. Only through a saving relationship with Jesus would one die to sin’s power, becoming a new creation in Christ that was “no longer slaves to sin.”

In today’s text Paul recognizes the battle between sin and God. He saw this as a choice – certainly daily but more realistically moment by moment. The choice was whether we would let sin reign or let God reign. Paul encourages us “not to let sin reign in your mortal body.” The evil desires are there. Temptation is real. So too is the power of Christ to withstand these temptations. To that end, Paul instructs us to “offer ourselves to God” as we seek to be people of love and grace. Paul invites us to choose holy living.

Paul challenges the Romans Christians and all who would choose Christ to honor God with all of our choices. We are called to speak words of love, healing, and grace – not words of hate, gossip, and slander. We are to offer our hands in service to God and one another – not as instruments to take and hoard for ourselves. Following just the Law does not produce the love in our hearts that leads us to be Christ in the world. It is grace that produces love – a love that leads us to live as witnesses to Christ’s love and grace. It is a choice. May we choose grace.

Prayer: Lord God, the battle is a regular part of life. You know this well. You created us with the ability to choose life or death, sin or holiness. Fill us with the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ alive in us, so that our choices and our living bring you the glory. Amen.


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Always

Reading: Psalm 13

Verse 6: “I will sing the Lord’s praise, for God has been good to me.”

Photo credit: Daniel Hooper

Returning to Psalm 13 today we are again reminded of a time of suffering and hardship that David writes about. We all have them – both as individuals and as a part of a family, group, organization… In these times we’ve felt alone and we’ve felt abandoned by God – or at least that God is not present in the difficult circumstance. We have walked where David walks. We will likely walk there again. And again.

Last night in our discipleship class we talked about worship. We read Revelation 4-5 and Isaiah 6:1-8 – two visions of worship in heaven. What John and Isaiah see is powerful, reminding us of the majesty and glory of God and the praise and adoration that will occur continually in heaven. We enter spiritually into this place when we enter the sanctuary for worship. The Spirit of God becomes present and draws us into this sacred time with God. We trust and rejoice and sing to the Lord in worship.

We also talked about informal worship. One example was the praise and adoration that can come with a beautiful sunset. There are many other ways that God can touch us in our daily living. Our response can truly be worship. In the Psalm we can see that David praised and worshiped God even in the storm. What if we too choose to do the same in the dark valley and in those times of suffering or pain? It is a powerful witness to our faith when we choose to worship the Lord in these challenging moments. May we, like David, always sing with our lives and praise the Lord with our whole being.

Prayer: Lord God, you are ever present and your love never fails. Even when we feel alone, we know that you are there. In these moments or seasons like David was having, bolster our faith so that we too may sing of your love and care for us, especially in the storm. Amen.