pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: Bible


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Listen Well, Go Forth

Jesus was the Word made flesh that lived among us and gives us new life.  As we read and meditate on the Word found in the Bible, as we hear and ponder the Word proclaimed in sermons, devotionals, and books, and as we take in the nudges and whispers of the Holy Spirit, God is planting the Word deep within us.  He plants for one purpose: to bear fruit.

James advises us to be quick to listen.  When our ears are seeking to hear the Word of life, we hear a lot better than when we are focusing on the things the world tells us.  Listening takes practice and focus, so not only must we focus on the Word of God, but we also must practice on hearing the Word of God.  Practice makes perfect!   In our active practice of listening, we come to define and refine what we believe and how to best live out our faith.

James is clear that we cannot stop at the listening phase.  We must go on and do what the Word says.  We must take in the Word of God, allow it to sink deep roots that nourish our soul, and then go forth to live out its teachings.  James mentions looking after the orphans and widows, but this is just one of many areas that we can share God’s love with others.

James 1 closes with this tidbit: “keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”  Polluted is an excellent choice of words because that is exactly what happens.  The more we focus on the world, the less we are able to focus on the word.  Only one letter separates ‘word’ from ‘world’.  It is easy to blur the lines and end up living in the world instead of in the Word.  Each day may we look to God, spend time in the Word nourishing our souls, and go forth to bear fruit in His world.

Scripture reference: James 1: 17-27


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With Abandon

When we choose Christ we become a new creation.  We choose to set aside our old ways and to walk a new path.  The old self dies and we are born again a whole new creation.  Wonderful as this is, there is better news: God is not done with us.  And there is better news still: He is never done with us!

As this new creation in Christ develops, we need some guidance and nourishment.  We find this in His Word.  This is both the Bible and the Holy Spirit, both of which speak into our lives.  God’s Word is living and active.  God’s Word is full of meaning for us and for our lives.

The Bible is past, present, and future.  In it we find what was.  These roots of our faith are important.  They are the sustainers of our faith.  The past ties to the present in the form of Jesus.  He is the living example of God’s love.  Through Him we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, keeping Jesus Christ very much in the present.  In the Word we also find promises.  These promises help us in the present by giving us encouragement and support.  In them we also see into those things eternal life brings.

This new creation that we become is one filled with love, hope, and enthusiasm for God, Jesus, and one another.  May we live with abandon for our Jesus, who was and is and will always be.

Scripture reference: 2 Corinthians 5: 11-17


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Life Lived Fully

Jesus says to us, “Come be with me, come spend some time with me.  Be in my love and my love will be in you.  Remain in me and I will remain in you.  Get to know me by being with me and then become like me.”

He calls us to spend time in prayer – both talking and listening.  He calls us to spend time in the Word – both reading and reflecting.  He calls us to take account of our life  and day – both in thanksgiving and in evaluation.  All we do and say should be done to draw us closer to Jesus and to deepen our relationship with Him.

As we get to know Jesus more, two things happen.  First, we begin to recognize then respond to His calls into our life with increasing clarity.  As it really sinks in how Jesus loved and treated others, we come to see that we are called to do the same.  Our ears, eyes, and heart become more attuned to the nudges and voice of the Holy Spirit.  We think less of self and more of how we can come alongside another in the love of Jesus Christ.

Teh second thing is also within but it has more to  do with how we see self.  We question what we once never gave a second thought.  We choose to do this or that (or choose not to) as we seek to imitate more and more the life of Jesus.  Living a life that is holy and pleasing to God takes on new meaning.

As we continue on our journey of faith the line between outward and inward seems to blur.  As this line blurs one comes to see what a life truly lived for Christ looks like.  Be faithful to the journey.

Scripture reference: John 15: 9-11


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Words and Without

“Use your words.”  How many times have you said or heard this?  We tend to be very auditory in our learning and in our communication.  In our worship services we require words for everything we do.  Even in the silence of prayer run through our minds.

Must people of faith are people of the books.  The Jews and Christians each have their Bible and Muslims have the Qaran.  The words contained in the Bible are the teachings and stories that guide our life.  Before any were written down they passed on by word of mouth.

We can also worship and draw close to God without words.  Late at night we can sense God’s presence in the majesty of the stars.  On a walk in the woods we can find a bird’s song draws us to a time with God.  A piece of music can weave its way into our consciousness and can become a holy experience.  Something as simple as sitting and watching a campfire can lead us to a time with our savior.

God is all around us.  He is always seeking us, always waiting time with us.  At times we use words in a variety of ways to draw close to God.  Sometimes we do not use words but find ourselves close to God anyway.  Today, may we choose to draw near in a variety of ways.

Scripture reference: Psalm 19


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God’s Living Word

God’s word can be like any other book we read – just words on a page.  Maybe the stories are even interesting and entertaining.  But if there is no application to our life or change made inside our hearts and minds, then the words are just letters on the page.

God’s word, whether read personally or proclaimed aloud, is a living, breathing book.  When we take it in, pray and meditate over it, and search for the meaning that a particular passage has for our life, then we are refined and molded by the Word.

When we open the Bible seeking to find, God will bring life and meaning to His word.  When we knock and open the scriptures, there are answers to unlock our situations and to satisfy our questions, to provide direction for our lives.

God’s word is meant to be lived out.  We live it out in personal ways – in the decisions we make, in the way we conduct ourselves, in the ways we draw close to God, and in the relationships we have with others.  We also live it out in community – in how we treat each other, in how we serve each other, and in how we love one another.

When we read or hear the words on the pages in the Bible and begin to live out what they say and teach, then we are allowing God’s word to live and breathe in us.  May we learn to breath in deeply and to live out boldly all that God has for us.

Scripture reference: 1 Thessalonians 2: 9-13


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Mental Notes

Do you watch other people and make mental notes or observations?  Do you listen to the words they speak, watch the decisions they make, and pay attention to who they hang out with?  I do all the time.  I think most people do too.

In 1st Thessalonians Paul is commenting them for the example the people in the church are setting – joyful is suffering, open to Christ’s leading, ready to help others in need.  They are a model of what faith should look like in Paul’s eyes.  They are a model for us as well.

How many of the people that we will encounter today will not be Christians?  Statistically speaking, it will be a significant number.  For many non-believers we are the only ‘Bible’ they will read today, tomorrow, and so on.  As they look at our choices and decisions, as they hear our words, as they judge our actions… will they see Christ?  As they watch how we treat the server in line or the stranger at the subway station, will they see Christ?  May we live each moment for our Lord so that all may have the opportunity to meet Him in us today.

Scripture reference: 1 Thessalonians 1: 4-10


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Words of Life

In Psalm 19 we find some great insights into the Word of God and its role in our lives.  This Psalm shows the value of the word and its effect on our lives.  It is not a burden but a delight to live as a child of the word of God.  It guides us as we seek to walk in His ways.

In the word we find God’s perfect law, which revives our soul.  The word is trustworthy and brings us wisdom.  His word is right and clear, bringing joy to our hearts and light to our eyes.  God’s ways revealed through the word are true and yield righteousness in us.

God’s words guides and leads us along the path that He intends us to walk.  It is vibrant and living and remains relevant to the choices and decisions we make n our lives.  May we learn to love to spend time in the Bible, growing in our depth of faith, drawing ever nearer to God.  His word is a lamp to our eyes and a guide to our feet.  May we grow dependent on the Bible and its words of life.

Scripture reference: Psalm 19: 7-12


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The Ways to Connect

In times of trial or stress, how do you connect to God?  In what ways do you draw strength to get through the situation or that season in your life?  I think there are a variety of answers to these inquiries.  For me, and perhaps for you, the answers are not always the same.

Often it is spending more time in prayer.  Through prayer we can become more aware of what God’s will is in our present situation.  Through prayer we can come to understand the other person, the situation, or even ourself better or in a different way.

At other times it is finding encouragement or strength is God’s word.  Maybe it is a favorite psalm or words of Jesus that you have memorized.  Or it could be a passage you open up to or that you search for speaks into your situation.

Or it could be a song or hymn that you sing that brings you the hope, God’s love, or the strength or understanding that you need just then.  Song can lift our spirits.  For others is may simply be time spent sitting in the sanctuary or chapel.  Or it may be a walk in the woods or a bench in the park by the water.

There are so many ways we can connect to God.  That is one of the things I love most about our God.  It is not only through a book or only one other way.  We have a God who always seeks to be connected to us and is open to many ways to do just that.  I am thankful for both God’s desire to be present in my life and for the many ways in which I can draw close and spend time in that presence!

Scripture reference: Psalm 105: 1-6


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Living Each Day in the Word

Blessing come to us as Christians when we seek God with all of our hearts. The blessings may be things like comfort and a good life. But this is not a guarantee. The only sure thing is that by seeking we can come to know Him more.

As we come to know and live by God’s ways and as we seek to live out Jesus’ example, our knowledge of God will grow. As we continue to do these things our relationship with God grows.

With knowledge comes understanding. The words on the page become more than just words. We come to see the Bible as the living, breathing Word of God. And we must stay in the Word as it can reveal something new to us each time we read a passage. When we are seeking, often the book will meet us where we are.

As our understanding grows, our relationship begins to shift from head to heart. We move from a concept of loving God and neighbor to actually living it out in our daily lives. Our faith becomes how we live. May we all seek to live each day in His name!!

 

[Side note – this and the last post were from this weekend.  I was without internet connections!!]