pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: cares


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Faith, Trust, and Seeds

Reading: Mark 4-5

Mark 4:20 – “The seed scattered on good soil are those who hear the word and embrace it. They bear fruit.”

A farmer goes out to scatter seed. Not sow, not plant – scatter. Some seeds fall on the path and are eaten by birds. Some falls on rocky soil. It sprouts quickly but does in the heat – no roots. Some seeds fall among the thorny soil. They sprout and grow but are soon choked out by the weeds. Other seed falls on good soil. “The seed scattered on good soil are those who hear the word and embrace it. They bear fruit.” For others, faith is short-term, cancelled out by distress, fear and doubt, by the cares of this world. Faith is like a lamp – we let it shine and it reveals what was hidden. Faith comes to those seeking. This is one way we bear fruit. We don’t know how it takes root or how it grows, but the tiniest seed can grow and grow, helping others. This too bears fruit.

Jesus crosses the lake, going to Gerasenes, a Gentile community. There is a storm along the way. Frightened, the disciples awaken Jesus, who calms the storm. He chastises them for their rocky soil faith. Once there, Jesus encounters a demon possessed man named Legion. The thousands of demons are cast into the nearby pigs. The uncontrollable madman is found “fully dressed and completely sane.” The townspeople ask Jesus to leave. Their thorny soil prevents them from accepting Jesus. The man asks to go with Jesus. He is told to go home to tell his people what Jesus did for him. He is good soil ready to produce a crop.

Our reading closes with two healings. Both involve risky faith. Jairus, a synagogue leader, risks by coming publicly, asking Jesus to heal his daughter. The woman with a bleeding disorder sneaks up through the crowd and touches Jesus’ clothes. She is healed. In the midst of a great crowd, Jesus asks “Who…” and she risks coming forward. She confesses and Jesus blesses her faith that healed her. News then comes of the daughter’s passing. Jesus says to Jairus, “Just keep trusting.” In the end, Jairus’ trust and faith is honored too. Jesus heals the daughter. Faith and trust bring healing.

Prayer: Lord God, you have power over all things – wind and waves, fear and doubt, mental and physical illness, even death. That power is available to those who believe in you as Lord and Savior. Lord, grow these seeds of faith that have been planted in each of us. Encourage and empower us to scatter these seeds, bearing fruit for your kingdom. Amen.


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Happy Are…

Reading: Matthew 13

Matthew 13:16 – “Happy are your eyes because they see. Happy are your ears because they hear.”

Today’s reading holds seven parables all aimed at showing how God is at work in our world and in our lives. In these teachings, Matthew shows that God is engaged in daily life and desires to be in connection with us. In the first parable a farmer scatters seed. In a day when every seed mattered, “scatter” would draw people’s attention. Most seeds do not bear fruit. The many cares of this world are too much. The seed that does fall on good soil produces a great crop. Hearts that receive and nurture God’s word leads others to do the same, creating more disciples.

Matthew connects to Isaiah, using his words as a means to explain why many do not understand the parables. They have become “calloused” and refuse to “change their hearts and lives.” This was the invitation given by John the Baptist and by Jesus. It continues to be given each time the world is read or proclaimed.

Each of the remaining parables begins with the phrase, “The kingdom of heaven is like…” It is like a field with good plants and weeds, like a net with good and bad fish. One day the angels will sort out and burn the bad. The good will be saved. It is like a mustard seed or some yeast – small but powerful, able to spread and grow into something large. It is like a hidden treasure or a pearl of great worth. Once found, a person must be willing to sell all else, investing everything they have into their faith.

As Jesus teaches in parables he asks his disciples if they understand. They do. In response, Jesus says, “Happy are your eyes because they see. Happy are your ears because they hear.” May our eyes and ears be happy as well.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for opening our eyes and ears to your word. We don’t always get it 100% but as we keep at it, reading, studying, seeking to understand, your Spirit works in us, giving us more insight and understanding. Each time we encounter that word, the connection grows stronger, deeper. Thank you for your continuing work in us. Amen.


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Rooted in Love

Reading: Ephesians 3: 14-21

Verses 17-18: “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love… grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ”.

Photo credit: Emma Gossett

Chapter 3 of Ephesians opens with Paul declaring himself a “prisoner” of Jesus Christ for the sake of the Gentiles. Those he once saw as so far outside of God’s love have been brought near. Paul is now the primary missionary to the Gentiles. What an amazing turnaround! Our passage today is a prayer for the Ephesians. It begins with Paul on his knees.

Ephesus was a city much like the cities and towns that we live in. The culture of Paul’s day valued wealth and status and power. Life was centered around getting more and more. The world in which these early believers lived and the audience with whom they were sharing the good news was not much different from our own contexts. Paul first prays for the Holy Spirit’s power to fill them and to strengthen their inner being. Paul asks God to make them sure of who they are in Christ Jesus.

Paul then prays, “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love… grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ”. Perhaps thinking of the parable of the sower found in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8, Paul prays for deep roots of faith. When trouble or persecution or the cares of the world rise up, Paul prays that they will remain rooted in the love of Jesus Christ. He prays for them to understand the vastness and limitless nature of God’s love. Knowing this, they will be filled with the “measure of the all the fullness of God”. They will be filled with his love. Being filled, they will then overflow into the world. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: God of love, fill me, fill me, fill me. Pour out your love upon me. Fill me so full that your love washes away all that keeps me from being fully yours. Amen.