pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: character


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God’s Light and Imprint

Reading: Hebrews 1:1-12

Hebrews 1:3 – “The Son is the light of God’s glory and the imprint of God’s being.”

The title of this opening section of Hebrews in my home Bible is “The Son is God’s Ultimate Messenger.” The author of Hebrews raises Jesus up far above the prophets and the angels. Most of our passage today contains quotes from the Hebrew scriptures, known to us as the Old Testament. Using these seven quotes, the author roots Jesus in Judaism’s sacred scriptures and holy traditions. Together these quotes establish Jesus as God’s son, as creator of the world, as justice and righteousness personified, as controller of the angels, and as eternally reigning.

The heart of today’s reading, though, is found in the opening verses. It is Jesus who “in these final days” spoke as God’s prophet. Through the message that Jesus gave, he “maintains everything.” Jesus’ words and power hold all things together under him. The one who created the world is the one who holds it all together. In verse 3 we read about how this is possible: “The Son is the light of God’s glory and the imprint of God’s being.” Here the author gets at the core of the incarnation, of Emmanuel, God with us. In Jesus we see the light of God and we see the character of God. Jesus is God in the flesh.

In word and deed Jesus reveals God’s love, mercy, grace, hope… lived out on earth. And when Jesus was done setting the example for us to follow in this life, “he carried out the cleansing of people from their sins.” Jesus became our atoning sacrifice so that we could continue to follow his perfect example after falling short. Providing a way for us imperfect creatures to be made right again with God, Jesus then “sat down at the right hand” of God, awaiting our arrival in heaven. There we will forever worship the Lord. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, we praise you today for your word and example that endures forever. We thank you for showing us the way to love unconditionally, to forgive without count, to dwell in beloved community, to walk together in faith. Be with us now and always. Amen.


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Wait For It

Reading: Lamentations 3:19-26

Lamentations 3:22 – “Certainly the faithful love of the Lord hasn’t ended; certainly God’s compassion isn’t through!”

Photo credit: Nathan Dumlao

Moving ahead two chapters in Lamentations, the voice we now hear is that of the writer. In the opening verses of chapter 3 he or she recalls how the fall of the city and the temple has personally impacted him or her. This is summarized in verse 19 where the author recalls suffering and homelessness as “bitterness and poison.” On the theological level these events and their outcomes are incomprehensible to the people of God. What has happened feels totally beyond God’s will and character. This disorientation is forcing new understandings of God and faith as God’s plan for Israel is being worked out in real time.

There have been times in my life and likely in your life when the difficult time itself has ended. As the dust settles, so to speak, we can take a breath and look around. Hopefully, like the author, we wait. We wait to see what’s next. In Lamentations 3 the waiting begins with this thought: “Certainly the faithful love of the Lord hasn’t ended; certainly God’s compassion isn’t through!” Hope begins to rise up. The writer then remembers that God’s love and compassion are “renewed every morning” because of God’s faithfulness. Trust starts to rebuild as the author declares, “The Lord is my portion.” Hope and trust are present as the writer proclaims, “I’ll wait for him.”

In verse 25 we’re reminded that God is indeed good to those who “hope in him… who seek him.” To wait upon the Lord, to trust and hope in God’s plan for us – sometimes this is all we can do. Often it is what we should do. And this is good. The writer will wait in silence. This too is good. We can hear God better. Yes, the Lord’s deliverance is coming. May we wait for it.

Prayer: Lord God, after the immediacy of the trial or loss or suffering it can be tempting to do or say something. To do so feels like relief, like a return to life. But we’re often still scattered or we’re just groping for something we really can’t identify. In these moments, still our spirits. Calm our tendency to “do.” Guide us to wait upon you, to seek your voice and direction, to trust and hope in your great faithfulness. Amen.


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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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Claim and Proclaim

Reading: 1st Timothy 1:5-10

1st Timothy 1:7 – “God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled.”

Photo credit: Shane Rounce

Paul’s second letter to Timothy focuses on the character of a faithful pastor. It is the follow-up to the first letter, which focused on the character of a faithful church. Paul’s goal in this personal letter is to encourage a timid but gifted young pastor. As we focus on facing our fears this week, a key idea is faith over fear. Today in our reading, Paul seeks to build up Timothy’s faith so that he can minister faithfully in Ephesus. These words also offer encouragement to us as we seek to minister to our communities.

Paul begins by reminding Timothy of his “authentic faith.” It is a faith rooted in his family upbringing. It remains in him but is also present in his family that is close by. Paul reminds Timothy of the blessing he was given by God through Paul’s laying on of hands. The gift of the Spirit came through this blessing. Of this Spirit Paul writes, “God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled.” We too receive this gift and its power when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

In times of suffering and other hardship (when our fears usually rise up,) Paul encourages Timothy to “depend on God’s power.” Trust the faith and Spirit within – not on your own power. That will not be enough in the trials. Timothy is reminded that he was saved by grace (not by anything he did or can do) and that he has a “holy calling,” a purpose given him by God. We are all gifted by this sane grace and are all called according to our gifts. This is God’s purpose for us all, one body with many parts. Paul closes this section with a reminder that Jesus Christ brought life eternal through his death and brought true live now through the good news that he taught. May we claim and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, both for these days and for the life to come.

Prayer: Lord God, what encouraging reminders Paul offers to Timothy in today’s verses. These words and therefore this encouragement belong to us as well. Build up in us our faith through the Spirit. Fill us with power, love, and self-control as we strive to live out our faith in this world. Amen.


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Diligent and Intentional

Reading: 1st Timothy 4:7b-12

1st Timothy 4:10 – “We work and struggle for this: our hope is set on the living God, who is the savior of all people.”

Today’s reading comes from a section where Paul is instructing Timothy about spiritual leadership. In today’s verses and throughout this section Paul consistently connects the message and the messenger. For Paul, this life of faith was 24/7. The character of the message and of the messenger were integrally connected. This is why Paul exhorted Timothy to “Train yourself for a holy life.” To ‘train’ is to give focus and attention, to be diligent and Intentional about the condition of one’s soul.

Paul then focuses in on the mission: “We work and struggle for this: our hope is set on the living God, who is the savior of all people.” The work, the mission, the example Paul and Timothy set – it is to reveal their own hope and faith AND it is to help others to come to know Jesus Christ, the Savior, the source of our living hope. Paul encourages Timothy to “Command these things. Teach them.” This happens two ways. First, in his role as church leader. Second, in his daily living of a holy life. Again, these two sides of Timothy are inseparable. It is the same for you and me.

The apostle then addresses Timothy’s age. Paul reminds him and is that it is not about how old or how young you are. It is not about how much or how little religious education you have. It is not about your wealth or your poverty, you family history or lack thereof… To witness to our living hope, it is simply about your faith and living a holy life. For each of us, we know that God has chosen us and equipped us to share Jesus, our hope and our salvation. Knowing this, may we be diligent and intentional about sharing our faith with others.

Prayer: Lord God, please lead and guide us, strengthen and encourage us today to live a holy life, bearing witness always to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In all we do and in all we say, may our lives draw others towards the hope and saving grace that we find in you, our living God. Amen.


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Still Our God

Reading: Joshua 6:1-16

Joshua 6:2 – “Look. I have given Jericho and its king into your power, along with its mighty warriors.”

God says, God does. God promises, God follows through. God is steadfast and true, unchanging and trustworthy. God loves and protects, leads and guides, forgives and reconciled. This is who and what God is. Always has been, always will be.

In chapter 6 God declares to Joshua: “Look. I have given Jericho and its king into your power, along with its mighty warriors.” If we pause right here human nature would question this. They are inside a double wall, inside what looks impregnable. “Have given?” Yes, for God this is already a done deal. The instructions for victory follow: silently march around the city once a day for six days. Have priests blowing trumpets and priests carrying the ark at the center of the procession. On day seven, march around seven times, blast the trumpets, then lift a shout. Those huge walls will collapse and Jericho will be yours! How much would your human nature question these battle plans? Mine would and does.

How often have you been stressed or grieved or overwhelmed and needed the peace that God promises? At first there is doubt and maybe questioning. But you bow your head in prayer, calling on the promise, and that peace that passes understanding fills your heart. How often have you been unsure of the next step or even of the direction to take? Again, you bow in prayer, calling on the guidance that God promises, and the choice becomes clear or a door opens (or closes.) How often have you been trapped in sin or wracked with guilt and needed the forgiveness and reconciliation that Jesus promises? Once again, you bow your head, trusting in what you don’t deserve, and you feel it washed away, making you new again. These are but a few of the Jericho’s that we face. The God who brought the walls down for Israel because they were faithful? This God is still our God.

Prayer: Lord God, we are grateful that you are who and what you’ve always been. You are for us and you have good plans for us. You love us. In our moments of fear or doubt or whatever need, help us to lean into your promises and into your character, surrendering our Jericho to you once again. In that moment, be our God. Thank you. Amen.


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Pour It Back Out

Readings: Romans 5:1-5 and 12:18-21

Romans 5:3-4 – “Trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”

Paul begins chapter 5 by reminding the Roman church (and us) that they (we) are made righteous through Christ’s faithfulness. We are made right because of and through Christ’s work on the cross. We cannot do anything to restore ourselves to righteousness before God. But Jesus can and does. That brings us peace with God. And because we are forgiven through grace, we can and should be gracious to others. Through our own radical acts of love, others can experience and then claim the hope that we have in Christ Jesus.

Paul then rejoices because we experience hardship, trials, suffering. What?! Paul is not celebrating that we experience these things. He is celebrating how God uses them in our lives. Trouble builds endurance which builds character which builds hope. As we endure faithfully, we model Jesus and through this process take on more of Christ’s character. As we are made more Christlike our hope in God deepens. In turn we receive more of God’s love, poured into our hearts.

Shifting to chapter 12, Paul focuses in on those times when evil is the cause of hardship… He encourages an attitude of peace even then. The apostle encourages us to allow God to be the one in the punishment business. Paul then asks us to do just the opposite: give your enemy, the one doing evil to you, give them what they need. Give them food or drink or burning coals. (This last one refers to actually giving them coals so that they can rekindle the fire, bringing them warmth.) By taking the love of God that is poured into our hearts and pouring it back out into our relationships with difficult others we will “defeat evil with good.” May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you for the gift of Jesus Christ – he who not only became the atoning sacrifice for us but also set before us the daily example of love. In the times when it is most difficult to muster up love, grace, mercy – in moments of hardship… – remind us of your great love for all of us. In gratitude and faithfulness lead us to pour these out, blessing others. Amen.


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Timeless and Eternal

Readings: Psalm 145:8-9, Joshua 6:17-21, Micah 6:6-8, Isaiah 2:4-5

Psalm 145:8 – “The Lord is merciful and compassionate, very patient, and full of faithful love.”

Today we wrestle with the violence of the Bible. It is fairly common in the Old Testament. But the brutality and totality shock us today. While this violence has no place today, the timeless character of God is the lasting truth that we can stand upon today, tomorrow, and forever.

In Psalm 145 we read, “The Lord is merciful and compassionate, very patient, and full of faithful love.” These are traits we associate with God, words enfleshed by Jesus: merciful, compassionate, patient, loving. In the next verse we’re reminded that these good qualities extend to “everyone and everything.” This is the God we know and experience personally.

Then we turn to Joshua 6. These verses are part of the conquest of Jericho, just as Israel is beginning to take possession of the Promised Land. As the walls are about to come down, these are the instructions: “The city and everything in it is to be utterly wiped out as something reserved for the Lord.” That is what happens. All humanity and all livestock – all slaughtered. This atrocity turns out stomachs and rightly so. And it also reflects a common practice in the world at that time. Other people groups also practiced this, known as “the ban.” It was a way of eliminating outside influence and of giving the first fruits of battle to God (or to gods) as a holy and pleasing sacrifice.

In Micah 6 we see God’s timeless desire for humanity. Instead of offering God huge or voluminous offerings, the prophet reminds us that God requires justice, faithful love, and a humble walk. These traits reflect the divine call to love God and neighbor. Turning to Isaiah 2 we get an end game picture. One day war, still a present reality in our world, will be no more. Swords and spears will be turned into tools used to care for one another. All will then walk in the light of the Lord. One day.

Prayer: Lord God, walk with us and guide us as we read and process what happened at Jericho and at other times in the ancient world. Lead us to understand that these events were specific to that time and culture. Draw us to your timeless and eternal: good, justice, love, mercy, peace, grace. Keep these arching over our understanding of you and your word. Amen.


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Foundation and Guide

Reading: 2nd Timothy 3:14-17

2nd Timothy 3:16 – “Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character.”

In today’s reading Paul is encouraging Timothy to stay connected to scripture. God’s word is the foundation of our faith and the guide in our life. This is as true for us as it was for Paul and Timothy or any other person of faith.

In verses 14 and 15 Paul reminds Timothy of this foundation. He was taught the faith by his mother and grandmother, Eunice and Lois. These two women taught him not only the words of scripture but they also lived out their faith, setting for him an example. Hearing and doing the word “leads to salvation through faith that is in Jesus Christ.” Reflecting on your own past, who was it that taught and modeled faith for you?

In verse 16 we read, “Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character.” First, scripture is inspired by God. These words of Paul that we read today, for example, were words breathed into or given to Paul by God. These words still contain that “breath” of God. Those who read and do the words of God receive God’s life-giving breath, guidance, direction, correction, training…

In verse 17 our passage comes back around. Living in and through the word of God, one is “equipped to do everything that is good.” Just as Eunice and Lois were equipped, so will Timothy be equipped, so can we be equipped. May the word of God be our foundation, our guide, our power and strength.

Prayer: Lord God, your word has power – power to lead us to do good, to turn us back around when we stray, to cleanse us when we fail, to build us back up when we falter. Guide us daily to lean into and to stand upon your word. Use us to then be the word lived out in the world. Amen.


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Rescued, Cleansed, Eager

Reading: Titus 1-3

Titus 2:14 – “He gave himself for us in order to rescue us from every kind of lawless behavior, and cleanse a special people for himself who are eager to do good actions.”

Paul’s letter to Titus is very similar to his letters to Timothy, another young, promising pastor and friend. Titus is instructed on how to establish a faith community, on how to counter false teachings, and on how to be a good leader. Paul reminds Titus of his original task: to organize things and to appoint elders in each city. Paul lists the qualifications for elders. They must be faithful and faultless. They must offer sound teaching and set a great example for others.

Paul then turns to correcting the “rebellious loudmouths,” some of whom are Jewish believers. He instructs Titus to “silence” them by correcting them firmly. Their minds are corrupt and they do things that deny God. Likely coming back to these men, Paul tells Titus to correct twice and then to disassociate from them.

Attention is then turned to the community of faith. These relationships and rules are based on what was assumed in Roman households. Older men and women are to be mature and faithful. Paul uses words like sober, dignified, reverent, and patient to describe their character. The older women are to teach the younger women to be sensible and morally pure and to work at home, being kind and submissive to their husbands. Paul’s words about slaves and masters also crosses a line for today’s readers.

Paul closes with the grace of God that came to “rescue” believers from all kinds of “lawless behaviors.” Christ saves the faithful because of his mercy, not because of anything they can do. Made righteous by grace, “cleansed as a special people,” believers inherit hope for eternal life. Paul instructs Titus, “insist on these things” because then the faithful will “give careful attention to doing good.” Following sound teaching, may we too be people who seek to do good.

Prayer: Lord God, help us to be people who are faithful and faultless. Well, as much as we can be. Build up in us the character laid out by Paul. Redeem and restore us by your grace when we fall short and when we fail. Lead us to be people eager to be and do good. Amen.