pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: Christ


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Adopt the Attitude

Reading: Philippians 2:5-11

Philippians 2:5 – “Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus.”

Paul begins chapter 2 writing about choosing humility over selfishness. This brings unity and joy to the body of believers in Philippi and also to the world around them. The same is true today. Turning to verse 5, Paul connects this idea to the example set by Jesus Christ. Here we read, “Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus.” In other words: be like Jesus.

Using what is believed to be an early Christian hymn that predates the writing of Philippians, Paul lays out “the attitude of Christ.” Holding more power than anyone before or since, Jesus did not exploit it. Just the opposite: he emptied himself, “taking the form of a slave.” Jesus chose to be a servant to all, not a master over all. Each of us hold some degree of power, whether over many people or just a few. Do we do as Christ did, using our power not to exploit but to lift others up?

Jesus became humble without limits – except in his love. Jesus’ love knew no bounds. His humility led to an absolute obedience to God, driven by his love of God, which ended at the cross. Jesus never sought to glorify self or to draw any attention to self, practicing a piety that was not about self in any way. He sought to serve, to love, to teach and practice forgiveness. Through this example, God “highly honored” Jesus, giving him “the name above all names:” Lord.

Jesus was first in line in heaven, seated at God’s right hand. Coming to earth he stood at the end of the line, thinking of self last. Because of his humble obedience to God, Jesus became the first of many to enter the kingdom of God. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, others, others, others. Serve, serve, serve. Give, give, give. Lift up, lift up, lift up. Forgive, forgive, forgive. Surrender, surrender, surrender. Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love… Amen.


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Peace and Love

Reading: Romans 8:6-11

Romans 8:6b – “The attitude that comes from the Spirit leads to life and peace.”

Credit: Rebecca Gelaney

Chapter 8 of Romans is titled “Set Free by the Spirit” in my Bible. In this chapter Paul reminds us that the law of the Spirit sets us free from the law of sin and death. We who call on Jesus as Lord and Savior are set free through his sacrifice, death, and resurrection. Giving our whole self to Christ leads to Christ’s Spirit living inside of us, freeing us from the selfishness that is inherent in the flesh. The Holy Spirit leads us to think about the things of God instead of the things of this world. These two forces, however, are constantly at work within us: one pulling us towards God and one pulling us towards the ways of the world.

Paul addresses the outcome of this “battle” in verse 6. Here he reminds believers that “The attitude that comes from the Spirit leads to life and peace.” The other outcome leads to death. It is not an immediate death but a long, slow death. Living a self-centered life slowly isolates oneself for all others, including God. The longer one elevates self, the less room there is for anyone other than self. One tolerates others, yes, even those they “love,” as long as it benefits them and increases their power, wealth, status, image…

The apostle contrasts this outcome with the outcome of a life lived in and guided by the Spirit of Christ. The outcome of living in and by the Spirit is peace and true life. This too is a long, slow walk, but in the total opposite direction. The walk of faith builds relationships and community, seeking to benefit others as we seek to please God not self. There is ample space and time to care for others, to help those in need, to comfort the grieving and afflicted, to lift the downtrodden, to love neighbor. We find that as we express our love of God in these ways, giving away self, we experience true peace and a life filled with joy and hope and love. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, when it is challenging to live guided by the Spirit, when those guided by the way of selfishness make life hard, when the ways of the world seek to draw us in, remind us of your deep, deep love for us. Strengthen and encourage us to trust into this love, to feel and to live out this kind of love. Amen.


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Awake Sleeper!

Reading: Ephesians 5:12-14

Ephesians 5:14 – “Therefore it says, ‘Wake up, sleeper! Get up from the dead, and Christ will shine in you.'”

Reading verse 12, perhaps you too had a person or a situation come to mind. We live in a world and time when I watch or read the news, when I scroll social media, or when I hear a conversation or presentation and I shake my head in sorrow or sadness or disbelief. Disgust and anger are felt often too. Many times I wonder how those in power can be okay with what our world has become. “Embarrassing” is a good word for our day too.

Paul reminds us, as he did on Friday when we read the first part of this passage, that the light reveals the truth about the darkness. Our call as followers of Jesus is to expose the darkness to the light. To that end Paul writes, “Therefore it says, ‘Wake up, sleeper! Get up from the dead, and Christ will shine in you.'” He is quoting from Isaiah 29 and 60. We recall that the prophet spoke to a people who worshipped the idols of this world, forgetting the Lord their God. 70 years in exile served as their wake-up call. While we may not worship Baal or other ancient ‘gods,’ there are certainly no shortage of false gods that create evil and darkness in our world today.

What might God be calling us to wake up to today? What are the evils and darkness of our time? In my little part of the world, poverty, hunger, and homelessness first come to mind. If the circle expands a bit wider, the list grows quickly. As followers of Christ, we are charged with caring for “the least of these,” as Jesus called them. We should do so in practical ways, feeding and clothing and housing those in need. But we should also shine a light on those in power who allow and often times create, defend, and sustain unjust systems that lead to these evils. We should speak, work, and be socially active in ways that seek to dismantle these systems and to disempower those who strive to maintain the “status quo” – all for personal gain. In these ways we will shine the light of Christ into the darkness of the world, bringing God’s goodness, justice, and truth to the world. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, the task at hand feels huge. In our own power, we are weak. But in and through you, we are strong. So, Lord, first open our eyes to the suffering, need, and darkness of our world. Then fill our hearts with compassion and love for the marginalized, the powerless, the voiceless. From there, use our hands, feet, and voices to provide for and to meet basic, physical needs. Then empower us to speak, to stand, and to work to create a more just and fair world. In all these ways, may Christ shine in us and out into the darkness of our world. Amen.


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Living as Light

Reading: Ephesians 5:8-11

Ephesians 5:9 – “Light produces fruit that consist of goodness, justice, and truth.”

Paul begins today’s passage by reminding those in the churches in Ephasus and those in the church today that although we were once in darkness, living as people of the world, we are now in “the light of the Lord.” Our old, sinful, selfish ways have been laid aside so that we can now live as “children of the light.” The apostle paints this change as black and white terms: light and darkness. While we strive to live in the light, the reality is that we sometimes stray into the darkness and often times we live in the gray.

The journey of faith and the work of the Spirit draws us to the light end of this spectrum. As we mature in faith, we tend to sin less. Even so, we never remain sinless for long. As Peter says in his first letter, the lion always prowls. Because of this, our faith growth is not strictly linear. While we are imperfect, we also seek to be more and more like Christ. Paul reminds us, in verse 9, of why we strive to live faithfully: “Light produces fruit that consist of goodness, justice, and truth.” When our lives yield these outcomes, we witness to God’s love and care and power, drawing others to the light.

While we seek to keep away from “the unfruitful actions of darkness,” they are all around us. Paul encourages us to allow the light within us to “reveal the truth” about the evil inside ourselves and in the world. Concerning others, we must prayerfully discern when and how and where to speak truth. At times we will be led to “call out” injustice, oppression, and other evils. And at times we will be led to take a more gentle and kind “calling in” of those who have started from the faith. In both ways, we a living faithfully as the light of Christ in the world.

Prayer: Lord God, lead and guide us to walk as children of the light. Open our eyes and hearts to the ways you provide for us to be goodness, justice, and truth first to ourselves and then to the world. As we focus on our own faith, help us to mature and to trust in you more and more. From this solid foundation, guide us in our efforts to reveal truth to the world and to our fellow believers. Guide us to always lead with love and grace. Amen.


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Kingdom of Love

Reading: John 9:18-41

John 9:41 – “If you were blind you wouldn’t have any sin, but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”

As the story of the healing of the blind man continues, we see the dangers of holding “power over.” The power the religious leaders hold over the man’s parents and many others causes fear and dishonesty. This reminds me of the guilt and shame many churches is used to employ to force obedience. This is still used today in some churches. The use of power over separates, divides, weakens, harms.

Jesus, by contrast, uses power under. He lifts up and welcomes. He seeks to build community and a sense of belonging and worth. In the healing process, Jesus takes the first steps and then empowers the blind man to take the step of faith that brings physical healing to his eyes. And later, after hearing of what happened to the man under the guise of being religiously correct, Jesus seeks the man out. Jesus once again empowers the man to take the step of faith. Jesus places the power to believe, to choose Jesus as Lord in the man’s hands. This restores worth and dignity. It is an invitation into community and relationship. It’s not a command or a guilt trip.

Starting in verse 38, Jesus addresses the religious leaders who seek to hold power over others. Jesus declares that he came to “exercise judgment” by opening blind eyes and by exposing those who think that they see and know the will and way of God. The Pharisees recognize that he is talking about them. Jesus responds, “If you were blind you wouldn’t have any sin, but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.” They have seen the healing, the lifting up, the love that fuels the exercise of power under. They choose to hold onto the ways of the world, being blind to the true kingdom of God. They do not choose to see all people as worthy of God’s (and their) love. They do not choose to see all people as ones created in God’s image. My friends, may we choose to live with eyes and hearts wide open to Jesus’ kingdom of love and to the outcomes of practicing power under others – building community, instilling worth and belonging, making space at the table, loving without strings. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, we pray today for those who continue to exercise power over others – those in government, in business, and in the church. Change these hearts to be hearts of love, lifting and empowering others. Use us, O God, to help initiate this change. With your power lifting us up, may we bring justice, community, belonging to others and to our world. Through your love, unite us as your children in the blessed community. Amen.


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Loved, Seen, Heard

Reading: John 4:4-42

John 4:14b – “The water that I give will become in those who drink it a spring of water that bubbles up into eternal life.”

Photo credit: Clay Banks

In this week’s gospel lesson, Jesus meets a woman at the well. They are different in many ways. Some of these differences typically create barriers between folks like them. The man-woman and Jew-Samaritan distinctions that creates division in most cases is not present for Jesus. This woman is seen by Jesus and is loved by Jesus. He draws her into conversation, hearing her express the differences that have been barriers in her life. Jesus works past these barriers that she brings up and is aware of. He offers her the gift of abundant life: “The water that I give will become in those who drink it a spring of water that bubbles up into eternal life.”

The woman at the well is drawn to Jesus – love and welcome and invitation will do that. She returns to town and offers an invitational question to the townspeople: “Could this man be the Christ?” Could this man be the one Jews and Samaritans have been waiting for? Could this man be the one with the power to change your life? Her “come and see” question is an invitation, an evangelistic prompting.

In this story Jesus sets for us an example to follow. He treats this woman as a friend, building a relationship with her. There is no flashy miracle or amazing parable or teaching. Jesus makes her feel loved, seen, and heard. May this be the pattern and example we follow as we meet folks. Doing so, may others come to believe in the Christ.

Prayer: Lord God, lead and guide us today to truly live with open hearts, open minds, and open doors. Open our eyes to see the belovedness in all people. Open our hearts to love all of those created in your image. Open our lives to relationships and conversations that draw people into your love for them. Amen.


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Some Kind of Love

Reading: Romans 5:6-11

Romans 5:8 – “God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

Turning to the second half of our Romans 5 passage for this week, we are first reminded that “Christ died for ungodly people.” Paul is talking about himself, about me, about you. He reinforces what this means by musing about someone maybe dying for a good person. But for an ungodly one? Certainly not. Yet, “God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” That is some kind of love.

God’s love reached out and continues to reach out to us all of the time. When we’re at our best, God loves us. When we’re at our worst, God loves us. When we’re weak and when we’re strong, God loves us. This love – this steady, unwavering love – is a love that shed the only son’s blood for our sake. Through Jesus’ blood we can be reconciled and saved. Our sins are already covered, our life in eternity already ransomed. Because of God’s actions, we simply are recipients of grace, mercy, forgiveness, peace, joy, and salvation. This is some kind of love.

God is the one who initiated, sustains, and continues to offer reconciliation through Jesus Christ. Even when we were and while we are “enemies,” God sought and seeks to reconcile us, restoring our relationship with the Lord our God. We fall short, we sin, we separate. God lifts us up, forgives us, and restores us. This gracious, abundant, generous love – it is some kind of love.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for loving us no matter what. We tend to be far more selective in how, when, and with whom we love. Break this human tendency and create in us a heart like your heart. Through the power of your love at work in our lives, O God, lead us to love all people with your kind of love – gracious, abundant, generous, steady, unwavering. Amen.


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Hope Grows

Reading: Romans 5:1-5

Romans 5:1b – “We have peace with our God through Jesus Christ.”

In this world of trial and trouble and suffering, we have one in Christ who died for us and walks in Spirit with us every moment. The presence of God in Spirit is something we definitely need. Our world and our nation and often our lives feel full of violence and war, oppression and injustice. While it feels now and then that the evil has left us, our present reality is that it will return in another city, another policy, another scandal, another country, another injustice. Prayers for peace are crescendoing right now.

In Romans 5, Paul declares that because of Jesus’ faithfulness, “We have peace with our God through Jesus Christ.” Because of his sacrifice, Jesus opened the way for us to freely experience grace again and again, reconciling us to God, bringing peace back to that relationship. From this place of peace with God, we can face the “troubles” of this life. Paul states that we can “even take pride” in our problems. In fact, we can rejoice in trials, knowing that our faith is being refined and strengthened. Enduring in faith, God develops our righteous character. This character guides how we interact with, treat, and respond to others in our trials. We are aided and encouraged by the Spirit that has been “poured out in our hearts.” This righteous character and empowering by the Holy Spirit also enables us to walk with others in their troubles, building community.

Enduring faithfully, developing a righteous character, we find that hope blooms. As our steadfast God remains ever present, leading and guiding us by the Holy Spirit, we come to understand our troubles for what they are: temporary. They are confined to this world. Our true home is not in this world. As our companion walks with us, hope grows – for peace in this world and for joy in the life to come. May both be so for you, for me, for us all.

Prayer: Lord God, when the troubles and trials of this life ramp up, may your powerful Holy Spirit guide and lead us faithfully through. Fill us with strength and hope, trust and peace. Relying not on self, draw us deeper and deeper into faith in you. Amen.


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This Truth

Reading: Exodus 17:5-7

Exodus 17:6 – “I’ll be standing in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Hit the rock. Water will come out of it.”

Today we continue in Exodus 17. We read about God’s response to the people complaining, arguing with Moses, testing God, and asking for water. God shows none of the frustration that we could hear in Moses’ words yesterday. Taking some of the elders and the staff that parted the sea, Moses moved out. God instructs, “I’ll be standing in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Hit the rock. Water will come out of it.” Moses follows the instructions and water is provided.

Reading this story, we often think the miracle is water coming out of a dry rock in the middle of the desert. But there is a bigger miracle. God stands on the rock for Moses and the elders to see. No going up the mountain. No entering into the clouds. Right there, in plain sight. The visible presence of God is a reminder of the power behind the water… and the manna… and the bitter water becoming palatable… and… For us to see God in this way, simply being present, it would blow our doors off.

During Lent we are invited to be extra aware of God’s presence with us. Some do this through fasting. Some do this by reading a Lenten book or devotional. Some do this by volunteering once a week. We are also invited to be aware of God’s presence in the ordinary. Not every moment is a standing-on-the-rock moment. This awareness might come in the answering of a prayer, in the opening of a door, in the words spoken by a friend…

To notice God’s presence, to see God’s hand at work – these work to lessen our self-importance, our need to be in control, our desire to manipulate God. As we practice seeing and sensing God’s presence, we come to understand that God is always with us. God’s goodness is ever present. Understanding this truth, we know the answer to the Israelites’ question, “Is God really with us or not?”

Prayer: Lord God, sometimes we get caught up in our own troubles, worrier, wants… In these moments we become less able to sense or see your presence in our lives. When we slip down into this place, lift us up, pull us out, stand our feet upon your rock, Jesus Christ. In ways both big and small, open our eyes and hearts to your constant presence, love, and care. Amen.


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New Life – Now and Then

Reading: John 3:4-17

John 3:5 – “I assure you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, it’s not possible to enter the kingdom of God.”

As we continue today in the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, we go deeper. Nicodemus scoffs at being born again: “it’s impossible.” What if Nicodemus understands Jesus’ spiritual reference, but doesn’t think he can actually give up his status and power to follow Jesus? He’s worked so hard to get to his place on top of society. And he’s old – how can he change? How can this devout keeper of the Law become child-like in his faith, guided about here and there by the Holy Spirit, like a child being led by a loving parent?

Jesus offers him this assurance: “Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, it’s not possible to enter the kingdom of God.” Born of water might just be our human birth – “flesh is flesh.” To be born of the Spirit is to be born anew from above. Later the church would link baptism to these words of Jesus. Baptism was symbolic of dying to the old self as one was immersed in the waters, washed clean. Emerging from the waters, the new self received the Holy Spirit into their new, in-Christ heart. While today many of us are baptized as infants, in reality we all come to the point where we must decide to die to self and to the world in order to follow Jesus. For some, this surrender comes as a teen or young adult. For others, like Nicodemus, it comes later in life.

Connecting to Nicodemus’ Jewish roots, Jesus tells him that the Messiah will one day be raised up like Moses raised the golden snake – both in order to save people from death. Connecting to the new life then and now that Jesus offers to all who believe in him, he tells Nicodemus, “God didn’t send his son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” In that moment, Jesus is inviting Nicodemus to accept the salvation that Jesus offers. The offer is always open to us all. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, it can be scary to put our hand in your hand, trusting you to lead and guide as the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts. Where you lead, like the wind, we do not know. But we do know that it is away from a love of this world, into a love for you and for neighbor that calls us to surrender our life again and again. As we walk this new life, our hearts become full of love and peace, grace and mercy, joy and forgiveness – full to overflowing. Thank you, God. Amen.