pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: Christ


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Resolve

Reading: Jeremiah 29:1 and 4-7

Jeremiah 29:5-6 – “Build houses and settle down; cultivate gardens and eat what they produce. Get married and have children…”

In the opening verse we learn that Jeremiah sends a letter to those who have been brought into exile – to the elders, priests, prophets, and people taken to Babylon from Jerusalem. The typical thought process would be figuring out how to get back home ASAP. For us, when we’ve sinned and find ourselves in exile, this is normally our thought process. It will not be so for Jeremiah and for Israel.

This is part of God’s proclamation to Israel: “Build houses and settle down; cultivate gardens and eat what they produce. Get married and have children…” In other words, settle in and become a part of where God has sent you. Treat whatever city of exile as your new homeland. Contribute to the community’s welfare and pray for it. Israel will spend almost two generations in exile (70 years.) During this time God will produce a small but faithful remnant to return to Jerusalem and to the Promised Land.

Jeremiah is calling Israel to the fifth movement of Ignatuis’ Examen: resolve. In more modern language, God is asking Israel to “bloom where you are planted.” Being there for the long haul, God invites Israel to make the most of their new reality. A better future is out there for God’s people. But there is work to be done. Like Israel, at times we must resolve that tomorrow can and will be different. Working through request, relish, review, and repent we arrive at a place of heart prepared to look and move forward with hope. As we resolve to live more like Christ, God’s transforming Spirit leads us forward, deepening our relationship with God and with one another. May it be so each day as we learn to practice this powerful spiritual discipline.

Prayer: Lord God, lead and guide us to walk the walk, not just to talk the talk. Lead and guide us to work the steps, not just to give them a tip of the hat. Only when we put in the effort, only then will you work in and then through us, transforming our hearts and the communities in which we live and in which we worship. Strengthen and encourage us, O God. Amen.


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Disciplined Faithfulness

Reading: 2nd Timothy 2:8-15

2nd Timothy 2:15 – “Present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker… one who interprets the message of truth correctly.”

Photo credit: Aaron Burden

In today’s reading Paul is encouraging Timothy to pass on the message of the good news faithfully and correctly. In verses 8-10 Paul reminds Timothy of the example that Paul has set. Paul’s focus is on Jesus. This focus has led to suffering (he is in prison) yet Paul endures so that others “may experience salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” Paul’s faithfulness has allowed others to know the good news of Jesus Christ.

Verses 11-13 present the reality of our faithfulness when held up against Christ’s. When we do live faithfully – dying to ourselves, enduring suffering – then we live and rule with Christ. When we deny these things, living for self, then Jesus denies us too. In sin, we create this separation. Hope comes in the last verse: even when we are disloyal, Christ is faithful – that’s just who Jesus is. This is why Jesus is always there, always present to us.

Verse 11 engages the fourth step of Ignatuis’ Examen: repentance. Paul appeals to Timothy and to readers of this text to “die together” with Jesus Christ. This involves making the choice to die to those sins, both words and actions, that deny the Christ within us. Confession and repentance naturally flow out of step three (review) and they bring forgiveness, which brings us back into living faithfully with Jesus. To this end, Paul encourages Timothy to “not engage in battles over words” that cause harm. Such good advice for today! Paul then says, “Present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker… one who interprets the message of truth correctly.” This connects back to Paul’s words in verses 1-7, where he offers examples of disciplined faithfulness. This faithful daily living allows us to not only interpret the message correctly, but it also helps us to live it correctly, bringing God the glory and honor and praise.

Prayer: Lord God, on the good days, we are able to live faithfully, witnessing to your love and grace. But when life gets hard or when we suffer, the walk is more difficult. In these times, make your power and presence known in our hearts. Empower us to the disciplined faithfulness that allowed Paul to endure all things. Amen.


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Request

Reading: Luke 17:11-14

Luke 17:12-13 – “Ten men with skin diseases approached him… they raised their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, show us mercy.'”

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus encounters ten men who have been living apart from the rest of the world – apart from family, apart from friends, apart from neighbors, apart from places of worship. Because of their skin disease, the Law requires them to live outside of community, isolated and ostracized. Cultural norms must have enforced this too. One outside the Law is living outside of community.

As Jesus is entering a village, here is what happens: “Ten men with skin diseases approached him… they raised their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, show us mercy.'” They raise voices and shout because they are not supposed to come close to Jesus. In a similar way, someone must’ve shouted at these men about this Jesus and his power to heal. Maybe a loved one shouted the good news to them one day. Or perhaps it was a passersby who was loudly praising God on his or her way home after personally encountering the healer.

The ten are practicing the first step of the spiritual discipline called the Examen. They are asking Jesus to draw near to them – to be in his divine presence. We do this almost naturally when we or a loved one is sick or otherwise in need of divine presence and help. As the lepers did, we too often ask for more than to simply be in Jesus’ presence. As the lepers are following Jesus’ instructions to go to the priest, “they are cleansed.” Skin diseases healed, there is now an unspoken invitation to enter Jesus’ presence. Only one will respond. Only one will experience the presence that Ignatius sought. His desire was to simply enter God’s presence, to feel or sense God with him. That was all. No pleas or petitions. Just sit in the presence of God. May this be our request and our experience today.

Prayer: Lord God, lead and guide us to a place of heart and mind where we can sit or rest in your presence. It is natural to move right into asking. We want you to be with us or with a loved one so that you can ___. Lord, move us away from transaction and into relationship. Yes, at times we do ask and it is good and right. But grant us times when we are still and quiet and present to you. Draw us close, O God. Amen.


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A Deeper Faith

Reading: Psalm 66:1-4

Psalm 66:1-2 – “Shout joyfully to God, all the earth! Sing praises to the glory of God’s name!”

Psalm 66 is a celebration of God’s mighty acts amongst the people of Israel. In the opening verses the psalmist invites us to “shout joyfully” and to “sing praises” so that God is glorified. In our walks of faith, gratitude and praise are two essential practices. Often in our life of faith, it is gratitude that leads to praise. In the first verses of Psalm 66 the gratitude comes from seeing God’s strength rescue Israel from “your enemies.” Being saved leads Israel to praise and glorify God. While it is a good habit to praise God, our relationship with God is about more than God thanking God for saving us. We’ll explore some other practices a bit today and throughout this week that can deepen our walk of faith.

In this week’s Disciplines, Rev. Dr. Mark Wethington shares insights into an ancient spiritual discipline established by Ignatius of Loyola called the Examen. This regular practice looks back and reflects on a period of time, usually a day. A modern take on this 16th century practice offers us the five R’s as a means to remember the steps: request, relish, review, repent, resolve. The practice begins with requesting God’s presence during this time of reflection and introspection. One then relishes God’s presence and blessings in the day. This is followed by a review of one’s day – what sins and failures were there? The movement turns next to repenting of the ways that one fell short and, lastly, one resolves that through God’s grace one will strive to live more like Christ in the next day.

As we work through this week’s lectionary readings we will do so with the five R’s in mind. There is not always a linear pattern in the scriptures. For example, Psalm 66 begins with “relish,” but will turn to “request” as we read the next verses later this week. As we close today, please take a moment to work through the five R’s. Each day this week, following the example given in the Disciplines, we will add depth to our practice of this ancient spiritual discipline.

Prayer: Lord God, guide us this week as we practice this ancient way of drawing closer to you day by day. Work within our hearts to form us more into the image of Christ. Thank you, Lord. Amen.


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A Simple Walk

Reading: Luke 17:5-10

Luke 17:10 – “When you have done everything required of you, you should say, ‘We servants deserve no special praise. We have only done our duty.'”

In the opening verses of chapter 17 Jesus calls the disciples to live in a community of faith that both holds one another accountable and forgives a repentant brother or sister in Christ again and again and again and… Hearing this call to really love well, the disciples think themselves incapable of being this faithful. In response to this feeling, they say to Jesus, “Increase our faith!” In verses 6-10 Jesus gives two responses to their request. In both responses the bottom line is clear. The disciples have enough faith – they just need to act on the faith that they already have. The same can often be said for most of us who profess faith in Jesus Christ.

Faith, like the roots of a tree, are our “unseen” foundation. Claiming faith in Jesus establishes those roots in our hearts. As we live out our call to be light and love in the world, our roots develop and grow stronger. Growth that is visible begins to emerge in small ways – helping a neighbor, standing against an injustice, feeding the hungry. While the idea of doing these kinds of things may feel outside of our comfort zones at first, Jesus tells us that if we just had “faith the size of a mustard seed” and if we put that faith to work, then we could do all these things and so much more. If we would trust the power of the faith that is already in our hearts, then we will experience God moving in and through us.

The small, incremental acts of faith are what lead to a greater and greater application of our faith. The path Jesus calls us to walk, though, is quite simple at its core: love God, love neighbor. This is everything required of us. It is our duty, it is our call, it is our means to share the good news of Jesus Christ with a world in need of love and hope and peace.

Prayer: Lord God, at the dawn one can sense that the sun is about to poke through. It is simply what happens every time. At the moment of opportunity, when we are in a place to love well, may our faith poke through. Lead and guide and empower us daily, Lord, so that as we grow in our faith, loving well is simply what happens all the time. Amen.


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Faith, Calling, Trust

Reading: 2nd Timothy 1:8-14

2nd Timothy 1:14 – “Protect this good thing that has been placed in your trust through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”

As we continue in 2nd Timothy 1 today, the call to trust into God and to rely on the indwelling power and presence of the Holy Spirit remains front and center. Paul encourages Timothy to do these two things and to keep the faith, even when suffering for doing so. He reminds young Timothy to depend on God, “the one who saved and called us with a holy calling.” This call was not from anywhere or anyone other than God, so it is backed with God’s purpose and grace as revealed in Jesus Christ. This call, this purpose, this grace – all of this applies to you and to me as well.

In verse 11 Paul shows Timothy how this has worked in his life. Paul was called by God as a messenger, apostle, and teacher. Paul has suffered for answering the call, but he is not ashamed. He is living out his holy calling. He knows the God in whom he trusts. Paul is convinced that God is powerful enough to protect his trust and his faith. All of these truths are universal. Paul wants Timothy to know that they apply to him. They are truths for us too.

The last two verses turn the focus to Timothy (and to us.) Paul first encourages Timothy to hold fast to the pattern of teaching modeled by Paul. Timothy is told to use the love and faith found in Jesus as the means to hold onto good teaching. We have Paul’s model to hold to. And we also have Jesus’ model recorded in the gospels. In verse 14 we read, “Protect this good thing that has been placed in your trust through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” Call on the power and strength of the Holy Spirit within. Allow the power and presence of the Spirit to protect your faith, your trust, and your calling to serve God and neighbor in love and grace. Relying not on self but on the power and presence of the Spirit, may we too be used to share the good news.

Prayer: Lord God, guide us to open ourselves to your calling and purpose for us and for our lives. We’ve all been called to be messengers of the good news of Jesus Christ. We’re all created with your spark within – with the ability to love and care for one another. Fan that spark into flame, Lord, as we learn to apply the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to our own walk of faith. Amen.


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A Spirit Within

Reading: 2nd Timothy 1:1-7

2nd Timothy 1:7 – “God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled.”

In the greeting of his second letter to Timothy, Paul drops in a reminder of one of the core teachings of the faith: “the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.” Paul subtly reminds Timothy of a truth that he knows and claims but maybe doesn’t live out all of the time. This can happen to us too. In the difficult times and even in times when the daily routine gets rut-like, we can temporarily lose or drift from our faith. This happens most often for me when I bypass God – when I don’t stop and pray about something and when I just try to do whatever on my own.

Timothy is a gifted young pastor who is also too timid and too easily intimidated. Paul spent time with him, modeling what it looked like to preach the gospel with power and authority. Paul expresses gratitude for this time. He also celebrates the family legacy of faith that Timothy received from Lois and Eunice. Paul is “sure that this faith lives in you [Timothy].” Timothy is also reminded that Paul prays “day and night” for him and that he and his ministry was blessed by Paul’s “laying in of my hands.” Timothy has all he needs to faithfully serve the Lord.

The same is true for us. While we might not have had a Paul or Lois or Eunice in our lives and while preaching might not be our gift, we all have what we need to faithfully serve God. Paul writes of it in verse 7: “God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled.” When we claim the love, power, and self-control available through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence in us, then we can serve God and neighbor faithfully. Doing so, we do “preach” the good news of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord God, fill us with the presence of the Holy Spirit. Through that presence make us aware of both the gifts that you’ve given us and of the call that you’ve placed on in our lives. With the Spirit’s presence, lead us out in bold service to your kingdom. Through this service and through the power of the Spirit at work in and through us, may others come to know, claim, and live into the promise of eternal life found in Jesus Christ. Amen.


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But as For You…

Reading: 1st Timothy 6:6-16

1st Timothy 6:11 – “But as for you, man [or woman] of God, pursue righteousness, holy living, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.”

Photo credit: Caleb Jones

As we turn to 1st Timothy today and tomorrow, we see that idolatry is still a struggle for the people of God. The situation is no different today. In Paul’s day, false teachers were trying to get rich instead of trying to save souls. They bickered with one another because their motivation was selfish. In verse 7 Paul writes this eternal truth: “We didn’t bring anything into the world and so we can’t take anything out of it.” In Paul’s day, just as it is today, many who were trying to get rich were falling into all kinds of temptations. This sad reality leads Paul to this observation: “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” We could easily substitute power, status, popularity… for the word “money.”

Starting in verse 11, Paul presents a different way of living. In this verse he commands Timothy (and us) to this way of living: “But as for you, man [or woman] of God, pursue righteousness, holy living, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.” To live in the will and ways of God contrasts sharply with living in the ways of the world. Instead of seeking personal gain in many forms, a life of faith leads us to first love God and then to love neighbor. The focus on self is minimalized as we pursue righteousness, holy living… Paul goes on to encourage Timothy (and us) to “Compete in the good fight of faith. Grab hold of eternal life.” To live counter to our human tendency towards selfishness is indeed a fight. To give oneself in humble service to God and others – yes, it is a fight. But it is a fight that yields contentment in this life and joy in the life to come. May we daily choose to fight the good fight of faith.

Prayer: Lord God, so many voices, so many things tell us to gather, to hoard, to accumulate. Yet it is so clear that these behaviors do not bring peace or contentment or joy or anything else truly good to our lives. You alone are the giver of all that is truly good. Guide us, O Lord, to pursue you above all else, leading us to walk faithfully in your will and ways. Amen.


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The Most Important Thing

Reading: 1st Timothy 2:1-7

1st Timothy 2:1 – “First of all, then, I ask that requests, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving be made for all people.”

Paul writes to Timothy to instruct him on how to build faithful congregations. These words are based on years and years of experience. This letter includes instructions on personal and communal living, on what and how to preach, and on how to guide a congregation to reveal Christ’s love to the world. In chapter 2 Paul hones in on the most important thing: prayer.

In verse 1 we read, “First of all, then, I ask that requests, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving be made for all people.” Before you do anything else, pray. For Jesus, for Paul, and for for us, prayer is the foundation and life-blood of our faith. This simple practice is essential. For Paul, these basic conversations with God should include all people. This includes family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, brothers and sisters in Christ, the person you met at the market, leaders… To pray for others is to lift them and their needs to God. In this way, prayer is an act of humility.

For me, almost every day begins with a cup of coffee, sitting quietly on the couch, slowly praying through a long list of names. This is how I choose to begin my day because it focuses my heart and mind for the day ahead. This quiet work aligns me with God so that my words and actions might better reflect God’s love for all people.

Paul encouraged Timothy to model and teach prayer to his congregations. Paul knew from experience that praying congregations were faithful congregations. In and through prayer they found and we will find the power and the strength to live as God’s people in the world. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, lead and guide us to be faithful first in our prayers. Whether early in the morning or late at night or somewhere in between, through your Holy Spirit ground us in your will and way as we spend quiet moments with you. Open our hearts and minds to hear your voice and to feel your direction for our lives and for our ministries. Amen.


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Glory Revealed

Reading: Psalm 79:6-9

Psalm 79:8 – “Don’t remember the iniquities of past generations; let your compassion hurry to meet us because we’ve been brought so low.”

Photo credit: Tobias Rademacher

As we continue in Psalm 79 today the psalmist asks God to redirect the anger of God that burns like fire. The plea is made to “pour out” that fire on the pagan nations – those that have “devoured” God’s people and have ransacked the land. Then there is a shift. In verse 8 the psalmist prays, “Don’t remember the iniquities of past generations; let your compassion hurry to meet us because we’ve been brought so low.” The psalmist is part of a very, very small segment of the Israelites that remained true to God. It was other’s sins that brought God’s wrath on Israel, in the form of Babylonian conquest.

At this lowest point, living fully in the tragedy, the psalmist still chooses faithfulness and hope in God. To choose otherwise will fracture or possibly remove all faith. There are times when we are negatively affected by past or by systemic or by societal sin. The division in our nation is a good example. Choosing to dwell in and to fuel the fires of “us” versus “them” at every opportunity is living and acting in ways counter to the loving and unifying way of Christ. In this current climate we can choose prayer and God’s presence or we can allow the tide to sweep us along down that evil path.

In verse 9 the psalmist cries out for God’s salvation, deliverance, and forgiveness. These are all found in relationship with God. These are gifts of God that we can receive no matter what is happening in the world around us. While pain and suffering and hardship may come, in prayer we can experience God’s compassion, love, mercy, grace… These gifts of God empower us to remain faithful and to live righteous lives in the midst of this broken world. This is how the glory of God will be revealed. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, when the brokenness of this world feels overwhelming, when the tide feels like it will surely pull us under, help us to feel your hand reaching out. Gently guide us to step into your presence, prayerfully deepening our relationship with you. In that place, pour out your hope and strength upon us, empowering us to be light and love in the darkness of our world. Amen.