pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: Churches


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Doing “What Is Right”

Reading: 2nd Thessalonians 3:11-13

2nd Thessalonians 3:13 – “We command and encourage such people to work quietly and put their own food on the table.”

As we add a few more verses to yesterday’s reading we continue with Paul’s charge to live a disciplined life. Some in these churches are not doing so. This is frustrating those who are doing so. This scenario is present in our churches today. At this time, some who are fully able to work are choosing not to. Paul is not addressing those who are incapable of working, those with physical and/or mental limitations. This becomes clear as we press on.

In the second part of verse 11 Paul identifies “meddling” as a key issue. Other translations use the term “busybody.” Because these folks are choosing not to work, instead only taking from the community’s pool of resources, they have lots of time to get into other people’s business. This is not healthy for the individual or for the faith community. Gossip is likely the key form of meddling. Paul then states, “We command and encourage such people to work quietly and put their own food on the table.” Stay in your lane, don’t meddle in other people’s lives, help put food on the common table. The apostle encourages them all to do “what is right.”

There might be another layer to Paul’s words. There often is in scripture. Paul might also be talking about faith practices. In this arena, to be disciplined would include daily study and prayer, regular communal worship, fasting… Maybe some in the churches aren’t “working” at these practices. Maybe then the food they are lacking is spiritual food for their souls. Maybe some are dabbling in pagan worship or other forms of idolatry. And, maybe like some today, maybe some are just showing up now and then on a Sunday morning, tapping into the gifts of community occasionally instead of regularly. In each of these cases, they are treating their faith to a starvation diet. This is not healthy either.

Prayer: Lord God, lead and guide us to encourage one another – in living life and in practicing our faith. Through words and acts of love, use us to draw others back into community, back to faith. And keep us disciplined ourselves, Lord, ever growing closer to you and to one another. Amen.


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May Your Kingdom Come

Reading: Joel 2:28-32

Joel 2:32 – “But everyone who calls on the Lord’s name will be saved.”

Moving from yesterday’s suffering, sin, repentance, and hope, today we move into and beyond the ‘now and not yet’ of Joel 2. Once God has brought the exiles home and returned abundance to the land and to the people of God… or at some point in the future… God says, “After that I will pour out my Spirit upon everyone…” For Joel and his audience, this would be when the Messiah came, inaugurating a new era with a new heaven and earth.

Just proceeding that new era, sons and daughters, old men and young men, even slaves, will receive the Spirit. They will speak of and dream of this new coming kingdom. On that day, when it comes, there will be “blood and fire and columns of smoke” and it will be a “great and dreadful day.” And there is a ‘but.’ In verse 32 we read, “But everyone who calls on the Lord’s name will be saved.” God’s faithful will be saved.

As the story of the Bible continues, thoughts on this day evolve and develop. When Jesus arrived, he brought a dramatic shift in the understanding of the new kingdom. Jesus is clear that Joel’s (and other’s) visions of the new heaven and earth will indeed be glorious on that day, but… But, Jesus said, the kingdom is here now. Jesus taught us disciples to pray, “may your kingdom come… may your will be done… on earth as it is in heaven.” The time that Joel speaks of? Jesus is clear: the time is now. All people – men, women, young, old, slaves, free, rich, poor… – all people can receive the Spirit. All people are invited to live in and to be a part of God’s kingdom here on earth. All who call on the Lord’s name will be saved. O Lord, may your kingdom come and may your will be done! And may it begin with us.

Prayer: Lord God, open wide the doors of our hearts and of our churches! Opened wide, use us to build this kingdom where all are welcomed, where all know that they are beloved of you, and of us. Opened wide, use us to declare that each person, created in your image, one and all, are invited to your table of grace. Use us, Lord, to make this beautiful kingdom a reality here and now. Amen.


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Grace, Blessing, and Presence

Reading: Psalm 67

Psalm 67:1-2 – “Let God grant us grace and bless us… so that your salvation becomes known among the nations.”

This week we focus on God’s blessings – some physical and some spiritual. Our readings will culminate in Revelation with the tree of life that provides food and healing for the nations. Ezekiel 47 will also connect to this gift of God. Other readings this week focus on the peace, grace, and salvation offered by the Lord. We begin today with Psalm 67.

In the opening verses of Psalm 67 the writer invites God’s grace, blessing, and presence to be upon Israel. This is not just a request for Israel. These gifts from God will draw other nations to Israel so that they too can know the salvation that God offers. Our faith and our churches should function the same way. A quote often attributed to Francis of Assissi encourage us to preach the good news always, using words when necessary. God’s presence and love should be revealed in and through our lives, drawing others towards Christ and salvation.

Israel’s response and the response of those who receive salvation should be thanksgiving, celebration, and joy. God is just and fair and will guide all people to receive abundant life here and one day in the life to come. The physical joins these spiritual blessings in verse 6, where the psalmist acknowledges God’s hand at work. Here he or she writes, “The earth has yielded its harvest.” This too is a blessing from our creator God. It is how God designed and created this world. While this is yet to be realized, we pray for a time when all people experience the abundance that God intends for all the earth. This is God’s plan and design. With hope we join our voices with those in the far ends of the earth as we rejoice and say, thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you today for the many ways in which you bless our lives. Here you are our provider and guide, our encourager and sustainer, our hope and our light. You call us to abundantly and graciously share these blessings with others, opening their hearts to receive from you. This is just the beginning though. You also offer eternity in your glorious presence through the salvation of our souls. For all of this, O God, we too thank you. Amen.