pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Trusting, Confessing

Reading: Romans 8:18-10:21

Romans 10:10 – “Trusting with the heart leads to righteousness, and confessing with the mouth leads to salvation.”

Photo credit: Shane Rounce

As we continue in Romans 8 today we find great hope. First Paul reminds us that this present suffering is nothing compared to the coming glory. With hope we await being “set free” as we who have the Spirit become the “first crop.” Today these words remind me of the rapture imagery found in Revelation.

Paul then speaks of the Spirit’s role in our lives. The Spirit intercedes for us, praying for us, “consistent with God’s will.” Accordingly, God works all things – us included – towards the good. God is good. To work this process out, we are increasingly conformed to Christ’s image. In this process we become less and less like the world. Therefore nothing worldly – trouble, harassment, famine… death, rulers… – nothing can separate us from God’s love that we find in and through Jesus. Hallelujah!

The apostle shifts gears in chapter 9. Paul laments Israel’s rejection of Christ. He would give up his salvation to see Israel turn to Christ. Yet Paul also recognizes that this is God’s plan unfolding, not his. This is a good reminder to us. It is God who shows mercy and compassion to whom God chooses. This is why it is the Gentiles who came to faith that leads to righteousness. The Jews instead sought to “establish their own righteousness.” But keeping all of the Law proved impossible. The righteousness that leads to salvation comes only through faith. Paul summarizes in 10:10 – “Trusting with the heart leads to righteousness, and confessing with the mouth leads to salvation.” May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, faith, trust, hope, obedience, surrender – such simple concepts in many ways. In an ideal world, so easy. Yet our world is not easy or ideal. Many things can challenge or assault our faith – real things like death, harassment, famine… Lord, may your Spirit intercede for us always and may it walk with us, strengthening and encouraging us in our walk of faith. As ones who are conformed to your Son, and therefore to you, use us as love and mercy and compassion in your world. Amen.


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Generously and Graciously

Reading: 2nd Corinthians 9:6-15

Verse 13: “Men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ.”

On this Thanksgiving Day we read Paul’s words about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ “generously.” I wonder, is that how others would describe the way you and I live out the great commission to make disciples of all peoples?

Paul used a farming analogy to encourage how we answer that question about how we share the good news. He begins by telling us that if we sow sparingly, we will reap sparingly. A seed here and a seed there may produce a few plants. But we’re looking for a crop. A seedling here and there soon withers and dies. A crop grows to produce a harvest. Half-hearted or lukewarm or reluctant sharing of the good news will not result in a bumper crop. Non-believers must feel the intensity of our Jesus relationship. They must come to know that Jesus is the source of the love and grace and hope and peace and… that they feel and see when they encounter you and me.

We’re also reminded that we do not work alone. God supplies all that we need to sow seeds of faith generously in the world. Equipped by God, our task is to “abound in every good work.” When we live out our faith in this way, then “Men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ.” This can be our truth every day.

May we generously and graciously share the gospel of Jesus Christ with all that we meet. Doing so we will draw others to Christ. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, as we respond to your call to be sharers of the gospel, may your hand nurture the seeds we plant. As we bear witness to your love and grace with our lives, may your power produce an abundant crop for the transformation of the world. Amen.


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Sow Seeds

Reading: Matthew 13:18-23

Verse 23b: “This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Today we read Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the sower. Unpacking it for his disciples, Jesus covers the gamut of belief. He begins with those who hear the word of God but do not understand it. It does not even begin to take root, so it falls away quickly and easily. Then Jesus moves on to the three “soils” who hear and understand the word of God. Some, after receiving it, fall away because of the trouble or hardship caused by their faith. And others fall away because the cares and concerns of the world are stronger than their faith. Lastly, Jesus tells us that some will hear and understand and apply the word to their lives. These go out and do what Jesus says to do, leading others to faith by their witness. This is the crop yielded from their faith: new believers.

These various soils were the reality of Jesus’ day. People heard and accepted his teachings to various degrees. Some were all-in for the long haul. Many others were not. This has remained true throughout the ages. Even so, the task laid out in the parable remains the task of the disciple: sow seeds and trust that God will be at work, sprouting seeds into faith that lasts.

There is also a personal application to this parable. Our receptivity and obedience rises and falls. Some days, for example, we hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and we respond in faith. Other days we are deaf or lazy or… and the word is not responded to. And God the sower continues to scatter seeds of faith into our soil, looking for us to be good soil that produces a crop. May we do all we can to be good soil.

Prayer: Lord God, today I ask that you would use me to sow seeds of faith in other people’s lives as you sow seeds in my soil. Use me as you see fit. Amen.


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Whoever Has Ears…

Reading: Matthew 13:1-9

Verse 9: “Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

For our last two days this week we turn to our gospel lesson from Matthew 13. This is a familiar parable to us and is a very familiar subject to his audience – at least on the surface level. Jesus often taught in parables. These were stories often framed in common settings, told like a story. This parable is about farming. It is told in such a way that some hearers would be drawn to delve deeper to understand what Jesus was really talking about. No farmer in his or her right mind would ever waste good seed on rocky or thorny soil, nevermind upon the path! Jesus’ upsidedown, inside out teaching style led some in the crowds to wonder what in the world Jesus was really talking about.

Each parable that Jesus taught usually had a main theme or point. But some of the time there are multiple ways to read or interpret just what that main point is. Most parables raised lots of questions and prompted lots of thinking if one was willing to go past the surface level. This can be one of those parables. In addition to the “no farmer in…” statement above, we can ask, is this more about the soil or is it about the sower? Which one are we? Are we both? Could the seed sown in the illogical places still produce a crop or a harvest? Is Jesus saying that it is good or that we are to sow in these hard, rocky, and thorny places? When…? How…?

These and more are the questions that can come up as we read and ponder and wrestle with the parable of the sower. As we do, may we do so with Jesus’ blessing: “Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

Prayer: Lord God, as we wrestle with and ponder over your word, open not only our ears but our hearts and minds as well. Reveal your truths to us and guide us to apply them to our lives. Amen.


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Seeds and Soil

Reading: John 12:20-36

Verse 24: “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.”

In today’s passage Jesus speaks of life and death. There are layers to these words that Jesus shares. He is speaking personally as his own death looms just days away. In verse 24 we read, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.” Christ, the single seed, must die so that the Holy Spirit can come, empowering more than one person to produce fruit for the kingdom of God. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus will be present in spirit in the hearts of all who believe.

Jesus is talking to Andrew and Peter, to all the disciples, and to all the disciples who will one day read these words. Like Jesus we too must be willing to surrender self to God – to hate this earthly life. Once we surrender then we become that kernel of wheat that dies so that it can produce other seeds. These seeds that we plant in the hearts and lives of others are what the Holy Spirit can work with to build the kingdom of God.

There is another connection, another layer here too. In Luke 8, in the parable of the sower, Jesus spoke of the soil and of sowing seeds. The parable discussed 4 “soils,” from the hard path to the fertile soil. Part of the Lenten journey has been to look within, to reflect on the condition of our soil. Our soil must be good in order to help produce a crop 100 times what was sown for the kingdom. The parable also addresses how to sow. Abundantly is the answer. We are to share the light and love of Jesus Christ with all people – even the ones who appear hard-hearted. There is no limiting the power of the Holy Spirit!

To close, a John Wesley question: How is it with your soul?

Prayer: Lord God, day after day help me to surrender self to you. Help me to lay my pride, my judging, my self-doubt at the foot of the cross. Lead me from there to live a life that shines the light and love of Christ on others, planting and nourishing the seeds of faith in their soil. Amen.


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Enduring Patience

Reading: James 5: 7-10

Verse 8: “You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near”.

Patience, patience, patience. Patience is such a tough thing to practice, especially when the situation is difficult. The difficulty can come from a variety of angles. For the brothers and sisters in Christ that James is writing to, the difficulty comes from the persecution and suffering that they are enduring. When we have been experiencing times of stress or distress, we have known how hard it is to patiently endure. This is what James is addressing in our passage today.

James turns to a familiar test of patience. He encourages them to consider the farmer. The farmer sows the seeds and then he patiently waits. With the sun and the rain that will surely come, he waits, trusting that the land will “yield its valuable crop”. It can be hard to have patience when growing crops. I have had a home garden for many years now. As I reflect back on each season I can now remember a familiar scene playing out. We would plant carrots, lettuce, and so on. Then about a week later I would go out to the garden, sometimes multiple times each day, checking to see if those little green shoots had popped up yet. Soon it became a practice in patience. Early in my gardening career my mind would question or doubt if the shoots took a little too much time to come up.

Our faith is a lot like that too. When the first trials or seasons of suffering come along, we do not have much patience. We quickly cry out, “How long, O God”? But as we spend a few more seasons in the valleys, experiencing God’s presence and strength and guidance… over and over again, we begin to build trust in God. Our doubts and questions and fears ebb away. We soon see these seasons as times of growth and maturing.

In verse eight James writes, “You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near”. Be like the farmer, trust in God. For all who are struggling in the trial right now, cling to these words of hope and promise. To do so yields an unshakable belief that becomes your rock. As the faithful Christian endures the storms with patience and faith, we do come to know the truth of Jesus coming near. He never leaves us or forsakes us, especially in the trials. Be near to us, Lord Jesus, this we pray.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for being my anchor in every stormy gale. In the lows and in the highs and everywhere in between, your Holy Spirit is ever present. Thanks be to God. Amen.


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Awesome Deeds

Reading: Psalm 65: 5-13

Verse 5: “You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth”.

The psalmist reminds us of God’s power and might. God’s power formed the mountains. The hope we find in our God extends “to all the ends of the earth”. In power and might God calmed the seas and will calm the turmoil of the nations. One day there will be peace on earth. On that day too God will “call forth songs of joy”. We long for the day.

As we wait, God continues to “care for the land… you enrich it abundantly”. God reveals power and enriches our lives by caring for the crops. God’s love is shown in the rich abundance of provision. In rejoicing, “the people shout for joy and sing” – they thank God for the flocks and grains that cover the hills.

Perhaps you are in the agricultural field and you can thank God for the bounty of the fields and pastures. Or maybe you are in another line of work and you have a different “field of blessing” for which to thank God. Perchance your vocation is as a parent or grandparent to the blessings of God in your life. Whatever the case, may we reflect for a moment on God’s awesome deeds in our lives and then rejoice in song or prayer for all the Lord has done.

Prayer: God, thank you for the wonderful blessings in my life – for you choosing me, for my family, for the work of my hands. Praise the God from whom all blessings truly flow! Amen.


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Provider and Defender

Reading: Psalm 81: 15-16

Verse 16: “You would be fed with the finest wheat; with honey from the rock”.

Most of Psalm 81 laments Israel’s most recent choice to worship idols instead of the God who did so much for them. In today’s passage, the last two verses of the Psalm, we hear the “if only” of the writing. The enemies of Israel would cringe and receive punishment and the Israelites “would be fed with the finest wheat; with honey from the rock” if only the people would turn again to the Lord their God.

The Promised Land has always been that special place set aside for God’s people. Ever since Abraham received the promise, it has been seen as the “land flowing with milk and honey”. As the Israelites finally entered it at the end of the exodus, there was an abundance of crops and resources that simply became theirs to reap and harvest. The land could not have been any better for a people who had been roaming the desert for forty years.

The bounty of the land is just one symbolic way that shows God’s love for the Israelites. God’s offer to protect them from their enemies is one more example of God’s love and care. Many years later, when Jesus taught the disciples to pray, these two ideas were included. Jesus taught to ask God to “give us this day our daily bread”. This reminds us that God is our provider. Later on in the prayer we pray, “and keep us from temptation”. Keep Satan, our biggest enemy, from us, O God. This reminds us that God is our defender.

We, like the Israelites, have our times when we wander off from God. Although it could be for forty years, let’s hope not. No matter how long it is or how quickly we seek to return to God, God is always there, always quick to grant mercy and to extend forgiveness. Some things never change – God still desires a personal relationship with each of us. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord God, for being my provider and my defender. In all that life and the evil one brings, you are my only hope. Thank you for walking every day with me. You’re an awesome God! Amen.


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Open to Others

Reading: Luke 12: 13-21

Verse 15: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions”.

On its most basic level the parable of the rich man is about greed and the negative decisions it can lead to. In the parable a bumper crop triggered the man’s “mine” instincts. He decided he had to build bigger barns to store his new crop. He coveted his grain because in it he saw not only financial security but also a chance to take some time to enjoy life. He was very focused on self.

Possessions and wealth are not the only things we can feel greed over and can seek to covet. This morning I read about a small neighborhood church in a changing community that decided to take a chance and reach out. Instead of holding onto their church, they opened their doors and invited their new immigrant neighbors inside. They invited them in and began praying with them – to find homes and jobs and for comfort to their loneliness. The praying led to relationships and that small church grew as their new friends became brothers and sisters in Christ.

Some churches could see new faces as threats to what they have and know. In many cases immigrants are cast in an “us” and “them” scenario. And immigrants are not the only people groups that can be seen in an “us” and “them” framework. When we create perceived differences between ourselves and another group of people, we are denying that they too were created in the image of God. When we allow greed to put up a barrier between us and our neighbors, we are holding tightly to what we have always known or had and are not allowing God’s love to work in our neighborhood, in our community, in our world, or in our own heart.

The rich man was focused only on self. He could not see all he had to offer his neighbors. His greed prevented him from seeing beyond himself and from experiencing God’s love at work. In the end, what good did all that grain do him? Storing up and holding things for ourselves – goods, money, time, compassion, prayers, empathy, a place at the table – does not make us rich towards God either. May we all learn a little from the rich man and from the church that opened its doors to those outside. May we practice what we learn.

Prayer: Lord God, who is out there today for me to engage? Lead me to share your love with another today. Soften my heart and open my eyes, hands, and feet. Amen.


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Talents to Work

Reading: Matthew 25: 14-30

Verse 25: “So I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the ground”.

Fear motivates at least the third slave.  He is fearful of losing the master’s money so he goes and buries it in the ground.  At least when the master returns he can give him what is his.  He is playing it safe.  He knows the master is harsh, so he avoids taking a risk.  When the master returns he punishes the third slave for playing it too safe.  The one talent he has is taken and given to the one with ten talents.  The third slave is thrown out into the darkness.

As Christians, does God expect us to take chances, to do some risky things for our faith?  I think He does.  At a minimum we are called to live out our faith.  In the simple way we live our lives, we should be sharing our faith with others.  This takes risks.  To offer fellowship to that co-worker who always seems to be alone takes on the risk of rejection.  To offer grace and forgiveness to that classmate who always wants to be first, usually hurting others to get there, takes on the risk of being hurt again.  To ask that person who seems to be in a rough spots takes on the risk of involvement and possibly relationship.  And these are just a few small risks that God expects us to take as ones who try and follow Christ’s example.  Each act, as a small seed planted, will one day bear fruit for the kingdom.

I believe God is also calling us to more than simply living out our faith.  God creates each of us uniquely, with special talents inside each of us.  Some are teachers, some are preachers, some are evangelists, …  God expects us to take these talents and to put these to work as well.  It usually involves stepping out of our comfort zones the first time or two.  Yet as we live into the call of God on our lives, we begin to see these actions bearing fruit as well.  God desires to be at work in and through us, allowing the light and love of Jesus to go forth into the world, bearing a crop 30, 60, or 100 times what was sown.  In both the small ways and in the big ways, may we each seek to use the talents that God has given us to build the kingdom here on earth.