pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Together

Reading: Philippians 1:21-30

Philippians 1:27 – “Most important, live together in a manner worthy of Christ’s gospel.”

Paul writes the letter to the Philippians from prison in Rome. He awaits trial before Caesar. He has found opportunities to share Christ even there. His example of faithful witness has led other believers to speak more boldly and with greater courage. Paul hopes that this continues to be the case for him and for his ministry. And in this dire situation, there is no fear of death. There is no desperation to continue living this life. There is hope.

In verse 21 Paul expresses his wrestling with life, faith, and death: “Because for me, living serves Christ and dying is even better.” Yes, part of Paul longs to go to heaven, to see Jesus Christ face to face once again. As he unpacks this tension, Paul comes to understand that it is better for him to “stay in this world for your sake.” Through his ministry, the gospel is spreading. He is still effective. People in Rome, Philippi, and other communities are “progressing” in their faith and are finding joy in Christ.

Paul then shifts from himself to his fellow believers in verses 27-30. His summary statement comes in verse 27: “Most important, live together in a manner worthy of Christ’s gospel.” Paul is referring here to living like Jesus in their/our public, visible life. He is encouraging believers to allow their faith to be evident – not just in church but everywhere, all the time. The apostle is also stressing the importance of unity in the community of faith. We are to be unified with “one mind and spirit” (of Christ.) Living a connected faith, they and we are able to “stand firm” and together to experience the “privilege” of both believing in and suffering for Christ. The walk of faith is not always easy. But together – with Jesus Christ and with one another – we can experience the joys and the growth in our faith that come with striving forward side by side, day by day. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the reminder to live a public, active faith. It is in community that we find the opportunity to practice grace, mercy, forgiveness, welcome… Work in and through us, O God, drawing others into a relationship with Jesus and into our communities of faith, where support, encouragement, connection, and accountability are found. Amen.


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Day by Day, Step by Step

Reading: Exodus 16:6-12

Exodus 16:12d – “Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”

Grain by grain

In our reading from day two in Exodus 16, Moses and Aaron relay God’s decision to the people. God’s response is prefaced by why God is responding to the people’s complaints: so they will know that it was God who brought them out of Egypt. I’d always questioned why they would need a reminder. They’d just survived the death of the firstborn, walked through a sea, witnessed the total destruction of Pharaoh’s army, and experienced God turning bitter water sweet. But yesterday in a small group study at church, I heard a new thought. It was pointed out that Israel was still so new to the faith. Israel was just getting reacquainted with God.

Having heard the people’s complaints, a loving God responds with meat in the evening and bread in the morning. Through Aaron and Moses, God then invites the people to draw near to God. The glorious presence of the Lord is revealed in the cloud that has been leading Israel on their desert journey. After this experience and the receiving of the meat and bread, God declares, “Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.” God’s day by day presence through provision will remind the Israelites that God is always with them.

In our wilderness experiences, we often cry out to God. And like it was with the Israelites, God always hears our cries. Sometimes God will meet an immediate and pressing need. But more often than not, God’s response is tailored to our deeper needs. And that, like with Israel, is to strengthen our faith and to deepen our trust in God. When we surrender to God’s plan and purposes, we find grace for the journey ahead. And step by step, we come to know that God is always with us.

Prayer: Lord God, when we find ourselves in a desert place or in a wilderness experience, remind us of your presence. We are grateful for the times when you provide food or strength or something else to meet our need. Open our eyes to see the ways not so obvious – the ways you respond that deepen our faith or that work to refine or renew us. Thank you for your constant presence. Amen.


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Good, Creative, Ordered

Reading: Genesis 1:1-25

Genesis 1:2 – “The earth was without shape or form, it was dark over the deep sea, and God’s wind swept over the waters.”

Photo credit: Marek Piwnicki

In Genesis 1 and the first verses of chapter 2 we find the first creation story. This is our introduction to God and to the world that God created. What was it like before God began to act? In verse two we read that the “earth” was shapeless, just a dark, roiling “sea.” There was chaos. There was no order, no purpose. First, God’s wind (Spirit) swept out over the deep waters, becoming present. Then God began to act, to order and create.

Light came first, then the sky. Next God creates the land and the seas, then plantlife on the land. As God continues to create, the sun, moon, and stars are made, the seas are filled with life, and the land is filled with animals. After each “day” or step, God looked at all that had been done and “saw how good it was.”

What do we learn about God from this opening story in the Bible? First, God is bent towards good. There is goodness in all that God does. Second, God is creative and ordered. There is purpose and planning in the creation. One step proceeds the next because it has too. Yet God is not totally predictable nor completely understandable. There is surprise and mystery about God.

In many ways, our world today is not unlike what it must have felt like on day one. There is darkness. Things often feel chaotic. There is discord and evil, violence and injustice seemingly all around. And God continues to be present, to move, to create. There is much good in our world because God is still in our world. God is at work, shining light into darkness, bringing good to bear against the evils of this world. There is hope. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for creating order out of chaos, for bringing good into our world. Thank you for continuing to work in our world, redeeming and restoring it back towards what you made it to be. Amen.


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We Must Choose

Reading: Psalm 66:18-20

Psalm 66:18 – “If I had cherished evil in my heart, my Lord would not have listened.”

Photo credit: Nadine Shaabana

Continuing in Psalm 66 today, the psalmist hits on a reality. We can easily fool ourselves into thinking all is okay with God. We can rationalize unkind thoughts, harsh words, and even unethical behavior. We can pretend that maybe God didn’t notice. We can tell ourselves that if it’s just once in a great while, it’s probably fine. But the psalmist reminds us of this reality: “If I had cherished evil in my heart, my Lord would not have listened.” In all of these cases of maybe’s and what-if’s, we are cherishing the world.

With God, there is no gray area. The psalmist, the prophets, Jesus, Paul, and the other apostles all painted the black and white reality. Love God or love the world. Walk in the light or dwell in the dark. Choose life or death. Even the ancients understood this clear choice. Framed long ago as good versus evil, for the faithful it still comes down to living by God’s will and way or living by the ways of the world.

Day by day and moment by moment, this is the choice: Will we live for God or for the world? Will we do what is good and just and loving? Or will we do what is selfish, greedy, and evil? When we choose God, we walk in relationship with the Lord. We hear God’s voice and God hears our voice. When we choose the world, self becomes the sole focus. Walking with God, in right relationship, we daily experience God’s faithful love for us. Day by day, moment by moment, may we choose love.

Prayer: Lord God, so often we must choose. You or the world? One way is filled with pleasures and all we could ever want. Or so it is said. The other way is filled with peace, joy, love – all we really need. It is true. You are true. Lord, guide us to choose your will and way. There we find life to the full. Amen.


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Every Moment of Every Day

Reading: Psalm 23:5-6

Psalm 23:6 – “Yes, goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life.”

As we return to Psalm 23 today we do so with the key thought once again front and center: “You are with me.” As this week’s Disciplines devotional writer Magrey deVega notes, these four words are literally the center of the psalm. There are 26 words before this phrase and 26 after it. The psalm begins with rest and God’s provision, guidance, and protection. It then enters dark valley. It is here that we are often most aware of God’s intimate presence and deep love. Climbing out of that place, we turn to verses 5 and 6.

In verse 5 we see the depth and scope of God’s love. A table is set right amongst enemies. So complete is God’s protection, there is no fear even when surrounded. Blessings come too, even there, as the head is anointed and the cup overflows. Signs of God’s love assure us even in moments of threat or danger or fear. In this situation, like in the valley, the psalmist realizes, “Yes, goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life.” God isn’t there just when we call on God. No, God is always there. Yes, our awareness of this can rise and fall with our own perceived need, but when we reflect back on our relationship with God, we too see God’s steadfast and constant presence in our lives. From this place of assurance, we know as David knew: “I will live in the Lord’s house as long as I live.” Every moment of every day, God is with us. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, as I sit and look out the window upon the hedge and woods beyond, you are there. As I look around the cottage, you are here. Wherever and whenever I go, you will be there too. Thank you, Lord, for your abiding and loving presence in the highs and lows and in everything in between. You are an awesome, awesome God. Amen.


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Red Flags

Reading: 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-5

2nd Thessalonians 2:3 – “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way.”

As we continue in 2nd Thessalonians this week, Paul addresses these churches first concern in today’s passage. There are false teachers in their community. They are teaching something that does not seem to align with who and what they know Jesus to be or with what Paul has taught them. This confusion has raised some red flags within these communities of faith.

Paul taught the churches that one day Jesus would return in glory to gather the faithful together to be with him in eternity. This was known as “the day of the Lord.” Some false teachers are telling the Thessalonian Christians that the day has already come. Paul first calls them away from these falsehoods, saying, “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way.” Next he invites them to remember. He reminds them, there will be signs and behaviors that will indicate evil and not good, that will point to Satan and not to God. Our passage today closes with Paul essentially asking, ‘Don’t you remember all that I taught you?’

We do not have to look very far today to see people who claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ that act and speak in ways that run against who and what Jesus said and did. Red flags should fly up when people who claim to be Christian speak and act in ways that are in direct conflict with the “red letters” of Jesus in our Bibles. When words and actions harm the most vulnerable among us, they are clearly not words and actions aligned with Jesus Christ. Care for “the least of these” and loving the outcasts and the marginalized were the focus of much of what Jesus taught and modeled. Christians follow and are obedient to Jesus’ teachings and example. My friends, don’t let anyone deceive you.

Prayer: Lord God, running throughout the scriptures we see your heart for the vulnerable in your commands to house the alien and foreigner, to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry, to protect and defend the immigrant. Jesus engaged the outsiders, drew in the excluded, spent time with the ignored, lifted up the downtrodden and lowly. Open our eyes, alert our hearts, Jesus, when people claim you as Lord yet ignore or even act counter to these commands and examples. Then move us, God, and use us to speak truth. Amen.


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Our Affirmative Answer

Reading: John 11:20-27

John 11:25 – “I am the resurrection and the life.”

Today’s passage is a conversation between Martha and Jesus. Martha’s brother Lazarus has just died. Martha and her sister Mary had asked Jesus to come, believing he would heal Lazarus. This is evident in verse 21. Also evident is Martha’s faith in Jesus: “Even now I know that whatever you ask God, God will give you.” She believes strongly in Jesus’ power.

Verses 23-24 are representative of the Jewish understanding of the afterlife. One day there will be a final resurrection of the dead. Martha assumes this is what Jesus is talking about when he says, “Your brother will rise again.” On that final day – in a year, in a hundred years, in 7,947 years – all will be resurrected, some to eternal life, some to eternal punishment.

In verse 25 Jesus speaks into the present. He says, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Life begins anew when one accepts Jesus as Lord. The old is gone, the new has come. As a disciple of Jesus Christ we begin to live and experience heaven here on earth. We receive Jesus’ Spirit as a constant presence in our lives, much as God will be when we enter heaven. This life will be continued into the next. Our soul, our essence, will never die.

Asked if she believes, Martha responds affirmatively to the Christ, to God’s son. This day, may our lives – our words, our actions – be our affirmative witness to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord God, there are many ways that we can profess or witness to our faith in you. As we go out into the world each day, lead and guide us to bring the peace, hope, joy, love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, contentment, generosity, and welcome that we find in you our into the world. Doing so, we bring heaven to earth and into other people’s lives. May it be so, O Lord. Amen.


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The Day of the Lord

Reading: Isaiah 25:6-9

Isaiah 25:9 – “Let’s be glad and rejoice in his [God’s] salvation.“

Photo credit: Fuu J

In Isaiah 25 the prophet celebrates the salvation that God will bring. In verses 1-5 Isaiah speaks of God saving Israel from their enemies. Isaiah then celebrates how God has been (and will be) a refuge for all in need. In verses 6-9, our passage for today, the prophet envisions the day when God will bring this age to a close. Isaiah sets the scene “on this mountain,” referring to Zion, God’s holy mountain. On Zion the Lord will prepare “a rich feast” for all peoples. It will feature “choice wines” and “select foods.” It will be the feast of all feasts. Almost all readers or hearers in the ancient world would likely envision the best wedding banquet they’d ever been to – times ten!

Isaiah next writes of God swallowing up “the veil that is veiling all people.” It is unclear what this veil is. Is it the veil that casts evil over humanity’s eyes? Is it the veil that keeps people from fully seeing God? Whatever the case, all people will see clearly, seeing as God fully intends us to see.

In verse 8 Isaiah tells us that death will also be swallowed up. Eternal life will reign. Tears and people’s “disgrace” (sin) will be removed. This day will be a day of celebration and thanksgiving. All people will exult the God who saves. The joyful people will declare, “Let’s be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” What a day that will be! We wait with eager anticipation for the coming day of the Lord!

Prayer: Lord God, we see into your plans today. We see the prophet’s vision for the day when you make all things new. Many have stepped into this vision and more will likely enter their rest before the final day comes. We give thanks for your faithfulness. Fill us with the same faith, allowing us to live out your light and love as we await the day of our eternal salvation. Amen.


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Supremely Good

Reading: Genesis 1:24-2:4a

Genesis 1:26 – “Let us make humanity in our image to resemble us so that they may take care of the fish…”

Today we conclude the first creation story, reading about days six and seven. These time frames separate acts of creation. They may or may not be 24 hour periods. The sixth “day” begins with God speaking into existence the “livestock, crawling things, and wildlife.” God again saw that this was good.

Next God says, “Let us make humanity in our image to resemble us so that they may take care of the fish…” Note that the language is different. The words “us, make, our, image” imply a collaborative effort. Most theologians read this team effort as involving Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is also an implication that humanity does not merely come from the other parts of creation like the earth growing plant life. One cannot read these words and not understand that humanity is to care for this earth as God does and would. We are to do so because we are not merely made from the elements of this earth. We also carry some of the divine within ourselves.

At the end of this period God looks at the creation and declares that it is “supremely good.” From the chaos and disorder at the beginning to the completed, ordered, purposeful world, it is now supremely good. The world was as it was intended to be. And then God rested. God set aside a day, making it holy. It was a day without work. Later this will become known as the Sabbath – a day to rest, renew, and recharge physically, a day to reconnect with God. This too is part of God’s goodness, order, and purpose. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, in the story, the process is finished. Day 8 begins our tenure as caretakers or stewards of this world and all that is in it. Lord, help humanity to reclaim our role, especially in the ways that we care for one another. May we see and treat all of humanity as brothers and sisters also created in your divine image. Amen.


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This Wonderful World

Reading: Genesis 1:1-23

Genesis 1:4 – “God saw how good the light was. God separated the light from the darkness.”

Today we read the first part of the first of two creation stories that begin the book of Genesis. As the story starts, the earth is without shape and the sea is dark. There is no order to anything. God’s first act is to say, “Let there be light.” As the light appears, “God saw how good the light was. God separated the light from the darkness.” Day and night are created, bringing more order to the world. As the story unfolds, God continues to bring good, to bring order, to bring purpose into the world. All of this reflects “who” God is and reveals God’s intent for “what” the world should be.

God then creates the sky, the seas, and the land. God speaks and plant life grows. This too has order and purpose and goodness. The plants are designed with seeds, indicating a purpose and an ongoing plan. God then creates lights – sun, moon, and stars – to govern day and night, seasons, sacred days, years. And on day 5 God speaks into being the creatures of the sea and sky. These too are designed to multiply and reproduce. Each of these days carries a tag line: “God saw how good it was.” All that God does is good. This is “who” God is.

God’s speaking and creating with only words can be hard to grasp in a real, scientific way. So it is important to remember that this is not a scientific accounting of how the world came into being. This, again, is a story about who and what God is. God’s nature is inherent in creation: goodness, order, purpose, planning. As we continue tomorrow, we delve deeper into the “what.”

Prayer: Lord God, these beautiful words reveal you to us. The creation was sweeping and grand, powerful and amazing. Your thoughts explode into a million paths, creating this plant and then that one and those over there. You are an awesome God. Thank you for this wonderful world. Amen.