pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: death


by Leave a comment

Wonderful Things

Readings: Joshua 1, Joshua 2, Joshua 3

Joshua 3:5 – “Make yourselves holy! Tomorrow the LORD will do wonderful things among you.”

Photo credit: John Towner

The book of Joshua begins with God’s direction and encouragement. Israel is to get ready to cross the Jordan. God encourages Joshua, telling him “no one will be able to stand up against you.” God encourages him to be “brave and strong.” And then God tells him to obey all of the Law, to recite it always. Why? “Then you will accomplish…” Faith and obedience will be required.

Joshua reaffirms the Transjordan tribes’ commitment to lead into the Promised Land and into battle. They pledge their support to Joshua and his leadership. Spies are sent into the land. They end up at a prostitute’s house. The king of Jericho hears about it and tells Rahab to send out the spies. Instead she lies, sending the king’s men on a wild good chase. Rahab then acknowledges the people’s fear of Israel and expresses her faith in Israel’s God. She seeks and receives assurance that she and her family will be spared. Rahab lowers the spies to safety. A red cord in the window will be a sign for death to pass over her home – like the red blood in Egypt. Rahab demonstrates the faith, initiative, and resolve needed to conquer the Promised Land.

In chapter 3 the Jordan is crossed. The river is at flood stage. Yet as the priests carrying the ark step into the river, dry ground is created. The people cross over, witnessing the “wonderful things” that Joshua has promised to a holy people. God goes before and the people follow. God makes a way once again. As we step forward as God leads, may we also trust fully in our God who always goes before.

Prayer: Lord God, in today’s readings there is a new sense of trust, of faith, of confidence in you. Joshua embodies this and it translates into the people’s lives. Use us today as you used Joshua – as pillars of faith and trust in your power and might. May these things seep into the lives of those we encounter today. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Filled with Wisdom and Spirit

Readings: Deuteronomy 31, Deuteronomy 32, Deuteronomy 33, Deuteronomy 34

Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Be strong! Be fearless! Don’t be afraid and don’t be scared by your enemies, because the LORD your God is the one who marches with you.”

Today, on the 50th day of our plan to read through the Bible in a year, we close out the book of Deuteronomy. This is the close of the Torah, or the Law. Moses has been the central character and the driving force. We have been walking with Moses since day 16. That’s just over 200 pages in my Bible!

In chapter 31 Moses announces his death. Joshua is commissioned to lead next. The words above, spoken over and to Joshua, will guide his life and his leadership. Moses then stipulates that the Instructions (the Law) must be kept by the covenant chest and must be read every seven years so that all Israel will hear it and learn it. God then foretells the downfall of Israel. This couldn’t have been a surprise to Moses – he’s walked long with this stubborn and rebellious people.

God then commissions Moses to speak a poem to all of Israel. It is a witness against them, a warning to be remembered, taught, and heeded. Poetry is the format – it is both memorable and memorizable. Memory is key to obedience. The poem is part history, part promise of God’s mercy and compassion.

Moses then speaks from his own heart as he offers a blessing to Israel. In chapter 33 Moses gives blessings to almost all of the tribes and to all of Israel. The blessings are material and militaristic with some about faithfulness and God’s continued presence. This feels like a fitting end to Moses instruction of Israel.

Moses then climbs the mountain and sees the whole land that Israel will possess. Although still healthy and vigorous, Moses dies and is buried by God. The people mourn. Joshua is filled with Moses’ wisdom and spirit. He is ready to lead. To close, a poignant note from John Wesley’s commentary on Moses’ death: “God’s servants must die, that they may rest from their labors, receive their recompense, and make room for others.” So it is in the great cloud of witness and in the kingdom of God.

Prayer: Lord God, what a life of faith Moses led. He was not perfect but he was an exemplary model of faith and trust. May we too walk faithfully, teaching by word and example, raising others up, passing along the faith. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Choose God, Find Life

Readings: Deuteronomy 26, Deuteronomy 27, Deuteronomy 28, Deuteronomy 29, Deuteronomy 30

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 – “Now choose life… by loving the LORD your God, by obeying his voice, and by clinging to him.”

Chapter 26 begins by establishing a solemn oath to be taken when entering the Promised Land. The oath recalls the past and celebrates all that God has done. It reminds them of the important role that they will play upon entering Canaan – to obey God’s word. If Israel lives this way they will be God’s “treasured people.”

Moses instructs the people to set up giant stones and to write the Law upon them once they cross the Jordan. There is then a blessing-cursing ceremony in which Moses reviews a sampling of the Law. Failure to keep these brings curses. This is then followed by “future blessings.” If Israel carefully keeps all of God’s commandments, blessing will come in many ways. The other nations of the world will be in awe of Israel.

Next comes a long section on the curses that will come if Israel does not obey God. Death and destruction, plague and oppression and death, exile – it will be horrific. Much of this will come to pass. Chapter 29 halts this bad narrative and invites the people into a covenant relationship with God. The good and the bad have been laid out. Chapter 30 returns to reality. The sin cycle will be fully lived out. The curses will befall Israel. But… when you turn back to God, you will be restored. Israel will be gathered back up.

Our reading closes with words of encouragement. To obey – it’s not too difficult. These words, this God – “in your mouth and in your heart.” Life and death, blessing and curse, they have been set before Israel – and before us.“Now choose life… by loving the LORD your God, by obeying his voice, and by clinging to him.” May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, you lay out the reality before us – life with you versus life without you. It is not a promise, though, of everything being good if we’re obedient. The promise is your presence. There we do find good in all things, even in the defeats and exiles. Thank you for being our constant God. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Act(s) of Salvation

Readings: Exodus 7:14-25, Exodus 8, Exodus 9, Exodus 10, Exodus 11, Exodus 12:1-30

Exodus 12:14 – “This day will be a day of remembering for you. You will observe it as a festival to the LORD… for all time.”

Photo credit: RebeccaB Designs

As the plagues begin, the Lord turns the Nile to blood and then brings frogs upon all the land. Pharaoh’s religious experts duplicate these acts of God. Pharaoh is stubborn, refusing to let the Israelites go to worship God. Next comes the plague of lice. The experts are unable to do this. They tell Pharaoh, “This is something only God could do!” Pharaoh remains stubborn. Next comes a swarm of insects. Pharaoh says he’ll let Israel go worship but changes his mind after God removes the insects.

Chapter 9 brings the plague of sores and blisters. This time we read that God made Pharaoh stubborn. The animals that die are only the ones belonging to the Egyptians. This plague begins to build to a climax in chapter 12. Hail then pounds the land next – but not in Goshen. Pharaoh admits his sin and asks for prayer, saying he’ll let them go. Moses will make it stop but also states that he knows Pharaoh and his officials do not take God seriously. Again Pharaoh gets stubborn, refusing to let Israel go.

The plague of locust and the plague of darkness come in chapter 10. Again God differentiates between Egypt and Israel. Again Pharaoh almost budges but then turns stubborn. The chapter closes with Pharaoh threatening Moses. We see a shift in chapter 11. God gives very specific instructions to the Israelites. This prioritizes reenactment and remembering over the actual event. The Passover is about shaping and forming each generation to come. This is why God says, “This day will be a day of remembering for you. You will observe it as a festival to the LORD… for all time.” The lamb, its slaughter, the blood, the meal – it will be reenacted each year to remember and to be shaped by this act of salvation. This festival remains the high point of the Jewish religious year. For us, it connects to the blood of the Lamb that spread on the cross, again a mighty act of salvation for the people of God. For this event that we reenact every year, for this act of grace that shapes and forms us, we too say thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the gifts of salvation – for both the one in Egypt and for the one on Calvary. Thank you for the love that will stop at nothing to rescue, save, and redeem us. Amen.


by Leave a comment

In All Things

Reading: Romans 8:26-30

Verse 28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love God.”

Romans 8 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. Today and tomorrow we focus on the last portion. We open today’s verses with a great reminder that we have an advocate. Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak by praying for us. These are not just random prayers. No, the Spirit searches our hearts and prays for exactly what we need. These prayers are awesome in two main ways. First, the Spirit prays for us according to God’s will. Second, this Spirit is the very Spirit of Christ – the one who walked among us, the one who knows our trials and struggles and temptations personally. We have a great team on our side!

In verse 28 we read, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love God.” We first note that Paul says, “in all things.” God does not cause all things. Yes, God designed the world and it operates according to God’s design. Death and disease and sin and poor choices are part of this world, and are part of “life.” God does not scheme and orchestrate, causing bad or difficult things to happen so that God can swoop in. Yes, our loving God will work through and in all that life can throw at us if we invite God in and if we seek God’s presence.

God designed us in “the likeness of God’s Son.” We are to be like Christ, the one who fully trusted in God. So in all things may we too turn to God, walking and living as Jesus Christ walked and lived, one day also rising to glory.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit and for the intercessions and guidance. Help me to listen better and to follow closer, seeking to be a part of living out your good will for me. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Life or Death?

Reading: Romans 8:1-11

Verse 6: “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

Photo credit: James A. Molnar

Turning to our Epistle reading today and tomorrow, Paul writes about “Life in the Spirit.” He begins with an important truth: there is no condemnation for those who believe in Jesus Christ. Yes, we still sin. But – thanks be to God – our sin does not have the final word. Christ’s love and grace and mercy has the final word. And it has already been spoken. Because of his death and resurrection, one day Jesus will “give life to your mortal bodies” as all who believe in Jesus will join him eternally.

In our passage Paul juxtaposes the will of the flesh and the will of the Spirit. In Paul’s actual words and in his way of thinking, “flesh” is our fallen human condition. It is our proclivity to sin. It is our tendency to idolatry – both to the things of this world and to self. It is not the physical body. These words and others like them have been misused to judge and enslave and marginalize those who were not white males. Sadly this continues to be some people’s reality today. Prayers for us to all see all people as equally beloved by God.

To help us move away from this harmful, destructive, distorted viewpoint, let us turn to verse 6. Here we read, “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” This verse places the battle between sin and life squarely in our minds. It removes the physical and emotional and places the battle solely in the spiritual realm. The mind controls our words, thoughts, actions, and inactions. We make choices. Sin or God? Love or hate? Welcome or exclusion? Life or death?

Prayer: Lord God, raise up and give strength to the will of the Spirit in my life. In your love, help me to die to self and to the sin it so easily leads to. Day by day, occupy more and more of my mind, more of my heart. Amen.


by Leave a comment

A Choice

Reading: Psalm 119:97-104

Verse 101: “I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.”

Our Psalm for this week comes from the longest chapter in the Bible. Psalm 119 is a mix of praise and thanksgiving as well as pain and lament, as are many of the Psalms. There is a hope that obedience to God’s law will bring peace to Israel and identity to them as God’s chosen people. The Law was the curriculum for all of life in Israel and there was an understanding that obedience brought blessing. In the New Testament this belief is reflected in how the Jews saw lepers, the blind… as sinners. Their infirmities were ‘proof’ of sin in their lives or family.

Our passage today opens with a great declaration of praise and thanksgiving: “Oh how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” Although I do not sit and study the word of God all day long, I would 100% agree that God’s word brings me joy and lights my path. In the next verse we get a bit of reality. The psalmist recognizes that enemies are “ever with me.” Figuratively and sometimes literally enemies lurk. Sin and temptation seem ever ready to seize an opportunity. And at times our faith may even draw the enemies out as others bring abuse or persecution to us because of our faith.

There is an effort required to this walk of faith. In verse 101 we read, “I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.” We make choices and decisions. Hopefully most lead to life and joy. Some lead to shame and death. We do have a choice. May we too seek to keep from the evil path, choosing instead the word of God, the sweet honey to our lips, the way that leads to life abundant.

Prayer: Lord God, your ways bring true life. Walking with you brings joy and hope, peace and contentment. Fill me with your Spirit, that I may walk with the righteous and not with the wicked. Guide me and guard me, O Lord. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Choose Life

Reading: Romans 6:15-23

Verse 22: “Now that you have been set free from sin… the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”

As we continue today in Romans 6, Paul uses the term “slave” often. Paul is using this term to emphasize one’s total commitment and belonging to someone or something. In our passage, one is either a slave to sin or a slave to God. For each of these choices, there is an outcome. If you belong to sin, the outcome is death. If you belong to God, the outcome is righteousness. Paul rejoices that the Christians in Rome have obeyed the teachings of Christ, becoming slaves of righteousness. The rejoicing continues today. As Jesus taught, the angels in heaven rejoice when someone who was lost is found, when someone without Christ becomes saved.

In verses 19-21 Paul speaks of the weakness of our human nature and of the “benefit” of living in sin. He summarizes by stating: “These things lead to death!” He ends this section by contrasting this to living as ones belonging to God: “Now that you have been set free from sin… the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” What a contrast! Instead of death we find holiness and eternal life. Living a holy life bears witness to the world. It reveals the love and grace of God available to all people. Living a holy life brings an assurance of eternity lived within the love and light of the Lord. Freed from sin, we live as disciples of Jesus Christ, loving God and loving neighbor with all of our being. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, what a stark contrast: life or death? It seems such a simple choice. Yet the flesh is weak and the power of sin is strong. Lord, how I need you. Only with you can I choose life. Only with you can I be holy. Be present in my heart, O God, leading me to walk in the way that leads to life. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Holy Spirit. Amen.


by Leave a comment

God Hears and Comes

Reading: Genesis 21:8-18

Verse 17: “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid.”

Photo credit: Felipe Correia

Today’s Old Testament passage contains one of the uglier episodes in the story of Abraham and Sarah, the father and mother of Judaism. The roots of today’s story are found in the couple taking God’s promises into their own hands, using a slave girl to produce a child. Even then, way back in chapter 16, we can see the pattern of marginalization and abuse already being established. Today’s ugly story is not an isolated event.

In today’s passage we see Sarah tells Abraham to send away or cast off Hagar and Ishmael. A conflicted Abraham does so after God assures him concerning both Isaac’s and Ishmael’s futures. Forced into the wilderness, Hagar and Ishmael are soon out of food and water. Surrendering to the harshness of being cast off and ostracized, Hagar prepares for death. But God intervenes, sending an angel who says, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid.” God sees her and responds. God encourages her and again reiterates the promise made in Genesis 16:10.

Most of us have never been used to produce a baby. And most of us have not been cast off by “family.” Most of us have not come face to face with dehydration and starvation as our demise. Yet in a very, very small way we can relate. We’ve all lost relationships. We’ve all felt alone. We’ve all feared death. And, like Hagar and Ishmael, God has met us in these wilderness places. God has said to us: “What is the matter ___? Do not be afraid.” God hears our cries and comes near. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, you are our ever-present help in our times of need. Thank you for never marginalizing us or ignoring us or abandoning us. You are always nearby. You always hear and respond. Thank you, O Lord. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Chaos to Beautiful Diversity

Reading: Genesis 1:1-25

Verse 2: “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

Genesis 1 is a great place to begin the week that culminates in Trinity Sunday. As Disciplines writer Ginger E. Gaines-Cirelli puts it, “In the beginning, a diverse God – Creator, Word, and Spirit – created a diverse world, all interdependent, all profoundly good” (page 184). What a beautiful thought!

Now, the world did not begin this way. Verse 2 establishes the starting point of our world: “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” In the beginning there was a nothingness. It was formless and empty, dark. The deep waters represent the unknown. Because the deep was unknown, it was feared, it was avoided. Chaos and angst lived there.

Chaos and angst are still the parts of life that we avoid or wish we could avoid. Yet “life” happens – death enters unwanted, relationships become strained and break, illness and disease impact us, nature reeks havoc, employment and other decisions that people make affect our lives and families… In these moments we can feel like our world is formless, empty, dark.

As Genesis 1 begins God takes action. The chaos and nothingness are replaced with order and purpose – 2 things we love! As creation unfolds all that God does is good, everything is valued, there is an interconnectedness to all of creation. There is a beautiful yet connected diversity to this world that God created. May we see, appreciate, and love this world, especially one another. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, what an awesome and amazing and beautiful world you created! Thank you for this gift. May we receive it, live in it, love it, and honor all parts of it as all of our world is your creation. Amen.