pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: earnestly


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Growing and Widening

Reading: Acts 10-12

Acts 11:17 – “If God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, then who am I? Could I stand in God’s way?”

Photo credit: Uta Scholl

The circle opens wider as God’s angel tells Cornelius to send for Peter. He does so. Meanwhile, Peter has a vision while praying on a rooftop. A sheet holding animals, reptiles, and birds descends from heaven. Peter is told to kill and eat. “Absolutely not!” is the response. Three times this happens and the sheet returns to heaven. Cornelius’ messengers arrive and tell their story. Peter invites them in. They leave in the morning. As Peter is preaching to a receptive audience the Spirit came upon them just as it had at Pentecost. These Gentiles are baptized in the name of Jesus. The circle widens.

When Peter returns to Jerusalem, some of the Jewish believers question Peter’s actions. He entered the home of an uncircumcised Gentile! Peter explained the whole story. Recalling the Lord’s promise of baptizing with the Holy Spirit, he then says, “If God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, then who am I? Could I stand in God’s way?” The church decided God is at work; it is good. The church continues to grow and spread. In Antioch they first intentionally preach directly to Gentiles. Many come to believe. Barnabas is sent to investigate. He is overjoyed to see God at work. He gets Saul and they preach in Antioch for a year. The disciples are first called “Christians” in Antioch.

Turning to chapter 12, persecution comes from civil authorities. Herod has James killed and then he arrests Peter. Awaiting arraignment, Peter is rescued by an angel as the church prays earnestly. So unbelievable is the escape, it takes a while for the door to Mary’s home to be opened. After telling his story, Peter leaves. Meanwhile, an arrogant Herod dies in Caesarea, punished by God. Barnabas and Saul, along with John Mark, return to Antioch as the church continues to grow.

Prayer: Lord God, you work in amazing and sometimes unbelievable ways. You open the church to “outsiders” and you open prison doors to free the imprisoned. You always provide a way and you continue to call us to trust in where you are leading, growing both our faith and the family of faith. Thank you for your love and faithfulness, O God. Amen.


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Pleading Earnestly

Reading: Mark 5: 21-24

Verse 22: “Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him”.

Photo credit: Patrick Fore

Today we begin to enter into this week’s passage from Mark 5. Jesus returns to the Jewish side of the lake and is greeted by a large crowd. A man named Jairus is in the crowd. He is one of the leaders at the local synagogue. He has encountered Jesus before. Now he comes to speak with Jesus. In verse 22 we read, “Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him”. What causes us to fall at Jesus’ feet, to plead with Jesus?

For Jairus, his daughter is dying. That would cause any parent to plead earnestly. In the same situation we would pray and pray and pray. And then we would pray some more. We can assume that Jairus has tried everything else to save his daughter. Why else would a respected, well-known Jewish leader come to this Jesus? Jairus is desperate. Jesus is his last and only hope. At least a small part of him believes and hopes that Jesus can “put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live”.

When we get to this point – to the place of desperation – have we tried everything else but deep, intense prayer? Only then do we come to Jesus with belief and hope? Do we approach him, fall at his feet, and plead earnestly? Yes, at times our prayers do get ratcheted up to this level. Yet a faithful walk with Jesus is at its best at a steady, daily, regular pace. May this be the routine of our prayer life, building us up for those times of intimate, powerful, intense prayer. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, may my daily time with you be strengthening and encouraging each day. In steady faith, may I grow in you and in my trust in you. In those moments of great need, may I really lean into you, kneeling upon my rock and my hope. Amen.