pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: entangle


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Dangers and Trappings

Readings: 1st Kings 9, 1st Kings 10, 1st Kings 11

1st Kings 9:6-7 – “However, if you or your sons turn away from following me… then I will remove Israel from the land… and I will reject the temple.”

Photo credit: Josh Calabrese

Our readings begin with God’s second visit to Solomon. God has heard his prayers and will “put my name” in the temple. God reminds Solomon again of the charge to walk faithfully with the Lord. God also warns, “However, if you or your sons turn away from following me… then I will remove Israel from the land… and I will reject the temple.”

We next gain some insights into Solomon’s building projects. Towns are given to Hiram and he questions their worth. Solomon forces all non-Israelites into work gangs. Yet outside of Israel, Solomon’s fame grows. The Queen of Sheba comes and questions him. She sees his wisdom and wealth. These are so great “it took her breath away.” She leaves many gifts and she offers a blessing. This foreign queen sees God as the driving force behind Solomon’s success. Others come to see Solomon, leaving tribute as they go.

In chapter 11 we begin to see Solomon’s struggles. He marries many, many foreign women. God had warned him: “They will definitely turn your heart towards their gods.” They do. Solomon worships their gods and builds shrines and altars so that his wives (and others) can worship these foreign gods. An angry God visits Solomon. God begins, “Because you have done all this…” Almost all of the kingdom will be torn away. But it will happen during his son’s reign and one tribe will remain with Solomon’s family. Both of these “gifts” are because of God’s love for David.

Next we learn of some of Solomon’s enemies. Hadad and Rezon are nuisances, picking away at the edges. There is no longer peace in Israel. Jeroboam will be the greater challenge. In his youth he had impressed Solomon. The prophet Ahijah meets Jeroboam and tears his new garment into 12 pieces. Handing Jeroboam ten he tells him that God will give him ten tribes to rule over. Ahijah tells him that if he will walk faithfully with the Lord… Well, we know that story.

Prayer: Lord God, today we are reminded of the dangers and trappings of the things of this world – wealth, possessions, fame. In and of themselves these are not evil. They are not a guarantee of sin. But they so easily entangle, so easily give us a false sense of security and identity. Lord, no matter our place in life, remind us again and again, draw us back over and over. Moment by moment, whisper into our hearts and keep us walking in your ways. Amen.


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In the Line

Reading: Hebrews 12:1-2

Verse 2: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.”

Hebrews 12 begins with a reminder of the past. First there is this “great cloud of witness” – the unending line of those who have lived out a life of faith, setting for us an example. In the line are those listed in Hebrews 11. Also in the line are folks we knew – parents and grandparents, pastors and Sunday school teachers, friends and neighbors. All of these witnesses provide both hope and encouragement as we journey in faith.

The journey is not always easy. The writer of Hebrews implores us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” Oh how these things can get in the way. The worries and the pleasures of this world, our proclivity to sin – they can easily derail us. Satan is tricky and sneaky and knows every trick. We are called to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” This is not a prescribed course, set in stone. No, it is a way to live.

In verse 2 we are shown this way: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.” Jesus marked out the way to live. He wrote the trail guide with his life. Therefore we are to fix our eyes on Christ. Doing so we too will pick up our cross with joy, knowing that denying self and humbly serving others are steps we walk daily with Jesus. We walk with joy because we know the promise waiting at the end of the walk of faith. The path ends at eternity as we step into God’s glory. With joy may we follow the way of Christ, one day becoming another who stands in the line of witnesses to God’s love, mercy, and grace. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, keep me in the path. Keep my eyes fixed on Jesus. Fill me with a joy that is contagious as I seek to love you with all that I am. May that joy then overflow as I seek to pour that love and joy out into the world. Amen.


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Persevere

Reading: Hebrews 12: 1-3

Verse 2: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith”.

The book of Hebrews was written during a time of intense persecution for Christianity. Violence and torture and death were daily possibilities. In this section of the book the author takes some time to remind the Hebrews of the heroes of faith. In chapter ten he begins with Jesus Christ and then proceeds on to Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, … in chapter eleven. He is reminding them of all those who have been faithful through challenges and sufferings and trials to encourage them to do the same. This is the “great cloud of witness” that is referred to in verse one of today’s passage. Almost 2,000 years later we all have names that have been added to the list. Some are famous and well-known but most are personal – parents and grandparents, mentors, fellow church goers…

The encouragement given today in our text is to throw off the things that hinder our race and to rid ourselves of those things that entangle us. For some it is fear or doubt or worry that hinders and entangles. For others it is pride or ego or selfishness. For others still it is status or position or possessions. The list of things that can hinder and entangle is long and varied. The writer of Hebrews understood this. So the first encouragement is to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us”. To persevere means to keep going no matter what. It means to keep at it even in the hardest and most difficult times. The next question that comes to mind, once for me and still for many, is this: what is the course we are to follow? We find the answer in verse two: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith”. Jesus set the course. He marked the race. That is why he is the “author”. He is also the “perfecter”. He who was without sin gave us the example to persevere after. We are called to focus on Jesus so that we “will not grow weary and lose heart”. As we run our race today, may we keep our eyes and our heart on Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Lord, as I seek to run the race you lay out before me today, may I run faithfully and obediently. May I see as you see. Guide me by the power of the Holy Spirit this day. Amen.