pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: eyes


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Stepping Out

Reading: Matthew 14:28-33

Matthew 14:28 – “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.”

Reading the rest of the “Walking on the Water” story today, we see Peter being brave and faithful. He calls out to Jesus, steps out of the boat, and walks on water. The Old Testament describes God doing this. Jesus is now doing it. And now Peter does it. What a brave and faithful heart he has to call out and to step out. For a few steps, Peter was doing what Jesus was doing.

There are times in our lives when we sense or see Jesus’ presence or call. We desire to step out of our comfort zone and into the ministry opportunity before us. Once in a while perhaps we’re actually brave and faithful enough to step out in faith. Maybe it is to extend on offer of reconciliation in that broken relationship. Maybe it is to serve in a new role in your church or in a service organization.

As Peter is walking, yes, he notices the wind and likely the waves it is generating. He gets frightened and he begins to sink. Crying out to Jesus, Peter is rescued. Have you ever done this? Ever started to do something brave for God, then had second thoughts, doubts, fears? Maybe you only got out of the house or just started to dial the phone and fear rose up. Yet it was a few steps. It was a start in the right direction.

When Peter first saw Jesus, he said, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.” Step one is a willingness. It requires a bravery and a desire to faithfully serve God and others. Each time we step out, our faith strengthens and deepens. Soon enough, we’ll take a few more steps – more than the last time. Trusting in the Lord, may we continue to step out in faith, learning to walk where Jesus walked.

Prayer: Lord God, open our eyes to the opportunities that you bring our way. Open our hearts to a deeper and bolder faith. Fill us with confidence, knowing that as we step out, you are there with us – ready to walk with us or to rescue us so that we can step out again. Amen.


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A Space for All

Reading: Matthew 14:21

Matthew 14:21 – “About five thousand men plus women and children had eaten.”

The conclusion of the feeding of the large crowd has multiple layers to it. Those accounted for are the men. In that culture and time, women and children were secondary. They were often unseen and sometimes seen as possessions. But in this miracle and in God’s kingdom, all were present, all were fed. This inclusion mirrors what God’s kingdom is supposed to be: a place where everyone is welcome, where everyone has value, where everyone has a place at the table.

During Jesus’ ministry this was true. It seems like women and children feature in his three years of ministry more than they do in the rest of scripture. Jesus always reflected God’s heart for the poor, the needy, the marginalized. The tables that Jesus sat at included the outcasts and the excluded. As many of us gather today at the table of grace, do we reflect the inclusive and welcoming nature of Jesus?

As followers of Jesus Christ and as builders of God’s kingdom, this is a question that we need to wrestle with. Our lives and our churches should reflect our communities. So we must ask: Who is absent or left out? And, why is this so? Sometimes there is a past hurt that needs addressing. Sometimes it is a systemic cause. Whatever the reason, we must be willing to do the hard work that creates space for all people and is a space that makes all people feel like they belong, are worthy, and are loved. May it be so in our lives and in our churches.

Prayer: Lord God, you invite us to be like Jesus. Open our eyes to the ways both big and small, both intentional and unintentional, that we exclude or make others feel “less than.” Guide our hearts and minds to change so that we are truly people with lives, tables, and churches that desire for all people to have space, to be loved, and to be a part of community. Thank you, Lord. Amen.


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Focus on the Good

Reading: Matthew 13:36-43

Matthew 13:43 – “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their father’s kingdom.”

Moving forward and inside the house, the disciples receive Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the weeds. Jesus (and now the Holy Spirit) plants good seeds in the hearts of Jesus’ followers. The evil one plants bad seeds that produce weeds. At the end of this “present age” the angels will come and harvest from the world “all things that cause people to fall away and all people who sin.” For these people, there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” in the “burning furnace” (hell.) “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their father’s kingdom.” The redeemed will exult in glory.

The disciples asked Jesus for an explanation because they did not get what he was saying. Jesus offers guidance and answers. At times we need guidance and direction. We don’t understand or we don’t know the next step to take. Jesus invites us to come to him, to ask him our questions. In prayer, we take them to the Lord. God responds to our prayers and through the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit, we grow in our faith and in our trust in God. As we grow in these ways, we will “shine like the sun” in this present age, even as we wait with longing for our final redemption. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, focus our hearts and eyes on you and on the good in our world. It can be easy to get distracted, to focus on the evil all around us. So, Lord, keep us out of the weeds. Lead us to focus on being the good in the world, on shining your light into this world. Amen.


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Always Faithful and Good

Reading: Genesis 24:34-38 and 42-49

Genesis 24:35 – “Go to my father’s household and to my relatives and choose a wife for my son.”

In our Genesis story, the focus is beginning to shift to the next generation. Isaac has grown up and Sarah dies at 127. Abraham considers his legacy and decides to find a wife for his son Isaac. At the start of chapter 24 Abraham has the oldest servant in his household take an oath to find Isaac a wife, telling him, “Go to my father’s household and to my relatives and choose a wife for my son.” The servant swears allegiance to this mission. Abraham desires a wife for his son that is faithful to the Lord his God. The actual accomplishment of the mission happens in verses 10-33. Today we begin to read the “God-moment” side of the factual story.

Abraham’s servant willingly followed his master’s vision for a wife for Isaac. We can see that at least a little of Abraham’s faith in God has rubbed off on this Canaanite servant. He recounts the story to Rebekah’s family with God guiding each step. Sometimes events unfold in our lives in this way. We can see how God is guiding each step, providing each word, opening every door. We, as the servant clearly was, are awed to be a part of God’s unfolding plan. Other times, however, we stumble and bumble along, yet still end up right where God needs us to be. In hindsight we can see God’s fingerprints all over the place. We know God was with us, leading and guiding all the time. From both of these kinds of God-moments, we learn to trust God more deeply and to follow God more closely because we come to increasingly know that God is always faithful and good. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for always being at work in our lives – whether we are aware of it or not. Open our eyes and our spirits to be more sensitive to your abiding presence, guidance, and direction. Continue to build our faith and trust in you, O God. Amen.


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Many Hagars and Ishmeals

Reading: Genesis 21:8-14

Genesis 21:14a – “Abraham… took some bread and a flask of water, and gave it to Hagar. He put the boy in her shoulder sling and sent her away.”

Continuing in chapter 21 this week, Isaac has grown out of infancy. He is no longer nursing. No longer dependent upon just Sarah, Abraham throws a big party to celebrate. Abraham’s other son, Ishmael, is about 14 years old. Sarah sees him enjoying himself at the party and she makes a decision: he must go. Ishmael will not share in her son’s inheritance. While we might be shocked by her decision, it has been a long time in the making.

Soon after Ishmael was born, tension and strife arose between Sarah and Hagar. Sarah became jealous and envious. So, using her power over Hagar, Sarah severely mistreated Hagar. It was so bad, Hagar ran away. But God saw Hagar and her suffering. The Lord guided her back into Abraham’s household. Hagar continued to experience and endure harsh treatment from Sarah. Similar things happen today in situations where a person or group has power over others. Immigrants are mistreated by employers. The working poor are taken advantage of by payday lenders, greedy landlords, and others eager to exploit them. Non-whites are targets of unjust systems, profiling, and discrimination. Yes, there are many Hagars and Ishmeals in our day.

Abraham is greatly upset by Sarah’s decision. God offers assurances and a promise, making Abraham feel better about his role in the abuse. But what about Hagar and Ishmael? In verse 14a we read, “Abraham… took some bread and a flask of water, and gave it to Hagar. He put the boy in her shoulder sling and sent her away.” Bearing and raising his child all these years, enduring abuse from his wife all these years – and this is the result? Ishmael is old enough to understand what is happening too. Abraham has been “Dad” for 14 years, treating Ishmael as an only child, a gift in old age. And now this? Sent into the desert to die?

Let us sit with the emotions of the abused and discarded for a while. We finish the story tomorrow. Feel the feels for a day.

Prayer: Lord God, oh how we feel for Hagar and Ishmael. Fourteen years of feeling less than, always powerless and voiceless. Fourteen years of putting one’s head down, enduring abuse, just getting through. And now this: abandoned, sent away, evicted. God, don’t let the feels be limited to this story. Open our eyes and hearts to the Hagars and Ishmeals in our own communities. And move us beyond seeing. Move us to action. May we be the voice and strength for the voiceless, the powerless, the weak. Amen.


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Eyes Opened, Hearts Warmed

Reading: Luke 24:30-35

Luke 24:32 – “Weren’t our hearts on fire as he spoke to us along the road?”

As we continue in Luke 24, Jesus takes a place at the table with his two disciples. They have been on a seven mile journey, so they’re likely ready to eat. When Jesus takes and breaks the bread, blesses it and gives it to them, “Their eyes were opened and they recognized him.” In the movement and words of communion, recognition comes to these disciples. Presence becomes real. Eyes are fully opened. And then Jesus disappears.

After this encounter the two disciples say to each other, “Weren’t our hearts on fire as he spoke to us along the road?” Something was stirring, something was at work. We too feel this at times. The Holy Spirit tries to stir us to action or tries to open our eyes or heart or mind to something or someone. We feel a nudge to go to that place. We hear a whisper calling us to visit or text or call that person. And when we are willing, brave even, and take that step of faith, we too encounter the risen Christ as our hearts blaze with love for God and for the other.

But this is a step that we can initially struggle to take. Once in a while we’re lucky like the two disciples were. Jesus makes himself present. After each of these encounters and after the moments when we did take a step of faith, we become more and more empowered to do as these two disciples did. We tell others our Jesus story. Some of the time it is literally telling others about our Jesus. Most of the time, though, it is allowing that encounter or that experience to change us, to fill us with the good news, equipping us to live out our faith more boldly. Doing so, others come to know Christ’s love for them. In all that we say and do, may it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, we rejoice in those encounters with you, in those times when you open our eyes and warm our hearts. These encounters are powerful and transforming. Keep our eyes open and our hearts willing, O God. Then send us out. Use us to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world. Amen.


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Encounters

Reading: Luke 24:13-29

Luke 24:25 – “Then Jesus said to them, ‘You foolish people! Your dull minds keep you from believing all that the prophets talked about.'”

Photo credit: Josh Calabrese

Today and tomorrow we walk with the Emmaus road disciples. This story is found only in Luke’s gospel. This encounter takes place on that first Sunday, on the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Two of Jesus’ disciples are walking to Emmaus. It might be “home.” They were talking about recent events: Jesus’ arrest and all that followed. They share all of this with Jesus as he joins them, noting that they had hoped that this Jesus was the one to redeem Israel. They do not recognize this stranger that they walk with as Jesus.

Jesus admonishes them, saying, “You foolish people! Your dull minds keep you from believing all that the prophets talked about.” He reminds them that these recent events were necessary. Jesus then unpacks the scriptures for them, starting with Moses, working his way through the prophets. What a Bible lesson this must have been! Today’s reading ends with the disciples inviting Jesus to stay the night with them.

We might wonder how the disciples could walk with Jesus and not recognize him. Yet, how many times did I encounter Jesus yesterday and fail to recognize him? Was it in the words of that tour guide? Was it in the smile of that older woman? Was it in the welcome clearly present in that gathering spot? Jesus is present to us in so many ways. Where did you encounter Jesus yesterday?

Prayer: Lord God, first, thank you for the many ways that you are present to us. You come alive in the red letters. Your Spirit moves us and speaks into our hearts and minds. But we also miss you here and there, sometimes everywhere. So, Lord, open our eyes and hearts to see you in the world around us – in the people, in the signs, in the encounters. Eyes and hearts open, touch our lives. Amen.


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Pioneer and Perfecter

Reading: Hebrews 12:1-3

Hebrews 12:1-2 – “Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter.”

Photo credit: Milo Weiler

Our reading begins with Paul’s encouragement to “also run the race.” He calls us to do so with “endurance,” evoking thoughts of great effort, steady determination, and long perseverance. Jesus called the road that leads to life “narrow,” implying a challenging journey. Paul’s word “also” testifies to this reality. Paul is connecting back to the great list he gives in what we call chapter 11, where he lists those who are sometimes referred to as the “heroes of faith.” He names Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and Rahab among many others. These people (and many more) make up the “great cloud of witness” that surround us and walk with us as we strive to run the race of faith laid out before us.

Paul offers us some advice for running this race: “Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up.” It is not easy to run with the weight of pride, anxiety, ego, stress, prejudice, grief… upon our shoulders. It is not easy to run still carrying the sins that trip us and derail our faith – lust, envy, jealousy, greed, apathy… All of these worldly struggles make it difficult to live faithfully in this life. Paul next encourages us, inviting us to “fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter.” If we keep our eyes and our hearts and minds focused on Jesus and his example, then we have a fighting chance to live faithfully in this life. Paul then reminds us to recall Jesus’ sacrifice and gift on and through the cross, where he demonstrated perfect love. In our hard moments, may we remember how Christ endured, being strengthened by his example, experiencing the joy of living in and for Jesus. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, our race can have many hurdles. So we thank you for the examples of others who overcame and endured: Jacob, Isaac, Gideon, Stephen… In them we see how faith will see us through. And we thank you for Jesus, the one who opened the way for us to be rid of our sins and to enter into the life that you have in store for those who love you and strive to walk in faith. Lead us on, day by day, so that we too may one day become part of the great cloud of witness. Amen.


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Open Eyes, Shining Light

Reading: Isaiah 42:5-9

Isaiah 42:6 – “I, the Lord, have called you… I will grasp your hand and guard you, and give you as a covenant… as a light to the nations.”

Photo credit: Devin Avery

Today we return to where we began the week, turning again to Isaiah 42. Our verses for today are still about the servant, but God’s role is also a focus. Verse 5 establishes who God is: the creator and the giver of breath to all who walk on the earth. These words remind us of God’s power and of God’s control over the world. This power is extended to humankind in the next verse, where we read, “I, the Lord, have called you… I will grasp your hand and guard you, and give you as a covenant… as a light to the nations.” This echoes our chosenness found in verse 1 and it fleshes out how God’s spirit works in our lives. The Spirit leads and protects us as we step forward in faith, seeking to be a light to those around us.

Verse 7 begins with “to open blind eyes.” While this is primarily about being the light to others, sometimes it is our own eyes that need to see. We can overlook our own failures, we can ignore the one God is leading us to, we can be so busy or preoccupied that we don’t see the need right in front of us. At other times we do go where the Spirit is leading us and we are part of God’s work that frees those in prisons and brings light to those in darkness. This seeing and freeing can be from physical places but can also be from emotional, relational, and/or spiritual things. These imprisoning factors are often intertwined and connected. This can complicate the situation or compound the need, but we need to always remind ourselves that nothing is impossible when God is leading, guiding, and working in someone’s life.

Our reading closes with a reminder that while God has done much in the past, God is still at work and will remain at work in our lives and in our world. The “new things” of God are the promise that God will continue to grasp our hand, to guard us, to open blind eyes, and to send us out as a light to the world. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, first we ask you to shine your light into the dark pockets in our hearts and lives. Open our eyes to the things that need to die in us, then grasp our hand as we work to uproot these evils. Once made right with you, send us out to be light for others, opening the way for your love to bring healing, making them whole. Amen.


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Love of World? Love of God?

Reading: 1st John 2:15-17

1st John 2:15 – “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them.”

Photo credit: Kelly Sikkema

In our reading today John contrasts love of the world with love of God. Much like Paul, John sees this as black or white. John begins by stating, “Don’t love the world or the things of the world.” John then gives us a partial list of what these things are in verse 16: the cravings of the flesh, the cravings of the eyes, and pride in one’s possessions. For John Wesley, the cravings of the flesh are our physical sins. These would be things like gluttony, exerting power over others, oppression, sexual promiscuity, violence, abusing substances. The cravings of the eyes are the sins we commit within our hearts: lust, envy, judging… These sins can lead to physical sins. And for Wesley, the sin of pride was revealed as a “quest” for glory. This quest was for possessions and for status, recognition, titles, wealth… The apostle John reminds us that all of these things “are not of the Father.”

At the start of our passage for today we read, “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them.” John’s focus in his gospel and in his three letters is ‘love.’ For the disciples, love is the defining characteristic of God and of a disciple of Jesus Christ. Love is antithetical to the sins listed above. Love naturally counters the cravings and pride so easily found in the human heart. Placing ourselves behind God and neighbor, resetting our priorities and decision making to reflect this servant status, results in “the world and its cravings… passing away.” This is a slow and gradual death. It is a hard fought battle. But, living as love, obeying the will of God, focuses our journey on an eternity in love’s presence. May this be so.

Prayer: Lord God, be with us in this battle for our love. Culture and those living for self model loving the world. Our desire to belong and our taught cravings are always tugging us in their direction. Counter these, O God, by the power of your love. Empower us to love as you loved when in the flesh, using us to model your kingdom in this time and place. Amen.