pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: faith


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Resting Fully

Those who knew Jesus expected him to return very soon after the resurrection.  But Jesus never gave a date or a time – that was (and is) God’s will.  Yet the early believers expected Jesus to return any day.  Part this was probably a longing to see their good friend again.

As people in the early church began to die, some worry arose over the fact that Jesus had not returned.  They didn’t know their loved one’s fates.  But Paul assured them and assures us that final victory over death has been won by Jesus Christ’s resurrection.  Paul assured us that those who have died will rise and return in glory when He returns.  Those alive at the time of His return will then join the great cloud of witness.

As a human we grieve the physical loss.  But as a Christian we rejoice in knowing they have attained their place in heaven’s glory.  We also live each day without fear of death because we too know that our eternity is secure, resting fully with Christ!

Scripture reference: 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18


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Teach Them Well

Our faith has a long history to it.  Our common faith journey begins with the creation story and runs right to today.  It contains stories of Moses and Noah, of David and Solomon, of Mary and Esther, of Elijah and John the Baptist, of Daniel and Hezekiah, and of course, of Jesus and the disciples.

Our own faith story begins years ago as well.  It includes all of those family experiences with faith plus all that we each have experienced in our own lives.  All of this is simply an extension of that story that began only with God, before a word was spoken.

In Psalm 78 we are charged with the task of teaching all of these stories to our children so that they too can now them and make them a part of their own faith story.  And not only that, but also so that they too may teach the stories to their children.  These roots of our faith, these stories of who we are, for the foundation of who we are a Christian.  A solid foundation is important.  May we all teach our children well, so that they may be strengthened in the faith and encouraged in the way that leads to life eternal.

Scripture reference: Psalm 78: 5-7


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What Greater Gift?

The stories of the Bible are our stories of faith.    In them we come to understand past relationships with God, to see His mighty actions in the world, and to see what it looks like to walk the faith in the flesh, as Jesus did.  As we come to love God, we feel the need to pass on the story of faith to our children and other family, to our friends and coworkers, and to the stranger we meet on the street.

The faith experiences we each go through personally and those read and hear about are also a part of the faith story we each have.  God continues to be active in our world.  The personal side of our faith is the part others can most often see and also the part they can initially best relate to as well.  When we share our faith from the heart, we can deeply touch another’s life because here they can see the power of Christ in action in the real world.

We should be drawn to share what we love, desiring for all to come to know God and His amazing love.  Whether through Biblical stories or through the stories of our life, we are called to make disciples of all people.  What greater gift could we offer our neighbors that we are supped to love?

Scripture reference: Psalm 78: 1-4


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Saints and Future Saints

In Joshua 24, Joshua gathers the people together.  Many of us gathered together yesterday.  The purposes were the same – to recall our faith, to renew our souls, to challenge us to choose who we will serve, and to decide how we will live our lives.

Joshua begins by drawing the people back to their roots, to the father of Israel, to Abraham.  Joshua wanted them to see their common connection and to see how their faith had been developed and nurtured by many people.  In lots of churches yesterday we were also drawn back – to the saints who have gone before.  By remembering them, we too are reconnecting to our faith, to God, to our roots, and to each other.

All of us are who we are because of the people who molded and shaped us.  Maybe it was your parents or grandparents or a pastor or a friend who planted and nurtured those seeds of faith in you.  More likely it was a combination of people.  Give thanks for them.  But also emulate them because we all have a role to play for the next generation of faithful followers.  Consider your role today and begin to seek ways to live into your role.

Scripture reference: Joshua 24: 1-3a


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We Too Will Be Amazed

In the story of Israel crossing the Jordan, God only works when the priests come to rest in the middle of the raging river.  Once they stop in the middle of the rushing waters and trust in Him to act, then the Lord provides a safe way for the people to cross over to the other side.  Because they rested and trusted, God provided them a way that they could not provide for themselves.

Rest was an important part of Israel’s faith.  For the Hebrews, the Sabbath was strictly observed as a day of rest from work and as a day when they would worship God.  In this time of rest, God goes to work.  As they rest and seek God, He responds by coming to them, by being a presence in their lives.So it must have made sense to the priests to stop and rest in the middle of the river, to wait on God to work.

In our society today, rest seems almost a foreign concept.  We are so busy.  For many, rest is that time at the end of the day when they collapse into bed at the end of another busy day.  We even fill our weekends with all that we did not get done during our busy week.

God still calls for us to rest in Him.  He desires for a personal relationship above all else.  And that requires time.  To connect with God in an intimate way we must carve out time daily where it is just God and us.  We must allow Him time to work in our lives.  When we do these things, we too will be amazed by what God will do in our lives.

Scripture reference: Joshua 3: 7-17


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The Greatest Gift

Our faith often gets passed from generation to generation.  As parents raising children, we nurture and teach them how to be caring and responsible, and to make good decisions.  As Christians, we add to this list ‘faith’.  Our children best learn by observing and by participating.

Like anything else, faith must be taught.  This happens both in the home and at church.  As we talk about the messages and stories in the Bible with our children we are both preparing them to become a Christian themselves and also to be a teacher of faith some day.

And then there is the indirect teaching.  If our children see us joyously heading off to church or to meet with our small group, that outlook is instilled in them.  If they ride home from church with us or overhear us talking with our spouse about what we learned there, then they too want to become part of the conversation.  If they see us reading our Bible or praying at home, that habit gains a foothold in their lives as well.  If they see us treat the stranger and the outcast with love and mercy, then they come to treat others that way as well.  What do your children see when they observe you?

The greatest gift we can give the next generation is a relationship with and faith in Jesus Christ.  In all ways, may we model what it looks like lived out daily, in the flesh, in this world.  May we teach the children well.

Scripture reference: 1 Thessalonians 2: 1-8


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All Is Not Lost

Matthew 22 contains several series of questions that the Sadducees and Pharisees ask Jesus.  They are the religious leaders of the day and their queries have two purposes: to prove themselves correct and to trap Jesus, this radical upstart.  Yet with each question Jesus stings these experts in faith by drawing them back to the scriptures and the true meaning of God’s word.  After each encounter the leaders go away bruised and defeated, and probably a little angry too.

We too go away a bit bruised and defeated when we take the time to reflect on how we do honoring the two great commandments Jesus names in verses 34 to 36.  Love God with all of my heart, mind, and soul?  On a good day I might come close part of the day.  But my pride,my judgmental nature, my sense of needing to be in control – they each take their turn leading instead of me allowing God to lead.  Love my neighbor as self?  I could maybe do okay if I got to pick the neighbor.  But my neighbor is everyone I encounter and I struggle daily – with those I know and those I don’t and sometimes avoid.  Maybe you can relate.  Maybe you too are like the Sadducees and Pharisees.

But all is not lost – we are on a journey of faith.  Each time we stumble, Christ helps us back up.  He reassures us of His love for us.  He reminds us to love others as He first loved us.  And He sends us back out each day, to matter and make a difference for His kingdom here on earth.  Each day we meet the world, seeking to meet it as Jesus did – right where it is at.  We seek to offer what we can to whomever we can, to make a difference one person at a time.  And we do.  Thanks be to God.

Scripture reference: Matthew 22: 34-36


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Eye on the Prize

In Matthew 22 the religious leaders come to Jesus with a question about paying taxes.  On one level it is a silly question – of course taxes belong to Caesar.  It is like asking a Christian is they believe in God.  The basic answer to both questions is pretty obvious, but if we dig a little deeper see complexities and more questions arise.

We all have certain people in authority over us.  The government is usually the final authority in civic matters.  To this day we pay taxes and obey the laws.  Unless a law conflicts with our faith.  Most of us are employees and have bosses and managers above us in the work environment and we must follow their decisions and directions.  Unless a policy or directive violates our beliefs.  In our homes many of us have parents or a spouse in whom some authority rests.  We uphold our responsibilities and follow norms here too – unless there is an abuse of power or something else that runs counter to our faith.

God is ultimately in control and we owe our allegiance to Him alone.  Yet our reality is that we live in the here and now and to a limited extent that determines some of our choices.  As a Christian, we live in a delicate balance – living as a good member of society, work, and family while using our faith as the first decision pont in matters of conflict.  We are citizens of two worlds, the earthly and the heavenly.  May we be good members of both groups.  Yet may we ultimately and always keep our eyes on the prize for which we are called heavenly.

Scripture reference: Matthew 22: 15-22


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Day by Day

Have you ever faced a task that seemed monumental or so large that you didn’t even  know where to begin?  Maybe it was a huge pile of dirt or rock or wood that needed to be moved.  Maybe it was 30 years worth of pictures that needed sorting and organizing.  Sometimes it is hard to get started and sometimes we even want to give up in the middle.  Yet when we step back and look, we can see that the pile is smaller or that things are starting to take shape.

In our faith journey, that perfection in Christ that we are called to can seem monumental or huge.  At times we feel lost in the race, unsure of our footing, not quite able to see around the next curve.  Sometimes we feel that there are more questions than answers.  But we do not lose hope.

Paul knew the goal and the call of God heavenward through a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Paul also knew the journey was made day by day, step by step.  Our journey is the same – day by day and step by step.  On this journey too, we can step back and see progress and growth.  In this we find the encouragement to continue to fight the good fight, to pursue the prize of our own call heavenward.  And day by day we draw ever nearer.

Scripture reference: Philippians 3: 12-14


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He Is Faithful

As the wandered in the wilderness without water, the Israelites began to grumble against God and against Moses.  without this basic necessity for life, they were getting testy.  God heard their cry and responded through Moses, bringing forth water from a rock.

How often do we too feel abandoned or question God’s presence?  How common is it to question whether or not He cares when we are walking through a difficult situation in life?  Sometimes in the depths of the valley it is hard to see God’s light and to remain faithful to Him.  Through it all, though, He is faithful to us.  Through it all, He is always right there.

When we look back on our trials, we can usually see how God was there and how He helped or guided us.  As we reflect on and are thankful for His help, we are strengthened in our faith.  Then He is closer when we walk through the next valley or trial, for we know Him more.  God uses our experiences to draw us closer to himself.  We must remain faithful, for He is always faithful.

Scripture reference: Exodus 17: 1-7