pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: forces


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Are We Willing?

Reading: Luke 14:25-33

Luke 14:22 – “Whoever doesn’t carry their own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

Today in Luke’s gospel we read some words that can feel challenging. Jesus is speaking to a large crowd that is traveling with him. These are words that all who consider Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior need to hear often. For those present and for us today who read these words, the question is being asked: Are you willing to do what is required to walk in the footsteps of Jesus?

Jesus begins with this: Are you willing to put Jesus first in your life? Only if Jesus is ahead of family and “even one’s own life,” only then can one follow Jesus. When there is no one between Jesus and you, yes, can you pick up your cross to follow him. Jesus must be the only one on the throne of our hearts, otherwise we’ll lay down that cross when things get hard…

The initial question is followed up with a consideration of the cost of following Jesus. Like everything else in our life that we commit to, there is a cost to discipleship. Using the example of building a tower, Jesus invites his followers to consider if they’re willing to make a lifelong commitment. We need to understand that a walk of faith is 24/7 – long, steady, constant, and all-encompassing.

Jesus then uses a war example, reminding us that a walk of faith is a constant battle. The forces fighting against our daily faithful walk are powerful and unrelenting. Satan and the lures of this world must be fought against regularly. We must be willing to battle almost constantly if we are to walk with Jesus. Our biggest battle is with “things.” Are we willing to put where we live, what we wear, our gifts and talents, even our status and power, to use in the building of God’s kingdom? Are we willing to give up whatever is required to prioritize humble service to Christ above all else?

Prayer: Lord God, these words are challenging and difficult. But they are also encouraging. Jesus lays out the requirements, yes, but is also reminding us that faith is a choice that we do not make alone. We have within us all that we need to walk faithfully each day: the Holy Spirit. Lead and guide us today. Empower and equip us, O Lord, to follow in Christ’s footsteps. Amen.


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Light Still Shines

Reading: Isaiah 61:10 – 62:3

Verse 11: “The sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations”.

Many years ago, early on in my years working with youth, I helped out at a 30-hour famine lock-in at the church. We spent 30 hours learning about poverty in places around the world. We interspersed games and activities as well. And we drank only water. We had no food or snacks. At the end of the lock-in we cooked a meal common to many living in impoverished areas of the world: rice and beans. After 30 hours without food you might think we longer for more, maybe steak and potatoes. Yet the simple meal tasted so good. It was completely filling and satisfying.

In today’s passage Isaiah speaks to a people who have come home from exile. They returned with such joy. They were eager to start the work of restoring Jerusalem and the temple. Their work labored on and outside forces threatened their safety and their ability to continue. Isaiah comes to them and tells them that God is readying “garments of salvation” and “robes of righteousness”. In verse eleven Isaiah speaks hope: “The sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations”. God will be with his people. What joy and hope these words must have brought. To hear that righteousness will “shine like the dawn” and that salvation will be like a “blazing torch” only builds their hope and joy.

There were times that night twenty-something years ago when the hunger gnawed at us. There were moments when the joy and excitement that we began the event with seemed like a distant memory. But times of prayer and worship sustained us and strengthened us to stay the course, to not give up. As I think about our current season, this time of pandemic, it reminds me of that lock-in. We began this season thinking it would all be over in two to three weeks. 30 hours without food isn’t that long, right? The months have drug on, our hard labor continues, enemies seem all around, and our hope and joy are challenged often. Just as times of praise and worship lifted our souls and spirits and just as Isaiah’s words of hope lifted the Israelites, so too will these things lift us now.

In just two days believers will gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Isaiah spoke of him, the one who “will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand”. This Christmas Eve is a chance to renew faith, to praise the one who brings salvation, to worship the one who is righteous, to exult the light who still shines into the darkness. If you do not have a church home, find a church online or near by you to worship on Christmas Eve. Join the faithful throughout the world as we worship Jesus Christ, Lord and King.

Prayer: Living God, continue to sustain us, to encourage us, to walk with us these long days. Draw us in to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Allow all to see the light that is still shining in the darkness. Amen.


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Patient Trust

Reading: Matthew 13: 24-30

Verse 29: “…while you are pulling the weeds you may root up the wheat with them”.

I tend to be a fixer. When problems or issues arise I want to fix them. In general, most of us get uncomfortable when things are not right. In those cases our leaning is to make things right then and there. Many of us are like the servants in today’s parable.

The parable begins with the planting of wheat in the field. During the night an enemy sows weeds in the same field. Over time both seeds sprout and begin to grow. The landowner’s servants see both wheat and weeds in the field and ask the landowner what happened. They ask him, “Didn’t you sow good seeds?” This too is one of my tendencies. When things go poorly or not well I too tend to question, to doubt, to blame. But the owner replies, “An enemy did this”. It was something out of his control. He recognizes that at times people and other forces outside of our control will affect and effect us. Other people can also make bad decisions, nature strikes, some people are greedy and immoral.

Like the servants, our first reaction is usually to do react, to do something. But the owner practices patience. He tells the servants “no”. He wants them to wait because “…while you are pulling the weeds you may root up the wheat with them”. He correctly understands that both root systems might be damaged by pulling the weeds now. Instead he instructs them to wait for the harvest. This advice is good for us as well. When we practice patience and trust God to work things out in his time, things usually work out. In faith may we take our prayers to the Lord, trusting in and waiting on his answer.

Prayer: Lord God, when I want to jump in and solve or fix, may your Holy Spirit remind me to breathe, to be patient, to turn first to you for discernment and guidance. In trust may I relinquish all worry and fear and doubt and angst. Help me to trust in you alone. Amen.