pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: glory


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Fill Us, O Lord

Reading: Colossians 2:6-12

Colossians 2:11 – “In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not administered by human hands… stripping away the old self dominated by sin.”

Paul begins our encouragement for today by imploring the believers to “live… in the same way you received him.” Harkening back to the day they came to faith, Paul implores the believers to keep up the same fire, the same zeal. Paul encourages them to remain rooted in Jesus and to build up their faith, establishing themselves in Christ. This process, Paul writes, will lead to an overflow of thanksgiving and joy. These are good reminders for us too.

Next Paul invites them to be wary about falling back into our being drawn into the ways of the world. Potential dangers include new philosophies and false teachings that are counter to Christ’s teachings. Perhaps if even greater danger is conforming back to their old ways, back to the selfish and sinful ways of the world.

Paul reminds the believers that they have been “filled” with Christ. He reminds them that “In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not administered by human hands… stripping away the old self dominated by sin.” The physical act of circumcision that sets the Jews apart from the world has become a spiritual act that sets the Christian apart from the world. The old self was “buried” in the waters of baptism. The new self emerged and was “raised up” through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Now the power of God resides in Spirit in the believers.

So what must we do to walk daily with and in the Lord? It goes back to the opening verses. Seek to live “in Christ” – to live as Christ lived, following his example. Pour into your faith – build it up, deepen your roots in Christ. Allow the joy of faith to fill your heart to overflowing – share your faith. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, open wide our hearts today and fill us with your love. Open wide our minds today and fill us with your Spirit. Open wide our hands today and fill us with your strength. Then, in all things, use these things, allowing them to flow out of us and into the world, bringing you all the glory and praise. Amen.


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Commands

Reading: Exodus 20:1-17

Exodus 20:3 – “You must have no other gods before me.”

Entering the history of Israel, they have been freed from slavery in Egypt for three months. In this time they have tested both God and Moses. They have witnessed amazing miracles as expressions of God’s love for them. The mass of humanity is now at Mount Sinai, where they prepare themselves to receive God’s covenant. On the mountain Moses receives these ten commands from God. Obedience to these commands should be Israel’s response to God’s saving grace.

The first four commands center on our relationship with God. It is from this relationship that all other relationships flow. We shall not have any other god and we shall not make or worship idols. We shall not misuse God’s name. And we shall keep the Sabbath holy. These commands shape our relationship with God and they remind us of God’s proper place in that relationship.

The next six commands come in pretty rapid succession. These commands define our relationships with one another. The first deals with our family, our primary relationship: honor father and mother. The next five expand the circle to the wider world: do not kill, commit adultery, steal, lie, or covet. These seem simple and straightforward. Yet within each command is a degree of interpretation and application. Jesus will flesh out some of these commands in the New Testament.

These commands can be simplified. Jesus summed them up as love God, love neighbor. John Wesley used three simple rules to govern his life. As we can do with the 10 Commandments or with any rule, we can try to limit what it means to love or we can try to limit who our neighbor is. The simple answer is “all.” Love God with all that we are and with all that we do, say, think, and act. Love all people as Christ loved us. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, center us first in our relationship with you. May we love you in all possible ways, bringing you all the glory, honor, and praise. From there, Lord, move us on to generously and genuinely love all people. Open our hearts to the width and depth and breadth of your love for us, revealed in Jesus Christ. Then move us to pour that love out into the world. Amen.


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All the Glory

Reading: John 15:5-8

John 15:8 – “My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples.”

Today’s passage bridges last week’s question of heaven’s existence and this week’s wrestling with unanswered prayer. The two topics of doubt fund answers in Jesus’ teaching about being the true vine. This image is one also used throughout the Old Testament.

In verse 5 Jesus declares the connected relationship: “I am the vine; you are the branches.” If we remain in Jesus, then we will “produce much fruit.” The main fruit aligns with the great commission: making disciples of all nations. We also produce fruit and bring heaven to earth when we bring Christ’s love, hope, mercy, grace, peace, joy, forgiveness… to those in the world. Of this good life Jesus says, “My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples.” When we remain in Christ we produce fruit in this world, we bring God much glory.

The converse is also true. When we allow ourselves to become disconnected from Jesus, we will then fail to produce fruit for the kingdom. In that broken relationship we cannot do any good work that glorifies God. And, in the end, we will be “gathered up, thrown into a fire,” where there will be, as Jesus often said elsewhere, weeping and gnashing of teeth.

In verse 7 we begin to lean into the outcomes of our prayers. Here too is a connection. Here Jesus tells us that if we “remain in me and my words remain in you,” then what we ask for will be done. Remaining connected to Christ keeps our heart and therefore our prayers aligned with God’s heart and with God’s will and way. Praying in this way will produce good fruit that glorifies God. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, our connection to you is so important, so vital. As we spend time each day in prayer and study, our connection strengthens. Then, as we go out into life and into the world, your words, your Spirit, your will and way go with us, guiding us. May this connection empower us to produce fruit as we strive to build your kingdom of heaven here on earth, bringing you all the glory. Amen.


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Trust Always and Forever

Reading: John 14:1-3

John 14:3 – “I will return and take you to be with me so that where I am you will be too.”

Jesus calls the disciples away from being troubled and into trusting. The disciples are troubled by what they’ve just heard. The one of them with the most verve, the most confidence, the most daring faith – he will deny knowing Jesus. If this one will fail Jesus, they wonder, what chance do the rest of us stand? These thoughts would trouble us too. Similar thoughts trouble us. A co-worker is unexpectedly let go. We question our job security. A friend loses a spouse. We question our health and our mortality. When the news that we receive rocks our world, it is easy to become troubled.

Jesus calls the disciples to trust in him and in God. To trust in Jesus is to trust into the three years together. He is inviting them to lean into the relationship, into the connection that has developed and deepened by living daily with Jesus. He is also reminding them of the relationship that they have with God. This is founded upon the scriptural promises that they are currently living out with the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Through the prophets, God spoke of this time. We can trust in Jesus and God for these same reasons. Our walk of faith has built a relationship that we can trust. Our time in the word has revealed a God we can trust always and forever.

Jesus then connects these ideas of trust to the eternal in verses 2 and 3. He tells the disciples, “I will return and take you to be with me so that where I am you will be too.” One day this will be true for all who believe. It may be as Jesus personally meets us to take us to our eternal home. It may be at his second coming, when he returns in his final glory. Either way, we will be with Jesus. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, day by day as we walk with you, our trust grows, our relationship deepens. But then that hard news hits. We can feel like we’re back to the days before we knew you personally. We can feel so all alone. In those moments, Lord, remind us of your constant presence, of your eternal promises, of your unending love and care. Hold us tightly in your arms. Amen.


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Confessing Christ

Readings: Philippians 2:6-11 and Luke 23:39-43

Luke 23:42 – “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

In our Philippians passage Paul encourages us to adopt the attitude of Christ. This is what a disciple or follower of Jesus seeks to do. In this “Christ Hymn” we find three attitudes that we can emulate. These and other parts of the hymn point to a fourth attitude that we are called to practice. First, “he emptied himself.” Jesus was willing to become like us so that he could relate to us. Second, “he humbled himself” – becoming willing to fully associate with us. Third, Jesus was fully obedient to God. While we likely will not be pushed to the point of dying, we are to seek to obey God always. These three attitudes and the actions the hymns speaks of point to the fourth attitude: love. It was love that drove the other three, that arches over the emptying, the humility, the obedience.

Turning to our Luke 23 passage we see these four attitudes lived out. The religious leaders, the soldiers, the crowd – they all mocked and taunted Jesus. He hung on the cross, nearly spent, perhaps one foot already in heaven. It would’ve been easy to just shut out all the noise, to close the eyes, to slip quickly back into heaven. “Easy” is too often our path. But here in this moment Jesus encounters a seeker. This second criminal defends Jesus. So Jesus connects to this man, emptying himself a bit further. Jesus humbled himself even more, meeting this criminal where he was at. Jesus remained obedient to God’s big command. In love Jesus responded to the criminal’s request, telling him that today he’d see Jesus in paradise. The man’s tongue confessed that Jesus was Lord, to the glory of the Father. May it be so with our whole lives this day and every day.

Prayer: Lord God, lead and guide us today to hold fast to the attitude of Christ. Grant us the courage and the will to elevate the other over self and to strive to live out your love in all we do, say, and think. Amen.


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Hell? Heaven?

Readings: Psalm 92:5-8, Malachi 4:1-3, Daniel 4:9-11, and 12:1-3

Malachi 4:2 – “The sun of righteousness will rise on those revering my name; healing will be in its wings.”

This week we wrestle with the question of heaven or hell. We begin today in the Old Testament. The rest of the week will be in the New Testament. This “imbalance” is because there is no direct mention of hell in the Hebrew scriptures. There are references to a place we would call “hell,” but this concept did not have a place in Hebrew thought prior to Jesus’ days.

Psalm 92:5-8 is representative of Hebrew thought in the Old Testament. God is awesome. The ignorant, the wicked, the evildoers – while they “seem to blossom,” in the end they will be destroyed. Running throughout the Old Testament is the idea that the good will be rewarded and the evil will be punished.

This idea is echoed in Malachi 4. The prophet writes that the day is coming when the arrogant and evildoers will burn like straw, consuming them. But for those doing good? “The sun of righteousness will rise on those revering my name; healing will be in its wings.” The wicked will be crushed like dust, but the righteous, the godly, they will be filled with joy.

Even foreign kings experience this cycle of punishment and redemption. In Daniel 4, Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar calls upon Daniel, the one who has “the breath of the holy gods” in him, to interpret his dream. Daniel, with God’s help, explains the dream. All unfolds exactly as Daniel foretold. In the end, redeemed by God, Nebuchadnezzar worships, magnifies, and glorifies the goodness of God.

Turning to Daniel 12 we find the Old Testament passage that best connects to our understanding of heaven and hell. Speaking of the end times, Daniel writes that those whose names are in the scroll (of life) will be rescued, entering “eternal life,” shining like stars forever. Others – those not in the scroll – they will go to “shame and eternal disgrace.” So it will be.

Prayer: Lord God, lead us today to be people who do good and who seek to live holy and righteous lives that bring you honor and glory. Guard us from the temptations of this world, keeping evil and arrogance far away. In all that we do and say and think may our lives magnify and glorify your name. Amen.


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How Majestic!

Reading: Psalm 8

Psalm 8:1 – “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth!”

Photo credit: Greg Rakozy

Psalm 8 begins and ends with the same words, praising God for who and what God is. The words in between celebrate the creation and humanity’s place within the world God created.

The psalmist looks up at the skies and is awed. The work of God’s “fingers” is vast and powerful and amazing. We’ve had these feelings and responses when we’ve looked up at the stars. The Psalm then pivots to humanity. The psalmist muses about God even paying attention to something so relatively small. We’ve also each felt our own smallness as we have stared heavenward.

In verse 5 the psalmist acknowledges that God has made humanity “only slightly less than divine.” Of all creation, only humanity is created in the image of God. Accordingly humanity has been charged with ruling over God’s “handiwork.” All has been put “under their feet.” It would be easy to read these words and to find justification for devouring the planet and its resources, eating our fill of the earth’s “fruit.” When thus tempted, may we be reminded of our smallness and of the earth being God’s handiwork. These reminders keep us humble and invite us to care for our world as God would care for our world. May it all be so.

Prayer: Lord God, yes, Lord, how majestic is your name and your creation. From the skies to a baby’s cry, your handiwork calls for praise and adoration. Lead and guide us to care for this world as acts of praise and adoration, bringing you all the glory. Amen.


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Come, Lord Jesus!

Reading: Revelation 21-22

Revelation 21:5 – “Then the one seated on the throne said, ‘Look! I’m making all things new.'”

As we conclude our Bible Year reading plan with Revelation 21 and 22, it is a wonderful end to this project and to the words of scripture. These two chapters give us a sneak peak into eternity. God and Jesus Christ are victorious. All evil is no more. Everything focuses on worshipping God and the Lamb.

Chapter 21 begins with the new heaven and earth becoming one as the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven. In this heavenly city, God will once again dwell with “his people.” There will be no tears, no death, no mourning, no pain. The one in the throne declares, “Look! I’m making all things new.” In his fourth spirit-led trance John gets a tour of this new city of God. It is 1,500 miles on each side. It was twelve gates, each made out of a huge pearl, each gate with the name of one of Israel’s twelve tribes on it. The city has twelve foundations, each made of a different previous stone, each bearing the name of one of the twelve apostles. There is no sun or moon. God’s glory is the light and the Lamb is the lamp. The river of life flows from the throne of God. On each bank is a tree of life. The trees bear twelve fruits and the leaves bring healing. God’s servants gather around the throne, worshipping God and the Lamb.

The epilogue begins in 22:6. An angel declares these words “trustworthy and true.” John states that he heard and saw these things. He is told not to seal the scroll because “the time is near.” Jesus, the “root and descendant of David… the bright morning star,” is coming soon. Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Prayer: Lord God, we long for the day. We long to see the new heaven and earth. We long to dwell in your presence. Today we pray, come Lord Jesus. Amen.


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Worthy is the Lamb

Reading: Revelation 3-5

Revelation 5:5 – “Don’t weep. Look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has emerged victorious so that he can open the scroll.”

Chapter 3 concludes the messages to the seven churches. The church in Sardis looks good on the surface but is really dead. They need to remember what they first learned, changing hearts and lives. If so, their names will be declared in heaven. The church in Philadelphia has little power but they have stood strong. They will be pillars in heaven, names written there. And Laodicea… neither hot nor cold, just lukewarm. This church is perhaps most relevant today. Jesus is about to “spit them out.” They are “miserable, pathetic, poor, blind, naked.” Yet Jesus stands at the door and knocks. If they hear and open the door, he will come in and be with them. If they emerge victorious, they will sit with Jesus on his throne in heaven.

Chapters 4 and 5 shift to heaven as John enters his second Spirit-led trance. At the center God sits on the throne. 24 elders on thrones surround God. There are seven torches and four living creatures before the throne of God. The creatures have six wings and are covered all over with eyes. They never rest but praise God, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.” The elders join in the praise, declaring God to be the one worthy of glory, honor, and power.

John then noticed that there is a scroll in the hand of God. He weeps because no one is worthy to open it. Then an elder says, “Don’t weep. Look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has emerged victorious so that he can open the scroll.” The Lamb, Jesus Christ, comes and takes the scroll. The elders, the living creatures, millions of angels, and all of creation praises and worships the Lamb, the one who was slain. What a glorious day it will be!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the reality check as we began today. Draw us out of the comfy middle ground. Empower us to stand boldly for you. And thank you for the peak into heaven, for the reminder of your majesty and power, for the reminder of who and what the Christ child will be and become. All praise and honor and glory are yours! Amen.


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Blameless and Rejoicing

Reading: Jude

Jude 1:3 – “Instead, I must write to urge you to fight for the faith delivered once and for all to God’s holy people.”

Jude focuses mostly on repudiating the false teachers or “dreamers” that are present in this community of faith. In the opening verses Jude states that he wanted to write to them about their shared salvation. But… “Instead, I must write to urge you to fight for the faith delivered once and for all to God’s holy people.” These “godless people” have taken grace and turned it into an excuse for “unrestrained immortality.” Doing so, they deny Christ.

Jude then uses several examples of people who have turned from their faith, doubting God or becoming inwardly focused. Perhaps following 2nd Peter’s lead, Jude names the exodus’ first generation, the fallen angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah. He includes Cain and also adds Balaam and Korah. Using wonderful metaphors from nature, Jude likens these dreamers to “jagged rocks just below the surface” and to “waterless clouds.” He reminds them that Enoch prophesied about these people and the judgment that they will receive.

Jude then closes with words of encouragement. First, he says, remember the words of the apostles. They too warned about these scoffers. Second, stay together. Build each other up, pray in the Spirit, keep each other in God’s love. Be people of mercy and rescue “from the fire” those you can. The letter closes with a beautiful blessing. We are reminded that “glory, majesty, power, and authority” belong to “the one who is able to keep you from falling, to present you blameless and rejoicing before his presence.” Yes, may all of this and more be our blessing!

Prayer: Lord God, Balaam, Korah and such may be unfamiliar to many, but the temptations of this world and our natural tendency towards selfishness are very familiar realities. Walk with us, O Spirit of God. Encourage us to walk with one another in faith. Draw us to your beautiful blessing. Amen.