pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: grace


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To Live As Love

Reading: Acts 2:38-39

Acts 2:38 – “Change your hearts and lives… be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ… receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

This week our readings focus on God’s promises to us and our response to these promises. The promises are centered on God’s love for us. Our responses are centered on our love for God. This love is expressed in the sacraments of baptism and communion and in the ways that God’s love is faithful, especially in our times of trial and suffering. Our response is our faithful living as we daily seek to love God and others, building the community through love.

In Acts 2, our focus today and tomorrow, Luke covers the basics of entering the Christian faith. It begins with the prophetic call heard anew in the words of John the Baptist: “Change your heart and lives.” This involves our choice not to live for self but for Jesus Christ. In love, it is placing God and others ahead of and above self. This step of surrender and humility opens our hearts to truly loving God and neighbor.

This step often leads to a profession of faith. For many in the church, this first happens in baptism, an outward sign of an inner faith. Infant baptism has become the “norm” in many faith communities. In these cases, the parent(s) commit to raising the child within the community of faith. Later, whether through a formal process like confirmation or through membership vows in a local church or through a gradual warming of the heart, we confirm or profess our faith in Jesus Christ as “adults.”

The Holy Spirit, God’s indwelling presence, is a piece of this equation. Becoming a part of our lives, whether through the waters of baptism or through the profession of faith, the Holy Spirit works within us, changing hearts and lives, drawing us deeper and deeper into a relationship with Jesus Christ. This ongoing process continues, hopefully each day of our lives, empowering us to live as love in the world. May this be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you today for calling us into your family. Thank you for your patience and for your grace. Fueled by your love, these allow us to remain in right relationship with you. From this place, filled with your love, send us out into the world to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Amen.


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Moments to Share

Reading: John 20:19-29

John 20:27 – “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand into my side.”

Photo credit: Priscilla du Preez

We return today to the story of Jesus’ first two visits to the disciples. The incredible story of Jesus’ first visit is met with great skepticism about what “supposedly” happened. Didymus wants proof. He wants to see and touch to believe that it really is Jesus. We will meet people like this. Yes, cute Bible stories and even some good moral lessons, but…

If you think back over your journey of faith, what were the moments that made your faith real? The stories in the Bible are powerful and provide us with a foundation. In this way they are part of what John Wesley called “prevenient grace” – that grace of God that draws you towards God before you believe. Moments from worship, conversations in Sunday school or youth group, a nugget from a sermon – more of that prevenient grace.

All of these things pull us towards God, deeper into the story, closer to a saving relationship. But those moments in the balcony or at the graveside or in the ER or… the tangible touches of God, the moments when we’ve figuratively been close enough to touch the nail scars, these are our moments. These touches become our stories. These personal stories of when God draws near are the stories that can make Jesus more real for others. They still must have their own moments, but our stories can be part of God’s prevenient grace at work in other’s lives. What are your stories? How will you share them with others?

Prayer: Lord God, remind us of the times when you drew near, when we could feel and almost touch you. Deepen our memories of these encounters so that they become part of the stories that we tell. And as we tell them, work in others to draw them closer to you and to a relationship that will change their lives. Amen.


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The Call Remains

Reading: Matthew 28:1-10

Matthew 28:10 – “Go and tell my brothers that I am going into Galilee. They will see me there.”

On the first Easter long ago, the two Mary’s went to the tomb at sunrise. This moment marked the end of the Sabbath. Now they could properly care for Jesus’ body. It was one last act of love for their Lord. It was one last thanks for how he had changed their lives. But as they arrived to serve Jesus one last time, an angel descended from heaven. The earth quaked and the stone was rolled away. The angel’s and Jesus’ first words are the same: “Don’t be afraid.” Fear would be my first reaction if I saw an angel or someone who rose from the dead. Fear can paralyze. Reassurance is necessary for this encounter to continue.

The two messages continue to mirror one another. The risen Christ will go to Galilee. He will see his disciples there. Mary and Mary, go tell the disciples. The movement is shifting gears. The head, the leader, will remain so in Spirit. The physical presence will now be the responsibility of Jesus’ disciples and followers. They will carry on the basic work. They will bear Christ’s love to the world. They will teach others about Jesus’ love in word and by deed. The eleven will begin and will soon be joined by others – Stephen, Aquila, Paul, Timothy, Lydia… These will be followed by more and more as the movement grows and spreads, the line of disciples ever lengthening. Now we stand in this line as bearers of the good news, seeking to transform our world today. The call remains the same: love others as Jesus first loved you. O Lord, may it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, almost 2,000 years have passed since Jesus walked out of that grave. Ever since then, that love has called us out of our own graves of selfishness, pride, addiction… Set free – loved free – we are called to love others into freedom in Jesus Christ. Use us each day, O God, to bear your love into the world. Amen.


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Not of This World

Reading: Matthew 21:1-11

Matthew 21:9 – “The crowds in front of him and behind him shouted… ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'”

Photo credit: Clay Banks

As Jesus nears Jerusalem, he gives two disciples “a task.” They do as he says – as hard as it might have been to believe – and return to Jesus with the donkey and colt. Perhaps these two disciples knew the words of Isaiah and Zechariah and understood that they were about to be fulfilled. The crowd certainly knew these prophesies and longed for their fulfillment. This is why they lined the road and placed clothes and palm branches on the road into the city, creating a makeshift “royal carpet.” This is why they shouted, “Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'” They believed that the Messiah would come to save them and to re-establish the kingdom of God. This stirred up the city as Jesus entered in.

As the week unfolds, though, it becomes clear that the kingdom of Jesus was not a kingdom of this world. The clearing of the temple was a vivid declaration of this fact. This work and all of Jesus’ work was about opening people’s lives to his kingdom of love. The teachings, the healings – all about bringing people into his kingdom. Even the cross was about opening the way for all people to enter into his kingdom of love. Through the transformation of lives – dying to the things of this world and living for the things of God – love begins to rule first in our hearts and then in our world. Through the power of love, peace and mercy and grace and forgiveness and justice and hope triumph over hate and violence and oppression and other injustices. Come, Lord Jesus, come into our hearts and into our world.

Prayer: Lord God, your radical way of love has begun to transform our hearts and lives. We are becoming who you created us to be. Please continue to work in and through us, transforming this world into your kingdom of love. Amen.


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Even Then

Reading: Matthew 26:30-35 and 69-75

Matthew 26:33 – “Peter replied, ‘If everyone else stumbles because of you, I’ll never stumble.'”

Photo credit: Ricardo Gomez Angel

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, the day we remember Jesus’ grand entry into Jerusalem. Crowds cheered and declared, “Hosanna!” – the one who saves. Many get caught up in the excitement of the parade. Most forget what they were saying by the time the “prophet” enters the city. Today, in Matthew’s gospel, we dive into a microcosm of this human tendency. According to the timeline in Matthew, the palm parade was four days ago. Since then Jesus has cleared the temple and clashed frequently with the religious leaders – sometimes through hard teachings, sometimes through direct conflict. These tensions lead to a plot to kill Jesus.

Following the Last Supper, in the first part of today’s reading, Jesus says to the disciples, “Tonight you will all fall away because of me.” If heard with ears of humility, one would search one’s heart to see if this could possibly be true. Instead Peter boldly declares, “If everyone else stumbles because of you, I’ll never stumble.” Yes, Jesus, maybe the other eleven, but never me. I’ll never deny you. This last bit of bravado comes right after Jesus says to Peter, “Before the rooster crows…”

Turning to the second part of today’s reading, Jesus’ words come true. He has been arrested and the trial has shifted to Caiaphas’ house. Peter is outside in the courtyard. Once, twice, and three times he denies even knowing Jesus. The simple crow of the rooster breaks Peter’s pride and overconfidence. Crying uncontrollably, the Spirit begins to work in Peter’s heart. God doesn’t leave him broken. The failure? Just a building block or stepping stone. In this passage, we’re reminded that our failures are never final. God works even then, maybe especially then, bringing glory from ashes. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, it can be so easy to slip into prideful thinking, into self-elevating judgment. In our moments of pride and ego, stop us in our tracks. Send the Holy Spirit’s conviction quickly and powerfully. And when we ignore even this, too consumed with self to notice or pay attention, break us down and then pour out your mercy, grace, and forgiveness, restoring and redeeming us to you. Thank you, O Lord. Amen.


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Know the Lord is God

Reading: Ezekiel 37:7-14

Ezekiel 37:6b – “The Lord proclaims, Come from the four winds, breath! Breathe into three dead bodies and let them live.”

Photo credit: Marek Piwnicki

Continuing in Ezekiel 37 today, the prophet speaks as directed and the bones come together. Sinew, flesh, and skin cover them – and they lie strewn all over the valley floor. There was no breath in them, no life. So Ezekiel is instructed to prophesy to the breath. Doing this he declares, “The Lord proclaims, Come from the four winds, breath! Breathe into these dead bodies and let them live.” Just as God had done with Adam and Eve, the breath of God enters this multitude. Given life, they stand, ready for what comes next. In the same way, without the breath of life in us, we are just flesh and bone. Without the Spirit in us, leading and guiding us, we are chasing after death as we pursue the things of this world.

God confirms this fact about Israel. Ezekiel learns that the dry bones represent “the entire house of Israel.” Because of their time in exile, their hope was gone, they feel “completely finished.” And as with the bones, God will not leave them there in a place of despair and hopelessness. God will rescue them from death. God “will put my breath in you, and you will live.” They will be replanted in their own land, becoming fertile again, and then they “will know that I am the Lord.”

We too can wander from our faith. We too can chase and chase after things other than God. Eventually we feel as the Israelites felt: tired, empty, without hope. We feel as if we were once again dust. But even when we aren’t faithful, God is. The Holy Spirit stirs in us, brings our faith back to life, stands us up, readies us to walk again with the Lord our God. This too is how we know that the Lord is God. Thanks be to our God.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your love that never lets us go. Thank you for the grace that does not leave us in the dust, wallowing in our pride, greed, envy, lust, and more. Thank you for reviving us with the breath of the Spirit, giving us new life once again. Keep us close to you, O God, breathing deeply of your love and grace. Amen.


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Grace Unending

Reading: Romans 4:13-17

Romans 4:16 – “The inheritance comes through faith, so that it will be on the basis of grace.”

Turning again to Romans 4 today we read that the promise of God to “inherit the world” did not come through the Law. The Law was not even yet in existence when Abram was declared righteous because of his faith. So for Abraham’s descendants – those Paul was writing to then and to us now – the inheritance also comes through faith. One can work really hard to keep the Law (or to do any number of things that we think are pleasing to God), but we will always ultimately fail, bringing upon ourselves the “wrath” that Paul references in today’s reading.

On the opposite end of the scale, we find God’s grace. This free gift of grace is the “basis” for inheriting God’s promises: forgiveness of sin and eternal life. God does not weigh out our worthiness or keep track of how much good we need to do to settle our account. Salvation is not centered on a contractual relationship. There are no transactions needed between us and God in order for us to inherit the promises. There is a grace that washes away our sins and welcomes us back into connection with God and with one another. There is a transformation that occurs – again and again and again…

Paul speaks of this transformation at the end of our passage. This rebirth, this gift of new life over and over, it occurs when God “gives life to the dead.” Once dead in our sin, grace redeems and restores us to life in Christ. Rooted in God’s unconditional love, grace is unending. For the promises grounded in love and grace, we say, thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, living in this world, it can be easy to slip into doing and trying to earn. It is the way of the world: checklists, comparative analysis, judging, then self-doubt, shame, defeat. Your love offers a different way, a better way. Driven by love, you call and reach out in mercy. Fueled by mercy, your grace draws us back to you again and again. Standing there once again, in your love and grace, it feels like we never left. Thank you for loving us this completely, this unconditionally. How great is your love, O Lord. Amen.


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The Flawed and the Faulty

Reading: Romans 4:1-5

Romans 4:5 – “Faith is credited as righteousness… because they have faith in God who makes the ungodly righteous.”

Paul ends chapter 3 stating that through faith we “confirm the Law.” Here Paul is referring not to following the exact letter of the Law but to understanding the Law’s deeper purpose and meaning. We get a practical application of this in the Beatitudes, where Jesus dives deep and unpacks a handful of Laws. Moving into chapter 4, Paul centers in on the faith of Abraham, the founding father of the Jewish faith and the nation of Israel.

Paul reminds his readers that Abraham was declared righteous because of his faith. When Abram obeyed God’s open-ended call to “go,” he did so through a radical faith. God’s promises guided and empowered his decision to be obedient to the call of God. As Paul develops his line of thinking later in this chapter, he reminds his audience that Abram lived long before the Law was ever given to Moses and Israel. Therefore, Abram was declared righteous because of God’s grace, not because he kept the Law – just as the followers of Jesus are declared righteous through God’s grace.

We often think of those “pedestal people” as being perfect. A cursory glance reveals that Abram was anything but perfect. He doubted God and he took matters into his own hands. Remember Hagar and Ishmael? Remember sending them out into the desert to die? God isn’t looking for perfect people to work through. That’s because God didn’t make us that way. Instead, God uses imperfect people to accomplish God’s perfect plans and purposes. And like Abram, we are each called by God, flaws and all. God works in and through our flaws, responding to our faith with a grace that “makes the ungodly righteous.” For this transforming grace, we say, thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for choosing us, the flawed and the faulty. Through your love and mercy and grace you redeem us, refining us for your purposes. Through your guidance and direction you help us to fulfill your call upon our lives. With great patience and steadfastness, you redirect, forgive, and transform us to be your vessels of faith. Thank you for these many gifts. Amen.


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Forgiveness

Reading: Psalm 32:1-7

Psalm 32:3-4 – “When I kept quiet, my bones wore out… your hand was heavy upon me.”

Psalm 32 is a song about forgiveness. While the concept of forgiveness is simple, our human nature can complicate this practice in many ways. In the opening verses David lifts up the benefits of forgiveness. The one whose sin is covered by God and who is guilt-free before God is “truly happy.” When nothing separates us from God and God’s love, yes, we are truly happy! The same can be said of our other relationships. When nothing separates us from our love of family, friends, teammates, coworkers… we are truly happy.

We’ve all experienced this place of joy in our relationships. From this experience, you’d think we’d always be swift to seek and offer forgiveness. Unfortunately, we are often like David. In verses 3 and 4 he writes, “When I kept quiet, my bones wore out… your hand was heavy upon me.” Too often we do not seek or receive forgiveness and the weight of this choice begins to feel heavy upon us. The angst or anger, the guilt or the grievance can fester and grow as we let the unresolved tension continue. We come to the place, too, when God’s hand feels heavy upon us. The gentle nudge of the Spirit feels like a hard shove. This is a good thing. It leads to verse 5: “So I admitted my sin…”

Confession begins the healing process – at least as far as God is concerned. God is quick to remove the guilt and shame, swift to rescue and redeem us and our relationship with God. Sadly, we can struggle with these steps sometimes. Our pride or the hurt can get in the way. We can want to nurse a grudge. We can have a hard time admitting we were wrong. When we are struggling with these or other issues, may we remember that we are made in the image of God. Doing so, may our forgiveness be quick and gentle, honest and complete.

Prayer: Lord God, in the arena of forgiveness, make us more like you. Guide us to be practitioners of grace and mercy, humility and love – the key ingredients to living in right relationships with you and with one another. Amen.


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Deeper Work

Readings: 2nd Corinthians 5:20-21 and 2nd Corinthians 6:1-10

2nd Corinthians 6:1 – “We are also begging you not to receive the grace of God in vain!”

Photo credit: Rainier Ridao

Our reading today begins with Paul begging the Corinthians to “be reconciled to God!” This too is our ongoing call, especially as we begin the season of Lent today. Throughout Lent we are invited to look within, to reflect on the condition of our soul, and to make the needed changes so that we are ready to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Paul touches on the source of our salvation, the one who took on sin for us so that we could be “the righteousness of God.”

Through God’s grace we can be forgiven and made new again. Paul begs the Corinthians “not to receive the grace of God in vain!” To do so would be to receive forgiveness and then to not follow through on our pledge of repentance. Paul reminds us that keeping true to our faith isn’t always easy. Paul lists many trials and sufferings he and his fellow believers endured. We can experience some of these too when we choose faith over the ways of the world. Yet with the same purity, hard work, genuine love, and Holy Spirit power, we too can endure and faithfully witness to the grace and love of God.

Our passage closes with many word pairs: fake and real, pain and happy, poor and rich… The first word is a surface level thing and the second word holds a deeper truth. We find this relationship to be true when we engage in the spiritual practice of fasting that becomes more prevelent in Lent. Going without and feeling that “hunger” is the surface level thing that we endure. The change that the Spirit works in us as we grow closer to Christ is the deeper truth at work in us. In the same way, confessing our sin is the surface level action. Working out our repentance and changing our hearts and lives is the deeper work of God going on within us. This Lent, may we be willing to go deeper, doing the hard work of faith.

Prayer: Lord God, prepare our hearts to go deeper this Lent. Give us the strength and courage to look deep within ourselves and to bring our full self before you. In grace and love, purify and refine us. Loosen our grips on that which pulls us away from you. Strengthen our hold on faith, hope, trust, and love. Amen.