pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Family Dynamics

Reading: Genesis 37:1-4

Verse 3: “Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons.”

Today we begin the next chapter in the story of God’s chosen people. The focus shifts from Jacob/Israel to Joseph, one of 12 sons. As we have learned the last few weeks, this is a pretty dysfunctional family. The 12 sons come from 4 different mothers, all who are still part of the family. As in some families, in this family there was a “favorite.” Although often the oldest or the youngest, in this case it is not. Joseph is the 11th son. He is the favorite because he was the first child of Israel’s beloved Rachel, born after years of waiting.

Photo credit: Ruthson Zimmerman

The story today begins in Canaan. Joseph is 17. He helps tend the flocks. In verse 2 we learn that he is a little immature still. Some might say spoiled. Joseph brings Dad a “bad report” about his brothers. They must’ve been horsing around or otherwise being mean to their little brother. So he tattles on them. Not good for their sibling relations. In verse 3 we learn that Israel made Joseph a “richly ornamented robe” – the cost of many colors. This only adds to the animosity between Joseph and his older brothers. “They hated him.” It is not a good relationship.

Jealousy and anger and envy and other negative emotions can affect all of our relationships. We often first experience these within our families, as this family did. Maybe you were the “favorite” or maybe you were jealous or envious of him or her. Maybe you were blessed and were raised by parents who loved all equally. These experiences shape and form us. They affect how we go on to parent and even to grandparent. As we learn from Joseph and his family may we also reflect on our own families. In all things may God guide us in the ways that God desires us to go.

Prayer: Lord God, teach us your ways. Help us to understand that all relationships affect us. In that understanding may we seek to follow your example, loving and being grateful and generous to all. And may it begin in our homes. Amen.


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Wrestling with God

Reading: Genesis 32:22-31

Verse 28: “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

Photo credit: Rainier Ridao

In this week’s Genesis account we find the most intimate and humanly personal encounters with God that we have recorded in the scriptures. Yes, many in the Bible have intimate and personal conversations with God. But none have this close, intimate, physical encounter with God.

Often when we wrestle with God or with our faith we emerge feeling as if we’ve gone a few rounds with a worthy opponent. After intense prayer sessions we can feel drained. Leaving a worship space after a moving and powerful experience can remind us of a good physical workout too. Wrestling with who and what we are as followers of Jesus Christ is something that requires effort and energy and commitment.

In the literal sense we know that this is what was required of Jacob as he wrestled with God (or with the “man of God” in many translations.) I imagine a conversation running throughout this bout. Spiritual points would be made at strategic shifts in the actual wrestling match. This move and counter-move flow is not atypical of our relationship with God.

As God works in our lives the Holy Spirit acts as our guide and as our advocate, as our disciplinarian and as our corrector. We wrestle with things like giving up that dear sin and with dying to self. The Spirit holds on, not giving up, not letting go, not giving in. When faithful, we do the same. It is then that we emerge a bit closer to God. In these wrestling matches, like Jacob, we grow. For this we too can say, thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, what a battle we have some days. My spirit wanting to go this way or to do this thing, your Spirit trying to lead me a better way. When I try to run, when I try to avoid the match, hold onto me. Don’t let go until you’ve accomplished your purposes, your vision, your goal for me. Draw me deeper into relationship. Make me more willing. Change my heart, O God. Conform me today closer to who you made me to be. Amen.


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Even There… Always

Reading: Psalm 139:1-12

Verse 5: “You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.”

Psalm 139 is a beautiful reminder of God’s presence with us in all of life. I find great comfort in verses 1-6. Here we are reminded that God searches us and knows us, that God knows our coming and going, that God knows our thoughts, and that God “hems me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.” Yes, this is all indeed wonderful. And it is a little scary or intimidating to be so intimately, personally, and thoroughly known by someone. This depth of knowing is the focus of verses 7-10.

Moving into this set of verses David recognizes God’s omnipotent nature. No matter where he goes, God is there. David touches on the reality of this with honesty as he asks, “Where can I flee from your presence?” We can relate, right? At times we appreciate a little solitude. And it is a high standard to uphold – always being in God’s presence. I’m sure you’ve been around someone and wondered when your time together would ever end. But here’s the thing with God: God is here for our absolute good and to bring joy and hope and light to our lives. And to be there when we need God the most, for “even there your hand will guide me.”

In the closing verses David acknowledges that at times darkness will surround him. Even though he feels “hidden” from God – whether it is because of sin or because of a loss that makes us feel separated from God – even there God is present. Our darkness is just that: ours. Even there God is light and love and grace. And even there God is with us, knows us, searches us, and walks with us. Always, God hems us in. Always, God’s hand is upon us. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, on my best days, you are there. On my worst days, you are there. On those many days that fall in between, you are there. Open my heart to your constant presence. Humble me and make me willing to follow your lead and your guidance. I know you love me and have good plans for me. Shape me and form me to your will and ways, O God. Amen.


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The Gift of the Spirit

Reading: Romans 8:1-11

Verse 9: “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.”

Photo credit: Diego Gennaro

Looking at Romans 8 yesterday we focused on the choice between life and death. Today we focus on what the choice for Christ (or for life) means to us as followers of Jesus Christ.

First, we find freedom from the condemnation of the Law. All of the sin offerings in the world could not remove the guilt and shame of disobedience. In and of ourselves we could not meet all of the requirements of the Law. It was a never ending battle in which we’d always fall short. In response God sent Jesus, “God’s own son.” Jesus became the sin offering for all of our sin, bringing us his own righteousness in place of our guilt and shame.

Second, through this gift our Spirit becomes alive. In verse 9 Paul writes, “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.” The Spirit, with our cooperation and effort, begins to lead and guide us, taking root in our heart. The Spirit brings us “life and peace.” These are found and lived out through our relationships with God and with each other. These ongoing and growing relationships help us in our battles with sin here and now. This yields life in our “mortal bodies” as we too one day experience God’s resurrection power. Thanks be to God for the gifts of life and peace.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the Holy Spirit. Thank you for coming incarnate to show us the way to life and peace. Thank you for rising up again to show us the way to life eternal. Between now and then, live in our hearts, drawing us closer and closer to you. Amen.


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A Choice

Reading: Psalm 119:97-104

Verse 101: “I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.”

Our Psalm for this week comes from the longest chapter in the Bible. Psalm 119 is a mix of praise and thanksgiving as well as pain and lament, as are many of the Psalms. There is a hope that obedience to God’s law will bring peace to Israel and identity to them as God’s chosen people. The Law was the curriculum for all of life in Israel and there was an understanding that obedience brought blessing. In the New Testament this belief is reflected in how the Jews saw lepers, the blind… as sinners. Their infirmities were ‘proof’ of sin in their lives or family.

Our passage today opens with a great declaration of praise and thanksgiving: “Oh how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” Although I do not sit and study the word of God all day long, I would 100% agree that God’s word brings me joy and lights my path. In the next verse we get a bit of reality. The psalmist recognizes that enemies are “ever with me.” Figuratively and sometimes literally enemies lurk. Sin and temptation seem ever ready to seize an opportunity. And at times our faith may even draw the enemies out as others bring abuse or persecution to us because of our faith.

There is an effort required to this walk of faith. In verse 101 we read, “I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.” We make choices and decisions. Hopefully most lead to life and joy. Some lead to shame and death. We do have a choice. May we too seek to keep from the evil path, choosing instead the word of God, the sweet honey to our lips, the way that leads to life abundant.

Prayer: Lord God, your ways bring true life. Walking with you brings joy and hope, peace and contentment. Fill me with your Spirit, that I may walk with the righteous and not with the wicked. Guide me and guard me, O Lord. Amen.


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The Clear Leading of God

Reading: Genesis 25:29-34

Verse 30: “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!”

As we continue the story of Esau and Jacob, Esau comes home from an apparently very long hunting trip. While he was away, Jacob has been busy too, working on this wonderful red lentil stew. At a place close to desperation Esau says, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” Maybe Jacob has been waiting for this chance, perhaps scheming for it ever since coming out of the womb. At this moment Jacob asks the famished Esau to trade his birthright for some stew. A desperate Esau agrees and satisfies his deep hunger.

We often read this passage and think that Jacob tricks his older brother or that he is deceitful in his scheming. But what if God was the one at work? What if the Spirit prompted Jacob to ask and Esau to answer as they did? What if this is another example of God’s penchant for raising the lowly over the powerful?

A birthright is a generations old tradition and practice that often insured the continuation of a family line by giving the oldest – the one who was usually the most experienced and most mature – the control of the family property, heritage, and legacy. It had operated this way for centuries and it has continued to operate through this day. Yet in this instance God has alternative plans. God’s ways are not always our ways. God’s plans are usually far greater than we could have ever imagined or taken them. So, in those moments, may we too lean into the clear leading of God, even when it is outside of what we think the norm.

Prayer: Lord God, open my heart to where and how you want to lead. Humble me so that I can easily get out of the way of whatever you are up to. Grant me the courage to step in to play a role as the Spirit leads. Amen.


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Abundant Blessings

Reading: Genesis 24:34-38

Verse 38: “Go to my father’s family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.”

In a day and age when we fall in love and court and get married to that very special someone, the story of Isaac and Rebekah might be hard to wrap our heads around. It might feel impersonal. It might feel odd or even icky to seek a spouse from one’s own family. All of this is true. Yet this is not the story of Abraham working everything out. It is the story of God guiding and directing and providing for the continuation of God’s promises to Abraham and Sarah and to you and me.

God continues to be faithful, even when Abraham and Sarah fail to be faithful. God continues to work with their failures and imperfections, working out God’s plan in spite of human-made detours. God’s covenant love flows on, making a connection between Isaac and Rebekah.

Today’s passage is a retelling of the events that just happened. The back story and actual events happen in verses 1-33. We get the recap in today’s verses. The Lord has blessed Abraham abundantly and now has blessed his son Isaac by providing him with a wife. Things unfolded with God’s hand clearly guiding and directing things. This is the culmination of the servant’s oath to “Go to my father’s family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.” How could this not be God’s hand at work?

This same covenant love continues to be at work in the world and in our lives. God’s good plans and the fulfillment of God’s promises remain at work, inviting us to be a part of the plans and to partake in the promises. May we choose to walk in covenant love with our God, experiencing God’s abundant blessings as we walk faithfully and obediently.

Prayer: Lord God, I know that you have good plans for those that love you. I know that you have sealed our salvation through the blood of your only son. I know that your love pours out mercy and grace along with provision, guidance, and blessing. Lead me in a faithful and obedient walk day by day as I seek to dwell in your covenant love and in an everlasting relationship with you, my Lord and Savior. Amen.


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Our Only Hope

Reading: John 14:1-6

Verse 1: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

Photo credit: Tyler Milligan

Since the triumphal entry during the palm parade Jesus has spoken to the disciples about his impending death, Judas’ betrayal, and Peter’s denial. Into this heaviness Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” While we may think this encouragement hard to live out, especially when our lives feel a great heaviness, Jesus goes on to tell us and the disciples why we/they shouldn’t be troubled of heart.

Death, betrayal, denial – they are not the end of the story. They don’t have to be the end of our story either. Oh yes, we can let them be the end, or at least feel like the end. Again Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” There is hope in death, reconciliation in betrayal, and redemption in denial. Jesus first invites us to trust in God and in him. There is a bigger plan at work in all of this heaviness. For and with Jesus, none of these things has the final say. That’s what he’s talking about in verses 2-4. He’s soon on his way to heaven. Once there he prepared a place for you and for me. And, when the time comes, Jesus himself will “take you to be with me.” Death ends in eternal life, in victory. But what of betrayal and denial and all of the other sufferings and trials and hardships that befall us?

Into all of this other heaviness, Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” In the midst of it all, Jesus is the way through. Lean on him, trust in him, rely on him. He’ll walk with you through the darkest valley. In moments of temptation or when facing a difficult decision, turn to the truth. Listen to the Holy Spirit, mine the scriptures, pray. He’ll guide and protect, he’ll lead and strengthen. And when you’re hurt by betrayal or some other human shortcoming, look to the model of mercy and forgiveness. Channel what Jesus did on the cross for your sin into that relationship that needs healing and reconciliation. His love will heal all wounds.

Prayer: Lord God, you are our only hope in this life and for the life to come. Thank you for showing us the way and for being the truth. Thank you for all you do for us now in this world. Amen.


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Ever by Our Side

Reading: Psalm 23

Verse 1: “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

Photo credit: Felipe Correia

We return to Psalm 23 today. This is something we do again and again. These words are powerful. We recite these words at many funerals – a reminder that God is always with us. We recite these words in our minds when we are not sure of the next step to take in life – a reminder to ourselves that the Good Shepherd will guide and protect. We pray these words in our hearts – reminding ourselves that the Lord will be our still waters in moments of anxiousness or doubt. We offer these words as a plea – an assurance that the guardian of our soul will meet our every need. And we offer these words as a prayer of thanksgiving, remembering again and again how God is with us in all of life. With these words we rejoice in the Lord.

Today I invite you to an exercise. It won’t take too long. Take a little time to pray your way through the Psalm. Reopen your Bible or click on the link above. Pray through one phrase at a time. Not one verse – that is too much. Begin with “The Lord is my shepherd.” Offer words to God around this phrase. It may be words of praise. It may be a request. It may be gratitude or realization. Allow the Spirit to lead you. Then go on to “I lack nothing.” Take your time. Be with the Lord a while…

What a powerful reminder this exercise was for me. God is with me in so many ways. God brings so much to my daily walk and to my life. The Lord is ever by our side. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for this time today with this amazing Psalm. Draw me back to these words again and again – not only in moments of need but also in times of joy and thanksgiving. You are present in all of life, in every moment. Thank you, Lord. Amen.


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Peace Be with You

Reading: John 20:19-23

Verse 19: “Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!'”

Even though Mary Magdalene has shared the good news of the resurrection and even though Peter and John have seen the empty tomb and even though Mary has seen the risen Christ, the disciples hide behind locked doors “for fear of the Jews.” They have not seen for themselves, so their fears and doubts still guide their thoughts and actions.

Jesus suddenly appears among the disciples and says, “Peace be with you!” This was a standard greeting in Jesus’ day. It is beginning with the familiar. Then Jesus shows them his hands and his side – the scars still fresh. The full realization of who this is brings great joy to the disciples, just as it had to Mary in her encounter with the risen Christ. Isn’t it funny how firsthand experience is so much more powerful?

Repeating the familiar, Jesus again offers peace. Then the commission begins: “As the father has sent me, I am sending you.” The ministry is being passed on. For 3 years these disciples gained firsthand experience in what it meant to be sent by God. Jesus has lived it day in and day out. Now it was their turn to do as Jesus had done. To enable the disciples to do this huge task, Jesus said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” as he breathed it onto and into these men. This living, indwelling presence of the risen Christ would allow them to do as Jesus did, forgiving as lives were changed by the power of God. The disciples were to minister as Christ had ministered.

This gift of the Holy Spirit is something that all who surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior receive. The Holy Spirit empowers all believers to minister to others just as Christ did long ago. The Spirit empowers you. May the peace of Christ cover you as you seek to be Jesus’ hands and feet and heart in the world today.

Prayer: Lord God, your power is in us. It goes with us. It leads and guides and shows us the way. It gives us the words to speak. Use us today to minister in your name. Amen.