pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: holiness


by Leave a comment

Walk Closely

Reading: Matthew 11:7-11

Matthew 11:10 – “Look, I am sending my messenger before you, who will prepare your way before you.”

Returning to Matthew 11 today we learn more about the kingdom of God. In verses 7 and 8 Jesus speaks about who and what John the Baptist was. Those who went out into the wilderness did not see “a stalk blowing in the wind.” Instead they saw a powerful messenger speaking truth to his generation and calling out those who thought they were good and holy but were not. John demanded the true repentance – a change of heart and life – that would yield “good fruit” in their lives. The people did not see someone “dressed up in fine clothes.” Those in fine robes, living in comfort, they were the “snakes” just going through the motions in public, falling far short in their hearts. In contrast, John was all-in for God, walking closely with God, daily pouring all the had into readying people to meet the Messiah. This is why Jesus proclaims John’s greatness at the start of verse 11.

And then there is the rest of verse 11. It connects back to verse 10: “Look, I am sending my messenger before you, who will prepare your way before you.” In verse 11b Jesus speaks to his audience then and now, getting personal. The “least” are “greater” than John because they are humble servants. They are disciples who bring healing and wholeness to people’s lives and to the world. Disciples are folks who are good news and whose words and actions produce good fruit that builds up the kingdom of God. They are folks who speak truth to power no matter the cost. Disciples are willing to enter the wilderness in order to bring others closer to the Messiah. They are you and me.

Prayer: Lord God, begin in our hearts, making us aware of what we need to prune away, building up our love of you and neighbor. Empower us to risk for others and for your kingdom. Encourage us to humble service that yields good fruit and draws others to living out your will and way. Walk closely with us daily so that we can walk closely with our neighbors. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Walking the “Holy Way”

Reading: Isaiah 35:8-10

Isaiah 35:8-9 – “A highway will be there. It will be called The Holy Way… Only the redeemed will walk on it.”

Photo credit: Aaron Burden

Today we continue in Isaiah’s vision. In its original context the prophet was speaking of the exiles return to the promised land. Isaiah’s oracle spoke of God’s redemption of Israel and of their safe journey through the wilderness. As the exiles return home, this “way” will be free of predators and enemies. No one will get lost along the way. Those ransomed from exile in Babylon will enter Jerusalem “with singing, with everlasting joy.” The grief and groaning of past suffering will “flee away.” For a people familiar with the long, difficult, costly journey out of exile in Egypt, these words of guidance and protection and blessing brought great hope to Israel.

In the now-and-not-yet spirit of Advent we next look at these words of Isaiah as a messianic text. During his ministry, Jesus proclaimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6.) With these words in mind we reconsider verses 8 and 9 from Isaiah 35: “A highway will be there. It will be called The Holy Way… Only the redeemed will walk on it.” Jesus walked and taught in holiness and righteousness. He called his disciples to walk in his footsteps, following his example of holiness and righteousness. Jesus offered forgiveness of sins to those who repented and committed to walk in his ways and truth. Redeemed from our sins, we strive to daily walk and live Jesus Christ’s “Holy Way.”

Looking forward with hope, the trust that the faithful will one day enter “Zion,” the new Jerusalem in God’s coming new kingdom. In that day the ransomed will sing praises to the Lord. Everlasting joy and peace will be upon us. The grief, groaning, tears, and suffering of this present life will be no more in our eternal home. What great hope! Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, we rejoice and thank you for rescuing and redeeming your people long ago, bringing them home to their inheritance. We rejoice and thank you for rescuing and redeeming us from our sins and failures each day, empowering us by your Holy Spirit to walk in Christ’s way. And we rejoice and thank you for our coming final rescue and redemption, when we will joyfully stand in your eternal light and love. You are a most awesome God. Glory be to you, O Lord! Amen.


by Leave a comment

Power and Presence

Reading: Psalm 65:1-8

Psalm 65:5 – “In righteousness you answer us, by your awesome deeds, God of our salvation.”

Photo credit: Diego Gennaro

Psalm 65 is a song of praise for all of God’s works. The psalmist intertwines and connects God’s works in creation and in our lives. In the first two verses we are reminded that God is the God of all living things. God is in the created world just as much as God is in you and me and in all of humanity. In response we praise God by being faithful in our living and in our praying. And, the psalmist reminds us, when we fall short, God forgives our sins. For David and for us, in drawing close to God we encounter happiness, goodness, and holiness. These traits of God become ours when we choose to enter God’s presence.

The focus shifts to God’s acts in verses 5-8. In verse 5 we read, “In righteousness you answer us, by your awesome deeds, God of our salvation.” God’s power and presence is evident in many ways. God holds all things, even to the “far edges of the sea.” In strength God established the mountains. In power God calms the storms and will calm the “waves” and “noise” of the nations. God’s power brings the morning and evening, day after day, giving us more reasons to praise God.

These are David’s observations and experiences of God’s power and presence in his life and in the world. We certainly experience some of these. In what other ways have you and do you see and feel God’s power and presence in your life and in the world? May these be a source of praise today.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your love and care. It is all around us. Open our eyes and hearts to see you in both the wonders of creation and in the daily ways that you work in our lives and in the world. For all of this we praise you! Amen.


by Leave a comment

Live Out These Words

Reading: Matthew 6:9-11

Matthew 6:11 – “Give us the bread we need for today.”

Today’s reading brings us a portion of “The Lord’s Prayer.” It is just three short verses but, as it was with much of what Jesus said, there is a lot to these words. There are three requests of God in these verses. And there are actions and responses required of us.

Verse 9 reads, in part, “uphold the holiness of your name.” Jesus is asking God to keep God’s holiness ever on our hearts and minds. To uphold this requires much of us. First and foremost we recall the charge to be holy as God is holy. Moment by moment we are charged with being like Christ was in the world: holy, yes, but also compassionate, forgiving, generous, empathetic, present.

Verse 10 asks God to “bring in your kingdom.” This asks God to make earth like heaven, to have God’s will done here on earth. This, of course, requires our cooperation and help. It calls us to love and care for “the least of these” and to stand against injustice, oppression, violence… These evils have no place in God’s kingdom – in heaven or here on earth.

Lastly, “Give us the bread we need for today.” This asks God to provide our daily bread – our physical sustenance – and to provide for our other needs too. This is a charge to trust in God. It is not a prayer for God to help us get what we think we need or to empower us so that we can be self-sufficient. No, it is a prayer of surrender, leaning into God’s care and trusting that this will be more than sufficient.

In all ways may we strive to live out these words.

Prayer: Lord God, guide us today to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, hearing your voice, feeling your nudges. Lead us to be in the world as Christ was in the world – loving others more than self, serving humbly and gently. Deepen our trust and faith in you as we experience your power working in us and through us, transforming us and your world. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Be the Light

Reading: Matthew 5:14-16

Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.”

Throughout the scriptures light is connected to and associated with good, with holiness, with God. When Jesus declared to his followers, “You are the light of the world,” he was and still is telling his followers that they are to be God’s goodness and holiness in the world. A believer’s faith is the ‘light’ within them. As Jesus continues, he tells us that our light should not be hidden. It is not just to reside in our hearts (and maybe to peak out on Sunday mornings.) it is to be just the opposite: “put it on top of a lamp stand.” Lift up your faith, Jesus says, let it shine out into the whole world!

For a Christ-follower in today’s world, what does it mean to shine our light? It begins simply, with how we live our day to day lives. Following Jesus’ example, we are to be people of peace and joy, of hope and comfort, of service and generosity, of love and grace. These qualities have the power to stand out or to shine in our world today. When we live in these ways, our peace, joy, hope… spreads into others lives.

From there, our light shines in places of darkness, hurting, and suffering. In times of conflict, when many would engage in the fight, a Christian brings a Spirit of reconciliation. When wrongs are done a Christian offers healing and wholeness, redemption instead of condemnation and judgment. In places and situations where other evils exist, a Christ-follower brings a light that shines on and into that darkness, bringing safety or standing as an ally or being the voice that leads towards an end to the injustice or abuse or prejudice or…

It is not always easy to be the light. Our own lives are sometimes hard or difficult. Being joy or comfort or whatever is challenging then. To stand against the evils of this world, it is risky and it can be quite costly. Even so, our calling remains this: “Let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.” O Lord, may it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, you call us out into the world, where there is plenty of darkness. You invite us to shine our light of faith into people’s lives and into difficult situations. God with us, lead and guide us, O Lord, so that others can come to walk in your light. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Our Sure Foundation

Reading: Isaiah 28:14-17

Isaiah 28:17 – “I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line.”

The prophet Isaiah spoke to the southern kingdom of Judah. Today’s passage comes from “First Isaiah” (chapters 1-39) where the prophet reminds Judah of God’s sovereignty and holiness. Isaiah also reminds Judah of the consequences of relying on self and on the things and powers of this world.

In the opening verses Isaiah calls out Judah’s leaders, the “scoffers” who do not think that God is mighty enough to protect them from looming Assyria. Instead of turning to and trusting in God, they have made an alliance with Egypt, with “death.” Judah’s leaders have told themselves that the flood won’t reach them, that their hiding place will keep them safe. No, Isaiah says, these will be swept away. The flood of Assyria will overflow the land. The “rushing flood… you will be annihilated by it.”

God has another plan – one of restoration and redemption. Through Isaiah, God declares, “I’m laying in Zion a stone… a valuable cornerstone… a sure foundation.” The invitation is to trust in the stone, in Jesus Christ. In a time to come, upon this solid foundation, faith will center again on the way of the Lord: “I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line.” This call to Holy living remains our call today. May it be justice that flows like a flood across the land. May it be righteousness that wells us within us, flowing out to bring healing and wholeness to our land.

Prayer: Lord God, when we too decide that we can handle it, when we tell ourselves that our power or wealth or another earthly thing will save us, remind us of what and what you are: all-powerful, ever present, always seeking our good. Humble us; drive away our arrogance and self-assurance. Raise up in us a longing for justice and a craving for righteousness. In all things, draw us again and again to stand upon Jesus Christ, our sure foundation, our true cornerstone. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Peaceful Fruit

Reading: Hebrews 12:7-15

Hebrews 12:11 – “No discipline is fun while it lasts… however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

In Hebrews 12 the author encourages the believers to run the race of faith with discipline. The author calls the church to first remember Jesus and the example he set. Using Proverbs 3:12 he or she reminds the believers that “the Lord disciplines whomever he loves.” With all of this in mind, we read, “Bear hardship for the sake of discipline.” When we experience hardship, our faith is refined and it is strengthened too.

The author then reminds the believers of how their earthly parents disciplined them “as it seemed best to them.” While not “fun” and while perhaps painful at the time, in the end we respect our parents for loving us enough to discipline and correct us. Through this process we grow and mature. The writer then asks, “How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live?”

As we are disciplined – as we experience hardships, trials, and suffering – we are sharing in God’s holiness. In the end, because God is with us, “yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” With this encouragement, the author invites the believers to be strengthened and to “make straight paths.” Doing so they will pursue peace and holiness as they witness to God’s saving grace. Living this way counters the “root of bitterness” that weakens the faith. Living this way, we too can keep our eyes focused on Jesus, “faith’s pioneer and perfecter.”

Prayer: Lord God, in the moments of trial and testing, remind us of the outcome when we start faithful to you: we grow in these times in ways that build our endurance and our commitment. Surround us with the Holy Spirit’s presence, encouraging us and guiding us as we seek to walk the path that leads to peace and joy. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Love Them As Yourself

Reading: Leviticus 19:33-37

Leviticus 19:33-34: “When immigrants live in your land with you, you must not cheat them… You must love them as yourself.”

Photo credit: Wylly Suhendra

Leviticus 19 is titled “Living as Holy People” in my study Bible. The chapter is centered on the ethics of holiness and love and is grounded in God’s statement found in verse 2: “You must be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” In verses 33-37, today’s reading, the focus is on how one treats the immigrants living among you.

In the first two verses we see how the ethics of love and holiness should be applied to the immigrants living in the land: “When immigrants live in your land with you, you must not cheat them… You must love them as yourself.” There is a connection here to Israel’s time as slaves in Egypt. This becomes clear in the next verse. There is an element of “remember how poorly you were treated” being connected to “then don’t do that to others.” Our human nature can tempt us to pass mistreatment we’ve known along to those with less power or with less voice because Satan’s lie is that this behavior will somehow make us feel better.

In Egypt there were two sets of weights for the scales. A heavier set required the Israelites to produce more brick, harvest… to meet their work quotas. A lighter set yielded less when they bartered for needed items. Fair treatment is what God is calling Israel to in today’s verses. It is what we are still called to today.

Treating everyone the same is what we are called to do as we practice God’s ethics of love and holy living. We can be tempted to take advantage of or to mistreat those with less power or less voice and this can happen in many ways – economically, socially, politically. When tempted, may we remember the charge to “love them as yourself.”

Prayer: Lord God, help us to be holy as you are holy. Guide us to love others as you love us. May the way we treat the outsider, the powerless, the voiceless, the marginalized reflect how we would hope to be treated if we stood in their shoes. Empower us to stand for justice with compassion. Strengthen us to stand against prejudice and marginalization. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Faith Always

Reading: Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Deuteronomy 6:6 – “These words that I am commanding you today must always be on your minds.”

Photo credit: Milo Weiler

Today’s verses begin with a call to attention: Listen! This is followed by the ‘great commandment’ to love God with all of one’s “heart… being… strength.” The words of reminder that we read today are set within the giving of the Law. The Ten Commandments and the rest of the Law were given to govern all aspects of the personal and social lives of the Israelites. Many years later, as he worked out the core tenets and practices of Methodism, John Wesley would call these two ‘sides’ of our faith personal and social holiness.

In verse 6 we feel the completeness of the call to love God: “These words that I am commanding you today must always be on your minds.” As implied in the great commandment, faith is to guide all areas of our lives. Faith is not just part of our life, lifting up a prayer now and then, loving God or neighbor when it is convenient… Faith is to be lived out 24/7, to be “always” on our minds and in our hearts.

‘How’ we do this is unpacked in verses 7-9. We are to teach the way of faith to our children. We are to talk about our faith when we get up, when we lie down, and in between. We are to write key verses here and there. Today we do so with sticky notes, bookmarks, posters, wall art, mugs… All are ways to remind ourselves to live out our faith always.

Why is all of this necessary? To be honest, we by nature are selfish and inwardly focused. Left on our own or even practicing a sometimes faith, things like greed, power, jealousy, control, lust… begin to guide our lives. In this constant battle we need reminders of who and what we are called to be: people who live God with all that we are.

Prayer: Lord God, when we become tempted, whisper your love into our heart. When the temptation leads to sin, pour your grace, mercy, and forgiveness over us. In our daily lives, Lord, remind us again and again of your truths and if your call to walk in your ways. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Holy and Righteous

Readings: Proverbs 2:11-12 and Hebrews 12:7-10

Proverbs 2:11 – “Don’t reject the instruction of the Lord… don’t despise his correction.”

When I was growing up and would misbehave, my parents would discipline me. At the time I saw it as punishment. Once, my mom found me playing with my G.I. Joes and I had new clothes for them. She put two and two together. The next morning my parents brought me to the store, had me hand over the stolen clothes, and had me apologize to the manager. He offered words of thanks and grace – both to me and to my parents. I learned a lot from that experience.

In today’s verses from Proverbs, we read, “Don’t reject the instruction of the Lord… don’t despise his correction.” There is love behind the correction that God offers. To raise a child in the way he or she should go, to train up a disciple to walk in the way of the Lord – both are examples of receiving favor. It is not easy to correct a son or daughter. Our parents and our Lord do the hard thing because they want the very best for us. That, to me, is a major difference between punishment and correction.

Turning to Hebrews 12, our verses come in the middle of a chapter that speaks of running the race of faith. The call is to run with discipline, remembering one’s training, persevering and not giving up. The writer reminds the reader of Jesus’ example then quotes our passage from Proverbs 2. In verses 7-9 we are first encouraged to “Bear hardship for the sake of discipline.” We’re then reminded of how our parents disciplined us out of love and then to recognize the greater love that God has for us. The discipline we receive from God leads us to “share in his holiness.” Through this sharing, as we mature, we will yield “the fruit of righteousness.” These are the ways that God works to transform us more and more into the image of his son, Jesus Christ. For this love we say, thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, open our hearts and minds to your transforming love. Bend our will to yours, allowing us to follow your lead and to accept your guidance and direction, your discipline and correction. We recognize that you desire the absolute best for us. Fill us with your Spirit and with wisdom, empowering us to follow Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.