pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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If the Lord Had Not…

Reading: Psalm 124

Verse 1: “If the Lord had not been on our side…”

Photo credit: Greg Rakozy

Scholars believe that David wrote this Psalm in the wake of Israel’s defeat of the Philistines. David had just become king and the enemy gathered the troops to test this new leader. David turned to God for direction. God led Israel’s army to victory. David knew that God had been with them and gave God all the credit for the victory.

In the early stages of faith, this is Satan’s trick too: attack before the new Christian is really established in his or her faith. The evil one attacks us when we are yet immature in those areas that were our weaknesses before we gave ourselves to Christ. Maybe you’re there now. If so, take courage in David’s story. Turn to God and seek direction and strength. On the other hand, if you’ve walked faithfully for a while now, you’ve experienced these attacks and assaults. I ask you: what new believer can you walk beside, modeling how to trust in the Lord?

The Psalm begins with this great line: “If the Lord had not been on our side…” David references attacks and anger and floods and raging waters. While these represent the army gathered against them, they are also metaphors for the trials and tribulations that we face. David recognizes that without God the outcome would’ve likely been different. Is it not the same with our battles within and without? May we trust in God as David did, eventually rejoicing with David as we too declare: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Prayer: Dear God, again and again you see us through. Again and again you keep the waters at bay, you calm the raging waters, you make a way when there seems to be no way. You do not leave us or forsake us ever. Draw us to you again and again – every time the enemy comes near, every time life throws something hard our way. Thank you for your unending love and for your constant presence. We love you Lord! Amen.


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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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Thirsty

Reading: Exodus 17:1-3

Verses 1-2: “There was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, ‘Give us water to drink.'”

As we begin two days in Exodus 17 let’s recall the Israelites’ recent past. They’d been slaves in Egypt for more generations than anyone could count. God, through Moses, freed them from slavery. Shortly into their wilderness trek, Pharaoh’s army is closing in, bent on returning them to slavery. God, through Moses, leads them through the sea, rescuing the people. After three days in the desert they are without water. Again, God through Moses provides. Soon thereafter, as they wander the desert, their food provisions run out and they become hungry. As with the first two incidents, the people again complain or grumble. God again provides, bringing manna in the morning and quail in the evening. Lead out into the desert by God (and Moses), the Israelites were dependent upon God. How else would a vast nation survive in the desert?

As the Israelites once again travel, they come to a place without water. They were in a desert. In our opening verse the people quarrel with Moses and say to him, “Give us water to drink.” They had a real need. They are dependent on God. Could’ve they asked or prayed instead of quarreling and demanding? Yes. Moses asks why they quarrel with him, why they test God.

The Israelites are demonstrating an immature faith. Even though God has provided again and again, they still turn to human reactions instead of faith responses. They are not yet what God is shaping them to be. They’ll spend 40 years wandering in the wilderness. I too can show an immature faith. Last week, when I got sick, my first thought was, ‘God, not COVID again.’ It was not said in the form of a prayer. Should’ve it been? Yes. I too am a work in progress. I too wander in the wilderness now and then. Lord, have mercy.

Prayer: Lord God, when I thirst or hunger, when I face a trial or even a temptation, lead me to turn to you first. Again and again you have provided, you have shown the way, you have rescued. Guide me to again and again turn to you in faith as my first response. Build up my faith, O Lord. Amen.


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Living Under Christ

Reading: Galatians 3:23-25

Verse 23: “Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the Law, locked up until faith should be revealed.”

As we join Paul in Galatians 3 he is guiding people to transition from living under the Law to living under Christ. This is a transition almost all believers make (or should make). This is a very hard transition – harder the longer one lives under the Law. Paul knows this from his own experience. He described himself as a “Pharisee of Pharisees.” The Pharisees were known to keep the Law and to look down harshly on those who failed to keep all of the Law. These folks remain in many of our churches. Yet this All-Star Pharisee was changed and can look back on those days and can write, “Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the Law, locked up until faith should be revealed.” Prisoners… Locked up… No one could ever keep all 600+ laws all the time. One was always guilty of something.

In the next verses Paul writes of how one is freed from prison. Freedom comes through faith in Christ. Through faith in Christ as Lord and Savior we are justified – made right before God. Forgiven in and through the blood of Jesus, we are no longer held captive to our sin or to its associates, guilt and shame. In Christ we are forgiven. No longer under the Law, we fall under Christ’s leadership and example, allowing Jesus to be our “supervisor”, our lead and guide.

As immature Christians we can struggle with this transition. I can remember the struggles I had. Starting to grow out of my parent’s faith and into a faith I could claim for myself, I saw faith as a list of do’s and don’ts. A faith that checks off this box and avoids checking off that box – that is not uncommon. It is present in our churches today. Long time, every Sunday attenders sit in their place for an hour and walk out the door unchanged, unchallenged, uninspired. They came in intending to check that box off the to-do list. Walked through the door and checked off that box.

A mature faith is so much more. A mature faith lives the way of Jesus Christ, not the way of the Law. A mature faith seeks to be changed, transformed more and more into the image of Christ day by day. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, strip away my people-pleasing nature and replace it with a Jesus-pleasing desire. Lead me to a place of full surrender to your will and your ways, O God. May you truly be my audience of one. Amen.


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The Father’s Love

Reading: Luke 15: 1-3 and 11b-32

Verse 20: “His father saw him and was filled with compassion for him”.

Today we turn to a familiar parable. It is the story of a father and two sons. It is the story of God and us.

One son sees his father as the means to really live life as he wants to live it. He is selfish and immature. He collects what his father owes him and heads off. This son reminds me of the times I have acted selfishly and the times I have prayed prayers that speak of my own will and desires. It may have been about a new car I did not really need or about a situation that I created and needed to take steps to remedy. These actions and prayers were selfish and immature. When this son “came to his senses”, he headed back towards the father. With humility and maturity he went to his father and “his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him”.

The other son did not leave the property. But at some point he left the father-son relationship too. He saw his father as the boss that he worked obediently for. In essence he also saw his father as the means to finally being able to live as he pleased. He was just biding his time in a way that appears more socially acceptable. This is reflected in the anger over the celebration for his brother. The hard heart is revealed as he says “this son of yours”. To him too the father goes. “His father saw him and was filled with compassion for him”.

The father does not wait until his sons are perfect sons before he offers his love and compassion. The father does not require a fully repentant heart before he goes to his sons. The love of the father is unconditional and unlimited. It is a pure love. It is a love not based on efforts or merit or privilege. It is a love fully and freely given.

When we place ourselves in the story, we easily find our place. At times we are the son who is selfish and wants our way. At times we are the son who dutifully does what is expected, loathing it the whole time. God does not look at us as we are – sinful, unworthy, broken. God looks at us as the child of God that we are. God doesn’t wait for us. Like the father and his sons, God sees us and comes to us and is filled with love and compassion for us. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for always loving me – always. I am far from perfect. I seldom come close to being all you created me to be. You love me anyway. Thanks be to God. Amen.


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Stumble Behaviors

Reading: 1st Corinthians 8: 1-13

Verse One: “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up”.

Paul is dealing with a controversy in the church in Corinth. Because of their life experiences, one group in the church feels that eating meat sacrificed to idols is sinful. To them it has been tainted, so it should not be eaten. But to others in the church, they do not think there are other gods than God himself. Therefore, they see meat sacrificed to gods that do not exist as being okay to eat. These two groups are at odds.

Paul opens our passage today with these words: “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up”. He is referring to those who know it is okay to eat the meat as being ‘puffed up’ or arrogant in their stance. Instead of looking down on those struggling with this issue, those Paul calls ‘weak’ or who are less mature believers, Paul encourages them to choose love instead. Paul goes on to acknowledge that idols are “nothing at all” yet reminds the puffed up believers that some are still so accustomed to idols that eating this meat defiles them. Paul then asks the mature believers to abstain from eating such meat because it has become a stumbling block to the less mature Christians. Paul even goes so far as to call it a sin when they intentionally do something that is not a sin if that causes another believer to stumble.

We do not eat food sacrificed to idols today, but we do practice behaviors that cause others to stumble. Imagine the impact on one considering a walk with Christ if they see you regularly joining the office gossip circle or if they hear you harshly judging a fellow worker. Imagine the effect of a Christian using unethical business practices or acting in immoral ways concerning their marriage. Imagine the consequences of making your children go to youth group or Sunday school when you use the same hour to grab a coffee or to do the grocery shopping. As the world witnesses the words and actions of Christians, they can draw others to Christ or they can lead them away from Christ. Through and through we must reflect the love of Jesus Christ first and foremost. We must be diligent in our walk with Jesus, guarding our words and our actions so that we always build one another up. May it be so today and every day.


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On Our Side

Job’s journey of faith parallels ours in some ways.  In his interactions with his friends and even with God, he is stubborn, defiant, and even borders on obnoxious early on in the book.  Although overall Job is steadfast in his faith, maybe at this point it is a little immature.  At times our faith is too.  At times we are questioning or angry or defiant about something that is occurring in our life; we too question and ask why.  We openly ask where God is even though a part of us senses He is always there.

At the end of the book we see a different faith in Job.  He is humble, truthful, grateful.  Although he would never want to experience a trial like that again, he knows he is a better follower because of his experience.  He sees the foolishness of questioning God and doubting His constant presence.  Job has felt an intimacy with God that both yields and comes with a mature faith.  As life weathers and shapes us, we too become more mature in our faith and in our relationship with God.  Like Job, our experiences, both good and bad, shape who we are as a follower of God.

From Job we learn a valuable lesson: God is on our side.  At times, and particularly in hard times, we may want to question, to doubt, or may even want to curse.  In these times we must trust that God is good and above all else, He loves us.  In these times may we trust in and live into the words of Christ: not my will, but Your will.  God of love, be with us this day.

Scripture reference: Job 42: 1-6


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The Faith of a Child

Jesus calls us to accept the kingdom of God like a child.  He warns that if we do not, we will not enter it.  As He has children gathered around Him, Jesus says the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Is Jesus calling us to a basic, immature faith?  I do not think so.  For each of us, our faith starts out smaller than it will be and our faith should grow and develop naturally, as a child does.

Much like a child as he or she grows, our faith also becomes more complex as we come to understand God and our relationship with Him better.   We learn to love more easily.  We learn to forgive quicker.  And we come to understand our ‘responsibilities’ as Christ-followers in deeper and more impactful ways.  The call to serve others as Christ did becomes louder as we better learn to put self aside more and more.  The Spirit’s voice becomes clearer as we are refined and come to see ways we can follow closer and be less prone to temptation and sin.

Our faith must also hold onto some characteristics that were strongest in childhood.  As a child we were often fearless and thought we could do anything.  In faith we are called to step out and to do things we never thought we could.  With this kind of faith we step out where God is leading and trust that He can do all things.  Children also do not understand limits.  If one cookie is good, ten are better.  Such should be our understanding of God’s limitless love.  No matter how much we receive from God, there is always more.  And no matter how much we pour out, there is always more to give away.  May we love without hesitation, knowing that God can do anything.

Scripture reference: Mark 10: 13-16