pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: impress


by Leave a comment

Celebration and Joy

Reading: Psalm 45:10-15

Psalm 45:11 – “Let the king desire your beauty. Because he is your master, bow down to him now.”

Psalm 45 was written as a song celebrating a royal marriage. While we’ve all likely been to some weddings, most of us have only seen this kind of a wedding on TV or in the movies. A princess dressed in pearls, a robe embroidered in gold, robes of many colors on the bridesmaids. There is another level of opulence and a ceremony to these kinds of weddings. We can parallel this scene to the unfolding wedding in our Genesis 24 text this week. Abraham’s servant had left with all of Abraham’s “best provisions” – all to present a great dowry, enough to impress any potential bride and father-in-law.

The Psalm speaks of becoming part of a new family, of now entering new relationships. This remains part of marriage today. Yes, two become one but both families also grow and become interconnected. Insight into the new relationship is found in verse 11. Here we read, “Let the king desire your beauty. Because he is your master, bow down to him now.” Part of marriage is sharing your best self and falling deeper in love. For the original audience and for some cultures today, there is a bowing down to the man in male-centric cultures. A mutual bowing down is more common in our culture.

Just as various cultures understand and practice marriage differently, so too can scripture have different levels, meanings, and understandings. For John Wesley, he saw this Psalm another way. In these words he saw a reference to Jesus Christ and his bride, the church. As one enters into a saving, covenant relationship with Jesus, one leaves their “father’s house” to become a part of the family of God. One bows down to Jesus as the Lord of one’s life. One presents the best one can offer to Jesus, all for the glory of God. This new relationship is entered with “celebration and joy.” As we reflect on and consider our “marriage” to Jesus Christ, may we indeed be filled with celebration and joy!

Prayer: Lord God, oh to be in love and to enter a lifelong relationship! Oh to say “I love you” to one whose love is truly unconditional and without end. Oh to be loved by the one who designed, created, and shaped us, all done with great plans in mind. Thank you, Lord, for taking us as your own. Amen.


by Leave a comment

A Right Heart

Reading: Micah 6:1-8

Micah 6:6 – “With what should I approach the Lord and bow down before God almighty?”

Returning to Micah 6 today we read the verses that lead up to the well-known call to practice justice, to embrace faithful love, and to walk humbly with God and with neighbor. Verses 1-7 lay out “why” Israel should live in these ways and it points out Israel’s failed attempts at true worship. The passage is set as if in a courtroom as God brings God’s case against Israel. In a lawsuit, if you are the one seeking justice, it is good. But if you’re on trial, this is not a good place to be. For the people of God, they are on trial. “With Israel, he [God] will argue.”

God’s case opens with questions about how Israel has gotten to this place: What did I do to you (or fail to do)? How have I wearied you? God is wondering aloud how God displeased Israel, how God bored them into this disobedience. God then reminds Israel what faithfulness looks like. From leading Israel out of slavery to giving them good leaders to protecting them from their enemies, God has always been there for Israel – irrelevant to their commitment, regardless of their unfaithfulness, no matter their sin and wandering and idolatry.

God then lays bare the reality of their present worship. These acts themselves, prescribed by the Law, can be pleasing to God. But volume and simply going through the motions? If one if just playing the game and trying to impress God along the way, then God is not interested in the least. Micah muses, “With what should I approach the Lord and bow down before God almighty?” Returning to verse 8 we find God’s answer. We are reminded that a right heart, a heart right with God and with one another, this is where worship that is pleasing to God begins. With a heart that reflects God’s heart, this is the place that we are filled with love and grace and mercy and peace and hope and compassion and… Filled, we are then ready to be these things to the world. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, strip away our pretense, break down our barriers, wipe away the noise of the world. Bring us to a place of transparency, honesty, and sincerity – not for your sake but for ours. You see through it all. You know the true condition of our hearts. Beginning in a place of humility, guide us then to be practitioners of justice and steadfast love. This is the worship that is pleasing to you. Living and being this way, may our lives reveal to the world what is good and what is required by you. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Stumbling Unbelief

Reading: Mark 6: 1-6

Verse 6: “He was amazed at their unbelief”.

As we begin with Mark 6 today Jesus returns home to Nazareth. Jesus had lived there for most of thirty years. He was a local kid that almost everyone knew. Most of his family still lived there. On the Sabbath Jesus goes to the local synagogue and begins to teach. As the people take in what Jesus is teaching about, they are “astounded”. His teaching is good; they are impressed.

But then they begin to question, to ask how Jesus acquired such knowledge, such power. They ask, “Is this not the carpenter”? Isn’t this just the kid who grew up down the street? Isn’t that the one who our daughter babysat back in the day? In the original Greek, the word Mark used to describe what was going on here was “skandalizo”. You might recognize the root word here. In the Greek it meant to ‘stumble’. Jesus had and would continue to cause many to stumble, to turn away, to leave the faith that they had found in him.

To his credit, Jesus recognizes what is going on here. He does not get angry or resentful. He understands it for what it is as he identifies the cause of their unbelief. He says, “Prophets are not without honor except in their hometown”. Because of this Jesus’ power is limited. He is unable to do any “deeds of power” except a few small healings. We too can dismiss Jesus’ power at times. We can withhold our needs from him. We can think Jesus unable or unwilling to respond to our prayers and petitions. When unbelief and doubt rises in our hearts, we too rend power from Jesus. In our passage today, we see that Jesus was “amazed at their unbelief”. When we are tempted to limit Jesus, may we hear the warning in today’s passage, lest we stumble too.

Prayer: Lord God, when doubt creeps in, when the world begins to speak into my spirit, call me back with your gentle whisper. Draw me back into close relationship with my Savior and Lord. Amen.