pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: Jesus


by Leave a comment

Master Craftsman

“He sent forth His word and healed them.” – Psalm 107:20

Reading today’s scripture through Old Testament eyes, God chose to step in and act.  The people realized their sins and were feeling the consequences of them.  They cried out to God.  In His mercy He healed their hearts and returned them to the path that they were intended to walk as His people.  God strengthened them for the journey so they could be just in how they lived.

Read through New Testament eyes, the ‘word’ is Jesus.  Through His life and example we can see how we are called to live.  And just like the Israelites, we will falter.  This could be outright sin or it could be a failure to meet an opportunity that God places before us.

Thankfully God is a God of second chances.  And thirds, fourths…  The Israelites wandered frequently and so do we.  But no matter how many times we falter, God’s love for each of us is steadfast, eternal, and freely given.  For this generous gift we offer our thanks.

God is also a master craftsman, a skilled artisan.  As His love is poured into us, we in turn are led by the Holy Spirit to pour into others.  Again, at times we fail.  But here is what is so amazing about His love: He is seeking perfection in us so He keeps on working us and reshaping us.  In realizing we missed an opportunity, the seeds of how to not miss it next time are planted.  We can rest assured that God will give us more opportunities to share His love because as we do, we grow closer to being the believer He created us to be.  And for this gift, we offer our thanks.

Scripture reference: Psalm 107:20


by Leave a comment

Head to Heart

Faith rests upon the bedrock of Christ crucified and risen.  It is only through His sacrifice that we are made right with God and only through His resurrection that we have the promise of eternal life.  We ourselves can do nothing to earn forgiveness or to earn our way into heaven.  It is only by His grace and with the power of the Holy Spirit that we walk daily as a child of God.

For many today, this seems foolishness and is very hard to accept.  Like the Jews and Greeks in today’s reading, people today still want amazing signs or miracles or they want to be able to reason out faith.  Many in Jesus’ day saw miracles but failed to believe.  Many today believe that Jesus exists but fails to follow Him.  They observe the rules and diligently check off the boxes.  They know the stories in the Bible.  They practice religion but do not have a living faith.

But until Jesus makes that journey from head to heart, religion is all one has.  Once Jesus starts to live in our hearts, our lives change radically.  Instead of thinking how nice it was that Jesus did all those wonderful things for people, we want to go and do in His name.  Once Jesus lives in our hearts, our faith grows hands and feet.  The Spirit comes to dwell within us and life is never the same.  It is then that we can see with Jesus’ eyes, love with His heart, and serve others in the saving name of Jesus Christ!

Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 1: 18-25


by Leave a comment

Temple of the Heart

In today’s scripture we see one of the rare times we see the ‘angry’ side of Jesus.  It is a story filled with emotion.  Over the years the temple courts had become a market.  People bought what they could afford from the merchants for the required ritual sacrifices.  Money changers were also there for the Jews coming from foreign lands. All of this was done for a healthy profit.  To Him, such things did not belong in His father’s house, so he started cracking the whip and turning over tables.  He drove them out.

Jesus was clearly upset at the merchants who were taking advantage of the people.  Was He also upset at the religious leaders who also benefited?  Was he upset at the people who had gotten away from bringing their own unblemished animal or the first fruits of their own labors for the sacrifices?  There was probably some of these emotions mixed in there too.

As I reflect on this story, I am drawn to consider my own life.  If Jesus were to enter the temple of my heart, would He start cracking the whip and overturning things?  What things am I holding onto that I need to let go of or turn over to Him?  What things am I doing that I need to stop doing?  Where am I falling short as a follower?  It is much to consider.  But it is also fertile soil to work through in this season of Lent.  God be with you on your journey as well!

Scripture reference: John 2: 13-22


by Leave a comment

Relationship

God’s law is perfect and trustworthy.  It gives wisdom and strength.  The law offers a way to right relationship with God.  For the Israelites the centerpiece of the law was the Ten Commandments.  The ten form a covenant.  They cover how to relate to God, to each other, and give the basics on how to live in community.  True, the ten commandments are a little general, especially on the last part.  There is a lot they do not cover, but they do provide a basic framework.

Over the year a lot was added to the original ten.  By the time Jesus arrived the ‘law’ had grown to over 600 rules.  It was not only cumbersome, it was really hard to know all of them, never mind follow them all.  Religion for the Jews had become more about following the rules than about following God and Jesus was more than happy to speak out about this fact.

In an attempt to trap Him, the Pharisees asked Jesus what the most important command was.  In typical Jesus fashion, He gave them more than what was asked of Him – He gave them the two most important.  He said the first was to love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Jesus added that the second was like it – love your neighbor as self.  And for emphasis, Jesus also noted for them that all the other laws hung upon these two.

In these two commands, Jesus draws them and us back to what truly matters: relationship.  To truly believe and follow we must be in a right relationship with both God and with our fellow man.  This day may we all seek to live in right relationship with both.

Scripture references: Psalm 19: 7-14 and Exodus 20: 1-17


by Leave a comment

Look Closely and Honestly

Jesus calls us to be sold out, all in, completely committed.  In Mark 8 He gives us three steps: deny self, take up our cross, follow Him.  This was much easier for the disciples as they had Jesus right there with them.  But it is fully possible for us today as well.

In the day to day of life it can be hard for us to be all in for Jesus.  We see the job, the family, the sports, and so on as things we ‘have’ to take care of.  In these responsibilities we have, is it still possible to have Him be our guide, our filter, our primary decision factor?  Yes it is.  Work can be accomplished for the glory of God and as our boss requires.  This is true in all areas where we must mesh our ‘responsibilities’ and our faith.  His light and love can shine through us in all we do.

In our normal day to day we can truly live for Jesus, seeking to deny our on way and to live His way.  He can be our #1 amongst all else in this life.  There will be times when life becomes bumpy and we will question and doubt – a sudden loss, an unexpected illness, an unforeseen life change.  Even in the midst of these crises, if we continue to allow Him to rule, we find that we not only rely on Him, but the He will carry us.  In these deep, dark moments in life we glimpse what all in really looks like.

So during this season of self-examination that we find ourselves in during Lent, may we allow ourselves to look closely at what ‘all in’ means for us.  May we honestly and sincerely assess what is required of ourselves to be fully committed followers of Jesus Christ.

Scripture reference: Mark 8: 34-38


by Leave a comment

His Response

An Old testament belief and one that persists in some Christians today is the belief that bad things or trials are punishment from God.  It is true that in the Old Testament there was punishment.  The flood is perhaps the greatest example of this.

In the New Testament God is revealed in a different way.  In Jesus we see a new way.  Jesus teaches that a person’s blindness, for example, is not the result of the parent’s sins or even the sins of the person being afflicted.  God does not choose to smite us.

Jesus also reveals that at times, hard choices are required.  He also makes it clear that it is we who have to make the choices.  One example would be the rich young ruler – he would not give up his great wealth to follow Jesus.  It was a hard choice for him, but still his choice to make.

When adversity comes our way or when we face a hard choice, how our faith figures into the situation is paramount.  Often in the trial we become closer to God because in our weakness He is made strong.  When we depend on Him, we find He hears us and draws near and walks with us.

When we face a tough decision, in many of the cases we know what we should do, what God wants us to do.  In some of these cases we still may make a poor choice…  Sometimes though we are unsure.  It is then we need Him most. And His response is the same – He hears us and draws near and walks with us.  Thanks be to God for His faithfulness.

Scripture reference: Psalm 22: 23-25


by Leave a comment

A Child’s Faith

When a baby is first born it is totally dependant on others for care.  Most babies bond right away with their mother as they are fed, held, and loved.  Soon a father becomes a known, loving presence as well.  Babies bond and come to expect parents to be there when they cry, when they want to be held, when they need changed, and so on.  Even though no parent is perfect, the baby comes to love and trust them.

God is our perfect parent.  As we mature and grow in our faith, we learn that God will take care of our needs.  We learn that He will forgive our sins and restore the relationship with us.  We learn that when we cry out to Him, He will be there.  We learn that no matter how long we wander away, He will be right there by our side when we turn back towards Him.

Perhaps this is the kind of love and trust that Jesus was talking about when He said that we need to have the faith of a little child.  Maybe Jesus is calling us to live a life totally dependant on Him.  Maybe Jesus wants us to cry out only to Him when we are in need.  Maybe Jesus wants us only to come to Him when we find ourselves in sin or are wrestling with temptation.

The more we grow to love and trust in Him, the more we come to live and to love like Him.  May we come to develop the faith of a little child.

Scripture reference: Psalm 22: 25-31


by Leave a comment

With the Spirit

As soon as Jesus was baptized, He was driven into the wilderness by the Spirit.  For forty days, Jesus was tested.  Today this forty day period of testing is represented by Lent, which is under way for us.

Lent began a few days ago with Ash Wednesday – a day when we put ashes on our forehead and acknowledge that we are mortal.  In many places, the ashes were imposed with a prayer to create a pure heart and a steadfast spirit within each child of God as they received the ashes.  This is to prepare us for the journey of Lent.

During Lent we are especially in tune with our faith.  In tune with God as we seek His strength and love as we honestly face the sins we wrestle with.  In tune with Holy Spirit as we accept the conviction of our sins and as we use the Spirit’s guidance away from our sins.  In tune with Jesus as we pursue His example of a holy life and as we accept grace and forgiveness when we fail.

If we delve deeply and reflect honestly, our self-examination during Lent will reveal spaces to grow and will enrich our lives of faith.  Our spiritual disciplines will yield much fruit in this season when we practice them faithfully.  We cannot do this on our own.  May we depend on the Spirit to lead, guide, and empower us to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, yielding a willing heart and mind bent on a better relationship with Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Scripture reference: Mark 1: 8-15


by Leave a comment

Seeking to Continue

When Peter, James, and John see Jesus transfigured and Moses and Elijah appear, they are frightened.  This experience is far beyond anything they have been through or that they could imagine.  Almost without thinking, Peter offers to build three shelters, perhaps seeking to make this experience last.

One cannot blame him.  In our own God moments – those special times when we experience His presence in our lives – it is a little frightening but it is also something that we want to make last.  We want that moment and that experience to continue.

To add to it all, a cloud descends and God actually speaks to them.  In a reaffirmation of Jesus’ baptism and as a sending forth proclamation, God again declares who Jesus is and what that entails for the disciples.

Just like Peter, James, and John, we too are to acknowledge Jesus’ divinity and we are to listen to Him.  As the transfiguration experience comes to an end, they head back down the mountain and back to real life.  We do the same when our God moments end.  We are thankful and blessed and forever changed, but the world is still there and it still awaits us.

Like the disciples, we too must deny ourselves and take up our cross, seeking to continue the work of Jesus in building the kingdom here.  Being changed ourselves, may we go forth seeking to bring change and hope to our very real worlds.

Scripture reference: Mark 9: 2-9


by Leave a comment

Answering “Yes”

Elisha is a most faithful friend to Elijah.  As the time has come for Elijah to be taken into heaven, Elijah and many other prophets tells Elisha to not follow along.  But Elisha remains close to his friend right up to the very end.  He held no fear for himself.  He gave no thought to his own well-being.  It is a truly sacrificial relationship.

How many of our relationships have this sacrificial component to them?  Maybe those relationships with your spouse or children?  Maybe those with a really close friend?  Maybe with Christ?

We are not often asked to walk into a dangerous situation on our own accord.  We may find ourselves in the midst of a good friend’s emotional or relational crisis that is uncomfortable, but we are in no danger.  In our earthly, personal relationships we seldom find ourselves in a place where we are called to truly sacrifice for another.

But there are opportunities to sacrifice.  We could forego sitting with our friends at lunch and instead sit with the one who always eats alone.  We could give of our time to the one who is hard to love yet still needs a friend.  We could assist the fiercely independent one who is really struggling at work.  God provides us with chances to sacrifice if we have open eyes and willing hearts.  May we be able to answer ‘yes’ when Jesus asks, “for the least of these?”

Scripture reference: 2 Kings 2: 1-12