pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: Jesus


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Joy and Hope

Mark 13 has some apocalyptic writing.  In verses 24-37 Jesus is speaking of the time when He will return in glory.  This type of writing is fascinating to me.  Personally I do not read too much into it.  Some people do and sadly their focus often becomes the doom and gloom aspects and they see only the doubt, fear, and despair.  I prefer just the facts.

First fact – Jesus is returning.  Yeah!  Second fact – there will be signs in the natural world that the time is at hand.  These things will scare some people but others will gaze heavenward with joyous expectation.  Third fact – no one knows the time for Jesus’ return except God the Father.  This fact is the most imminent and the one with the most application for our daily lives.

Because the hour is unknown we are called as Christians to b alert and ready at all times.  We are to live daily with faith, love, and hope always on our hearts, souls, and minds.  These things should flow through and be visible in our daily decisions, choices, and actions.  We are called to love our God and neighbor like they really are the most important things in our lives.  When we live each day for God, we do not live in despair and fear but in joy and hope.  There’s no place I’d rather be!

Scripture reference: Mark 13: 24-37


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Sheep with Good Hearts

In the parable of the sheep and the goats, the sheep are almost unaware of all the times that they helped another in need.  The acts of sharing love and offering care were just such a natural part of their lives that they didn’t notice how often they were in ministry to others.  I can almost seeing the lightbulb going off as they realized how much they had come to be like Jesus.

For many of us, it can be hard to help someone else as an equal.  The danger is in wanting to think how good we are for helping someone who is less fortunate  that ourselves.  It is so important to avoid the power relationship that we can so easily perceive.  Jesus met each person right where they were at and offered what He could then and there.  We are called to do the same.

When we encounter someone in need, the attitude we choose makes such a difference.  To offer empathy and understanding and encouragement, to give purely out of love, is what is expected.  If we can empower them as well, all the better.  Often a person wants to offer something and maybe it is as simple as sweeping the walk.  Maybe it is offering them a gift card to a store instead of showing up with a bag full of clothes and toys that you thought their children would like.  Either way, when we approach the situation as Jesus would, then we are starting with a good heart and pure motives.  Trust Him to guide you from there!

Scripture reference: Matthew 25: 31-46


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All the Sheep

When Christians reflect on the parable of the sheep and the goats, in general we think we are all sheep.  We consider ourselves to all be in the flock, under the care of Christ, the Good Shepherd.  Ezekiel 34 points out, however, that all sheep aren’t always good sheep.

Even with the flock that is our church, sometimes a sheep can try to bull its way or its agenda through the other sheep.  Sometimes a group of sheep fail to take the whole flock’s wellbeing into consideration.  Sometimes the flock doesn’t notice the ones on the edge, struggling to make it out there on the margins.

As Christ’s body we are all connected together, all a part of one another.  The Good Shepherd is concerned with all of the sheep.  He calls us to be concerned with all as well.  As we grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, we too gain eyes to see the needs and hearts that seek to love.  As Jesus cares for and loves us, we are in turn empowered to love and care for each other, especially the ones that are struggling and lost.  The blessings that God has entrusted us with are meant to be shared so that all may be blessed.

Scripture reference: Ezekiel 34: 20-24


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Call of Christ

Christ chose to come and live among us.  God incarnate made the choice to walk in a human body. In the form of Jesus, God stepped out of heaven and down among us.  The people who lived with Jesus and witnessed His life were blessed to be in His presence, as are we who read about Him 2,000 years later.

In today’s culture, we are impressed when a president of a big company spends time with the workers or when a celebrity athlete spends time in a school or hospital.  At times we too are called to step out of or normal circle and to spend time ministering to the poor, the widow, the orphan, the prisoner.  For some it is a similar step to what Jesus did, willingly offering self for other’s benefit.

Christ set the ultimate example of giving when He submitted to death for our benefit.  Jesus Christ became totally powerless in order to gain ultimate power over death.  He had to be weak and vulnerable in order to gain strength and glory.  We are not called, in general, to give our lives for another, but we are all asked: what can you offer?

Scripture reference: Ephesians 1: 20-23


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Well Done

The shepherd is looking for a few good sheep.  He searches for us so that He can gather us up, take us to good pasture.  There He will tend to our needs.  If any wander off, He will seek them.  If any hurt, He will heal them.  Ezekiel lays out a kind, loving, caring shepherd role for Christ.

Isn’t it comforting to know that Christ the King is such a loving shepherd?  Yet Jesus is also the King of kings and Lord of lords – absolute, sovereign, and in total control.  Ultimately Christ came to sit as judge over all of creation.  For us this is a present and future reality.  For some this is a discomforting thought.

On a day to day basis Christ is a loving, caring, nurturing shepherd, kindly caring for all the sheep.  And what is our response?  To do the same for other sheep, even for those who are lost?  When we choose to live and love as Jesus did, then we have no fear of Christ as judge.  Because on the day when we stand before Him, seated on the throne, He will say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”  Can’t you just see Him smiling as He repeats, “Well done”?

Scripture reference: Ezekiel 34: 11-16 and 20-24


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Gifts or Assets?

Each opportunity that God lays before us come with some degree of risk.  If the opportunity is to share our faith story, we risk rejection or maybe ridicule.  If the opportunity is to help someone in need, we risk being a frequent ask.  If it is trying a new ministry, we risk failure.

Each of these things calls for us to risk something.  Anytime we invest ourselves or our talents, there is a chance we will gie something away.  This is a good thing.  We are often not ‘losing’ something but are giving to another and it blesses us both.  But for many of us and many in the church, we are averse to risk.

God blesses us all abundantly.  In reality, all is His.  For some the blessing is financial, for others it is an abundance of time.  Each of us also have talents and skills that He has blessed us with.  Each of us have gifts to offer.  How we look at these gifts from God largely determines what we do with them.  Do we see the gifts as just that or do we see them as assets?

Assets are to be managed and kept safe.  Gifts are to be used and to be given away. For a moment think about God and manna, deliverance, land, provision.  Think about Jesus and healing, kindness, love.  Now, do you have gifts or assets?  May we give to others richly, blessing them as God has blessed us.

Scripture reference: Matthew 25: 14-30


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Fellow Travelers

Often times when we go on a journey, we like to have company go along with us.  This is especially true if it is a long journey.  We have someone to talk to, someone there in case we have trouble, and someone to keep us focused on the journey.

Our journey of faith is long and should be one of continual growth and development as we move along our “path.”  It is a journey meant to be made in the company of other Christians, but how often we try to go it alone.  We don’t usually mind sharing the good things in life or even coming together at a funeral in or common time of grief, but sharing our inner demons and struggles is much harder.  Yet it is in the honesty and accountability that we find strength and power.

Jesus himself turned to others in times of trial and struggle.  The Holy Spirit walked with Him in the desert and often He turned to the disciples for prayer and support.  If Jesus needed others to be with Him, how much more so do we.  May we find and be for others fellow travelers along the road of faith.

Scripture reference: Judges 4: 1-9


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In Each Moment

Shortly after Christ’s death and resurrection, the believers starting asking “When?”  As in, when will Jesus return?  The early thought was that He would return in their lifetimes.  It turns out ‘soon’ is longer than 2,000 years!!

Paul’s response in 1 Thessalonians still applies today as we are still waiting: what does it matter?  He tells them (and us) to live as a child of the light and nothing else matters.  It is still true today – if we are fully living out the faith that Christ calls us to, then “when” doesn’t matter.

But we like to procrastinate, don’t we?  Live fully for Christ each moment of the day?  I can start that next year or maybe the year after that.  Yet the reality is that the only time that we are guaranteed is right now and we’re not even sure we will make it through the day.  So why wait?  Paul tells us that Jesus will come like a thief in the night, at an hour unexpected.  The only way to be ‘ready’ is to live each moment like it might be our last – loving God and neighbor with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Scripture reference: 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-5


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Resting Fully

Those who knew Jesus expected him to return very soon after the resurrection.  But Jesus never gave a date or a time – that was (and is) God’s will.  Yet the early believers expected Jesus to return any day.  Part this was probably a longing to see their good friend again.

As people in the early church began to die, some worry arose over the fact that Jesus had not returned.  They didn’t know their loved one’s fates.  But Paul assured them and assures us that final victory over death has been won by Jesus Christ’s resurrection.  Paul assured us that those who have died will rise and return in glory when He returns.  Those alive at the time of His return will then join the great cloud of witness.

As a human we grieve the physical loss.  But as a Christian we rejoice in knowing they have attained their place in heaven’s glory.  We also live each day without fear of death because we too know that our eternity is secure, resting fully with Christ!

Scripture reference: 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18


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One Father and One Teacher

On occasions we can be a lot like the Pharisees and teachers of the law.  On occasion we may say one thing and do another or we may ask someone to do something we would never do ourselves.  At times we may like to be in the spotlight a little too much yet at other times we are all too content to let someone else finally do what we could have done in the first place.  Sometimes we do not seem to know who is leading or who is setting the example to follow.

We are called to love one Father and to follow only one Teacher.  God the Father loves us like no earthly father ever could.  Through his Spirit, He deftly guides and leads us through life.  Jesus is the teacher and our one Lord.  His teachings and example show us the way to truly live and how to really love others as self.  His sacrifice bought us freedom from sin.

In Matthew 23:12 we are reminded to be humble.  The souls we remember today are not remembered for their positions or their pocketbooks, but for how they lived their lives in humble service to God and King.  May we too serve God with a humble heart and love others like Jesus loves them – with all of our being and with all we have to offer.

Scripture reference: Matthew 23: 1-12