pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: Jesus


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Living the Law

As people we easily fall into the trap of judging others. We do it for so many reasons, but often it is to say we are better than them or that at least we don’t do what they are doing. Relatively speaking we are a better person, spouse, Christian, … Far from perfect but at least not the worst.

The Bible is composed of the Old and New Testaments. In Matthew 5 Jesus reminds those he is speaking to that the Law of the OT is still in existence. Not only that, but that he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. Jesus goes on to teach about the consequences of keeping and breaking the laws. Keeping them means we will be ‘great’ in heaven but when we break one we will be ‘least’ in heaven. But catch the important part – even the breakers of the law will be able o be in heaven!!

At the end of this section (verses 17-20) Jesus drops one on the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. He tells his listeners that unless their (our) righteousness exceeds that of these religious leaders, then we will NOT enter the kingdom of heaven. I can hear the leaders saying, “now hold on a minute!” because they knew the law inside and out, forward and backward. But they only knew it, they didn’t live it out. They only knew the letter of the law and not the intent. Maybe this is why they clashed so often w/Jesus on the Sabbath.

Although I understand that Jesus was making a couple points here with this comparative statement, we must be careful not to judge. When we fall into that comparative game, there is always someone ‘better’ out there. On the other end of the scale, do we really want a faith that simply seeks to be above whoever is ‘least’?

We need to hear both sides of Jesus’ point. Don’t get caught up in the rules and requirements – live out our faith in a real and honest way. Don’t think that because we are on the membership roles of a church that we are ‘in’ heaven. It is a day to day, moment by moment way of life that Jesus is calling us. Just because we helped the first person we encountered does it mean we can walk by the second and third and … It is a 24/7 type of commitment to which we are being called. Is it hard? Yes – the road is narrow. But His burden is easy and the yoke is light. Come to know Jesus and we come to know and live out the law because of the great love that dwells within us!


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The Rock and the Call

This past Sunday in church we had a ‘remembrance of your baptism’ during each service. The message was “New Promise” and PastorKeihwan Ryoo spoke both of what baptism is and what it promises. He also spoke of our call as Christians.

In case you were not there, Keihwan set two bowls of water on a small table in the front of the church. Within each bowl were many smallish rocks. Folks came forward and selected a rock and some spent time at the altar rail. The rock that I selected remains in my pocket and I encourage you to keep yours there as well.

Toward the end of the message, Keihwan defined the challenge – to serve God, one person at a time, one moment at a time. This is our call as Christians. In our baptism we became part of God’s family and the work of the Spirit began in our lives. At some point each of us made (or will make) the decision to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus. As this relationship grows, so too grows our realization of the call.

So why tote around the rock? Not because it is small and easy to carry – if it were truly symbolic it would be large and would take an effort. In part, the rock from the water symbolizes God’s promise and provision. When the 12 tribes crossed the sea, they selected 12 stones from the seabed and made an altar – to remember what God had just done for them. You rock can mean that too – a tangible sign to remember all that God does for you. BUT it can be more!!

The rock can also be a tangibe sign of God’s call in your life that began way back at your baptism and grows as your relationship with Jesus grows. It can be a reminder of that call to make a difference in our worlds – one person at a time, one moment at a time. SO as you feel that opportunity to be that difference, slip your hand into your pocket and feel God’s spirit enveloping you to guide and empower you as you step forward in obedience to the call!

[No rock? Missed church Sunday? Stop by this Sunday and visit the chapel. Take some time to thank God for your baptism and His love. Grab a rock.]


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Temptation and THE Key to Standing Firm

After Jesus is baptized and God speaks proudly of his son, Jesus does an intriguing thing. Instead of launching into his public ministry, he heads into the desert. His childhood is long past and his days of being a carpenter are apparently over. Yet he chooses to take off 40 days before getting started. I wondered why.

God has clearly markedJesus as his son. God is in Jesus and Jesus is full of God. SO, again, why the 40 days? Now this is just a thought, so if you have another idea (or know something you read from a scholar…), please share!!

I think Jesus was truly the Son of God but he was also in a human body. So I think Jesus felt all the hunger, the thirst, the sadess, the joy, the jealousy, etc. that we all feel and struggle with at times. Sure, a big part of his 40 days was prayer and time with God. But part of it was also spent with Satan, the great tempter. Why did Jesus get a personal visit? I think he knew who was tempting him, so might as well go in person. Jesus faces three tests. Two were temptations – food after 40 days in the desert and power over the kingdoms of the earth. The third was a kind of temptation also – to test God. In his humanity Jesus needed to face and pass these tests.

These are things we too face. It may be clothes or company or sickness we face instead of lack of food. It may be position or wealth or ‘things’ instead of power. And it may be deals or bargains we try to make instead of testing God. Jesus faced them so that He can help us when we face them. He has felt the desire for these things yet passed the tests – for he was without sin. But He had to be there so when we struggle He can say, “I understand” and can intercede for us. Jesus WANTS to stand in the gap for us, so let Him!! When tempted, turn to the one who understands. When tempted, seek Him in prayer. When tempted, run into His arms.