pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: Jesus


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Life or Death?

Reading: Romans 8:1-11

Verse 6: “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

Photo credit: James A. Molnar

Turning to our Epistle reading today and tomorrow, Paul writes about “Life in the Spirit.” He begins with an important truth: there is no condemnation for those who believe in Jesus Christ. Yes, we still sin. But – thanks be to God – our sin does not have the final word. Christ’s love and grace and mercy has the final word. And it has already been spoken. Because of his death and resurrection, one day Jesus will “give life to your mortal bodies” as all who believe in Jesus will join him eternally.

In our passage Paul juxtaposes the will of the flesh and the will of the Spirit. In Paul’s actual words and in his way of thinking, “flesh” is our fallen human condition. It is our proclivity to sin. It is our tendency to idolatry – both to the things of this world and to self. It is not the physical body. These words and others like them have been misused to judge and enslave and marginalize those who were not white males. Sadly this continues to be some people’s reality today. Prayers for us to all see all people as equally beloved by God.

To help us move away from this harmful, destructive, distorted viewpoint, let us turn to verse 6. Here we read, “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” This verse places the battle between sin and life squarely in our minds. It removes the physical and emotional and places the battle solely in the spiritual realm. The mind controls our words, thoughts, actions, and inactions. We make choices. Sin or God? Love or hate? Welcome or exclusion? Life or death?

Prayer: Lord God, raise up and give strength to the will of the Spirit in my life. In your love, help me to die to self and to the sin it so easily leads to. Day by day, occupy more and more of my mind, more of my heart. Amen.


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Choose His Yoke

Reading: Matthew 11:25-30

Verse 25: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Photo credit: Nick Fewings

Our passage for today begins with a prayer for those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Faith requires a simple, childlike faith. It does not need intelligence or power or wealth or anything else of this world. No, it is God’s “good pleasure” to reveal the kingdom of heaven to those who are pure of heart. This heart, one free from the clutter and temptations of this world, this heart is the heart to whom Jesus will choose to reveal God.

Then Jesus issues an invitation to such as these. It aligns with the words of his prayer: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” To those tired out by chasing and chasing after the things of this world, to those bowed low because they’ve tried and tried to do life on their own – come to Jesus and find rest. Jesus invites all to take on his yoke, to lean on him, to learn from him, to grow to become humble and gentle – both with ourselves and with others.

Contrary to what you or others may think, Jesus’ yoke is “easy” and his burden is “light.” The yoke of the religious leaders of his day was heavy and burdensome. The yoke of the world today is heavy and burdensome. Jesus’ yoke is easy and light, but not because it is in and of itself. It is easy and light because Jesus carries most of the weight. He hears our burdens, he shoulders our load. He invited us to walk alongside him. There we find rest for our souls, for our bodies, and for our spirits. Doing so we choose to live in and for God’s kingdom of love. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, when I try once again to go it on my own, the load again becomes heavy and hard to bear solo. Then I feel the burden of trying to do it all myself. Humble me so that I gladly and willingly take on your yoke. There I do find rest for my soul and I find strength for the day. Thank you for the invitation and for the gentle reminder. Amen.


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Outside the Norms

Reading: Matthew 11:16-19

Verse 17: “We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.”

In today’s passage Jesus is concluding his response to John the Baptist’s inquiry about whether or not Jesus is the one, the Messiah. After speaking of their prophetic ministries in verses 4-11 he turns both to John and to the general audience and asks, “To what can I compare this generation?” In his answer to this question Jesus quotes a song sung in the market by children: “We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.”

Jesus’ ministry was one of welcome and hospitality, of engaging those who needed his saving love. Yes, Jesus taught in the temple and synagogues. But he also touched lepers and blind men and the lame, sending them away singing for joy. He ate with tax collectors and other ‘sinners,’ sharing the love of God in what we might call “low places.” John the Baptist preached repentance from sins and, yes, offered baptism as a sign of a changed life. He fasted and ate honey and wild locusts and lived out in the wilderness. Both John and Jesus ministered in ways far outside the norms.

Jesus’ ministry of love and joy, of welcome and acceptance, was likened to the flute played at weddings. Many in his generation refused to dance along with Jesus. John’s ministry was challenging and hard, calling people to look within, much like we do at funerals. This same generation refused to sing along with John’s call to holy and devout living. Jesus was dismissed as a “glutton and drunkard” while John was dismissed as one possessed by a “demon.”

Today in our generation people reject Jesus, God, faith… We too are called outside the walls of the church, outside the social and religious norms, and into the places that John Wesley called “vile” – all to find opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ with a world in need. In faith and trust may we too go forth to share the love of Christ with the least, the lost, and the lonely. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, drive us outside of the comfortable and the easy. Lead us to the questionable places and people, bringing with us a song of faith and hope and joy and love. Give us the strength to enter those hard places – places of loss, grief, change – in order to bring new life. Use us today, O Lord. Amen.


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Who Will Rescue?

Reading: Romans 7:15-25

Verse 21: “So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.”

Photo credit: Mahdi Bafande

Today’s “do” and “don’t” phrases are a lot to work through. There is great honesty, though, as Paul reflects on the state of his soul. Even though we are created in the image of God, and even though we have the spark of the divine in us, and even though we, like Paul, “have the desire to do good,” we too “cannot carry it out.” We are prone to sin. It is our human nature.

In verse 21 Paul honestly writes, “So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.” This too is our unfortunate reality. Temptation and sin are never far off. There is an almost constant battle that rages in us between good and evil. In our hearts we too “delight in God’s law.” And we also “have another law” that is at work within us, always trying to separate us from God. This can range from a simple snide comment or judging others in our mind to lust and greed to theft or adultery or worse. In verse 24 Paul candidly admits, “What a wretched man I am.”

Before we feel that it’s impossible or that all is lost, Paul reminds us of the truth and promise that we find in Christ. He asks, “Who will rescue me?” And in response he writes, “Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus can and will rescue him. Jesus can and will rescue us. Thanks be to God indeed!

Prayer: Lord God, strengthen my inner being. Attune my ears and heart better to your Spirit. Build up the good and encourage me as I seek to resist evil. Day by day root me in Christ. Help me to grow more and more each day into who you made me to be. Amen.


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With Joy and Gladness

Reading: Psalm 45:10-17

Verse 15: “Led in with joy and gladness, they enter the palace of the king.”

Our passage from Psalm 45 is part of a “wedding song.” David writes in verses 1-9 of the mighty groom. This king has been anointed with grace, majesty, truth, humility, and righteousness. He will sit on the throne forever. As Christians reading this Psalm, we understand the king to be Jesus Christ. This is the language that Jesus and others will use to describe Jesus and his relationship with us.

In our portion of the Psalm, David turns to the other half of the wedding party: the bride. The bride represents the church. Listen to the opening verses from this perspective: “Forget your people and your father’s house.” Turn away from the world and the things of this world. Commit yourself to God in Christ. “The king is enthralled by your beauty.” The king loves you, is enthralled by you, and sees you as beautiful. This is how Christ sees the church. It is how Jesus sees those in the church. This is how the king sees you.

The bride and her attendants are led into the king’s presence “with joy and gladness.” They are blessed and happy to be in the presence of the king. You and I are invited into this presence. We are invited to live in a relationship with our Lord and King. We are invited into his joy and gladness. May we choose to enter his courts. May we choose to dwell with the Lord forevermore!

Prayer: Lord God, oh what love you have for us, your church, and for me, your disciple. Lord, draw us deeper and deeper into your love. Pour out upon us your grace and joy, your humility and righteousness, filling us with all of you. Enable us to walk lovingly and faithfully all of our days. Amen.


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Blessed

Reading: Matthew 10:40-42

Verse 40: “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”

Photo credit: Nick Fewings

Hospitality and welcome were two highly held practices in the Jewish culture. They were highly held by Jesus too, but in a broader way. Jesus’ circle of hospitality and welcome included people that were not inside the Jewish circles. Jesus pushed for the circle to be wider and more open. Inviting tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, and other “sinners” into his circle often put Jesus at odds with the religious leaders of his day. This is the reality that he sends the 12 out into.

Jesus sends them out into the world to do what he has been doing: teaching, healing, casting out demons. They are to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven has come near. They are doing so by going out into the world to be Jesus to the world. In verse 40 he tells them, “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” Those who receive the disciples will be blessed by the disciples and by Jesus and by God.

And the disciples will be blessed too. In verse 42 Jesus refers to “little ones.” This could literally be children and it could be those seen as “less than” or of little value by society and by the religious leaders of the day – tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, and other “sinners.” To offer hospitality and welcome to even these, to be like Jesus, will bring reward to the disciples. As we seek to live like Jesus, loving and caring for all people, we too will be blessed. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, may my circle be wide and open. As Jesus did, lead me to offer welcome and hospitality to all I meet. Remove any barriers or limitations that exist in my heart. May I be one who bears “cold water” to all who need to drink of your love. Amen.


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Choose Life

Reading: Romans 6:15-23

Verse 22: “Now that you have been set free from sin… the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”

As we continue today in Romans 6, Paul uses the term “slave” often. Paul is using this term to emphasize one’s total commitment and belonging to someone or something. In our passage, one is either a slave to sin or a slave to God. For each of these choices, there is an outcome. If you belong to sin, the outcome is death. If you belong to God, the outcome is righteousness. Paul rejoices that the Christians in Rome have obeyed the teachings of Christ, becoming slaves of righteousness. The rejoicing continues today. As Jesus taught, the angels in heaven rejoice when someone who was lost is found, when someone without Christ becomes saved.

In verses 19-21 Paul speaks of the weakness of our human nature and of the “benefit” of living in sin. He summarizes by stating: “These things lead to death!” He ends this section by contrasting this to living as ones belonging to God: “Now that you have been set free from sin… the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” What a contrast! Instead of death we find holiness and eternal life. Living a holy life bears witness to the world. It reveals the love and grace of God available to all people. Living a holy life brings an assurance of eternity lived within the love and light of the Lord. Freed from sin, we live as disciples of Jesus Christ, loving God and loving neighbor with all of our being. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, what a stark contrast: life or death? It seems such a simple choice. Yet the flesh is weak and the power of sin is strong. Lord, how I need you. Only with you can I choose life. Only with you can I be holy. Be present in my heart, O God, leading me to walk in the way that leads to life. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Holy Spirit. Amen.


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Choose Grace

Reading: Romans 6:12-14

Verse 14: “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”

Photo credit: Jon Tyson

Paul writes to the Christians in Rome. It is a body of believers made up of both Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. They are struggling with the place of the Law in the life of the church. Paul recognized that trying to be righteous through adherence to the Law was not sufficient. Through Christ he came to understand that grace was necessary in the battle against sin. With only the Law, the guilt and shame remained. One remained dead in their sin. Only through grace could one be made new again. Only through a saving relationship with Jesus would one die to sin’s power, becoming a new creation in Christ that was “no longer slaves to sin.”

In today’s text Paul recognizes the battle between sin and God. He saw this as a choice – certainly daily but more realistically moment by moment. The choice was whether we would let sin reign or let God reign. Paul encourages us “not to let sin reign in your mortal body.” The evil desires are there. Temptation is real. So too is the power of Christ to withstand these temptations. To that end, Paul instructs us to “offer ourselves to God” as we seek to be people of love and grace. Paul invites us to choose holy living.

Paul challenges the Romans Christians and all who would choose Christ to honor God with all of our choices. We are called to speak words of love, healing, and grace – not words of hate, gossip, and slander. We are to offer our hands in service to God and one another – not as instruments to take and hoard for ourselves. Following just the Law does not produce the love in our hearts that leads us to be Christ in the world. It is grace that produces love – a love that leads us to live as witnesses to Christ’s love and grace. It is a choice. May we choose grace.

Prayer: Lord God, the battle is a regular part of life. You know this well. You created us with the ability to choose life or death, sin or holiness. Fill us with the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ alive in us, so that our choices and our living bring you the glory. Amen.


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Provision

Reading: Genesis 22:6-14

Verse 14: “So Abraham called that place ‘The Lord will provide.'”

In our Genesis 22 reading God provides the ram as the sacrifice. Isaac is lifted off the altar and he is replaced by this ram. It dies in his place, much as Jesus died in our place to pay the price for our sins. The ram does so that the child can live. In an act of gratitude and worship, Abraham names the place “Jehovah Jireh” – the Lord will provide.

God continues to provide for our needs. Sometimes it is by giving us the words to speak, sometimes it is by guiding us to the correct action to take. And sometimes words fail and God is directing us to simply provide presence. God provides in many other ways. A door can be opened, another closed. A meal or help in some other form can show up unexpected and meet a need.

We too can be used by God as the means of provision. Many years ago, for example, a family in our church was struggling financially. A group got together and left $1,000 in a blank envelope in their mailbox. Our financial blessings are often a way that we can be part of God providing a blessing for others. It can also be something as simple as a card or phone call – hearing “it came exactly when I needed it most” assures us of God’s hand guiding and providing.

The keys to both receiving from God and being used by God to provide for others begins with an open ear, followed closely by a willing heart. May we all be receptive to God’s working in and through us as God loves and provides for our needs.

Prayer: Lord God, use me today to accomplish your will. Use my words or my hands and feet, use my presence, O God, as you seek to love and care for our world and for all of your children. And when your will turns to me, may I humbly receive all that you have for me. Amen.


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Provision

Reading: Genesis 22:6-14

Verse 14: “So Abraham called that place ‘The Lord will provide.'”

In our Genesis 22 reading God provides the ram as the sacrifice. Isaac is lifted off the altar and he is replaced by this ram. It dies in his place, much as Jesus died in our place to pay the price for our sins. The ram does so that the child can live. In an act of gratitude and worship, Abraham names the place “Jehovah Jireh” – the Lord will provide.

God continues to provide for our needs. Sometimes it is by giving us the words to speak, sometimes it is by guiding us to the correct action to take. And sometimes words fail and God is directing us to simply provide presence. God provides in many other ways. A door can be opened, another closed. A meal or help in some other form can show up unexpected and meet a need.

We too can be used by God as the means of provision. Many years ago, for example, a family in our church was struggling financially. A group got together and left $1,000 in a blank envelope in their mailbox. Our financial blessings are often a way that we can be part of God providing a blessing for others. It can also be something as simple as a card or phone call – hearing “it came exactly when I needed it most” assures us of God’s hand guiding and providing.

The keys to both receiving from God and being used by God to provide for others begins with an open ear, followed closely by a willing heart. May we all be receptive to God’s working in and through us as God loves and provides for our needs.

Prayer: Lord God, use me today to accomplish your will. Use my words or my hands and feet, use my presence, O God, as you seek to love and care for our world and for all of your children. And when your will turns to me, may I humbly receive all that you have for me. Amen.