pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: Jesus


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Learn Their Names

Reading: Luke 16:19-26

Luke 16:23 – “While being tormented in the place of the dead, he looked up and saw Abraham at a distance with Lazarus at his side.”

Photo credit: Clay Banks

Reflecting on this passage, John Wesley wrote, “It is no more sinful to be rich than to be poor. But it is dangerous beyond expression.” Wesley lived in England during the start of the industrial revolution. The focus of his ministry was upon the poor – the uneducated, the poorly housed, the miners and factory workers, and others who were being exploited and oppressed by the wealthy. The poverty level was high in the places that Wesley preached, started schools and orphanages, and offered basic but free medical care.

Today’s parable features Lazarus, a poor, sick beggar who is overlooked each day by a rich man. The rich man has more than enough to care for Lazarus but he chooses to not even acknowledge Lazarus’ existence. Perhaps to know him would lead one to care about and for him. As it happens, both die. Lazarus goes to heaven and the rich man goes to hell. In verse 23 we read, “While being tormented in the place of the dead, he looked up and saw Abraham at a distance with Lazarus at his side.” By Abraham’s side, Lazarus has good things. The rich man is tormented in hell. It is only then that the rich man sees and acknowledges Lazarus – but only because he wants something from him. Alas, says Abraham, fates are now fixed. Judgment has come. There is no going from heaven to hell or vice versa.

Poverty continues to be a reality for many people today. Most of us as individuals and certainly we as a nation have more than enough to care well for the Lazarus’ of our day. God’s will and way called for the rich man to care for Lazarus just as God calls out to us today. To be the hands and feet of Jesus requires that we engage those living in poverty, with illness, and in need. This begins with knowing their names. May we learn their names.

Prayer: Lord God, when our relationships with the least of these gets personal, it gets so much more real. So guide us, O Lord, to invest in the lives of those with needs that we can meet. Open our hearts to compassion and love and care. Use us to minister in your name. Amen.


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In the Small and in the All

Reading: Luke 16:10-13

Luke 16:10 – “Whoever is faithful with little is also faithful with much, and the one who is dishonest with little is also dishonest with much.”

As we wrap up our passage from Luke 16, Jesus focuses in on our honesty with God and with ourselves. In verse 10 Jesus says that it all matters – from the small decisions that no one else sees to the biggest decisions that can impact a lot of other people. If we are faithful to God in all of the little ways – in how we see others, in our thoughts, in the things that we do in private – then it will become second nature to be faithful in the bigger moments of life. But if we are sinful in our private moments then it will be much harder to suddenly be righteous in the times that really matter.

It can be said that as followers of Christ we are “in the world but not of the world.” We live in the world every day but we truly belong to God. As we live out our days, do we strive to remain faithful to God’s will and way or do we chase after wealth and other things that the world treasures? In this process we use the gifts and talents that God gave us either to build God’s kingdom or to accumulate and gather wealth, status, and accomplishments for ourselves. Where we invest our time, energy, gifts, and resources reveals which master we are serving – God or the world.

An honest assessment of how we invest these things quickly reveals if we are serving and loving God or if we are serving and loving the world. Jesus is blunt: “You cannot serve God and wealth.” One of these fills our hearts with light and love, with hope and grace. The other leaves us ultimately with empty hands and empty hearts. May we daily choose to serve and love the Lord our God, being faithful in the small and in the all.

Prayer: Lord God, we beg you to walk with us moment by moment, being present in the thousands and thousands of decisions that we make daily. Keep whispering your guidance and direction into our hearts, keep nudging us to walk your path in the world. Guard our hearts and minds against the great temptations of wealth and success and power and popularity. Help us to choose to be faithful to you alone again and again and again and… Amen.


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Stewarding Well

Reading: Luke 16:1-9

Luke 16:2 – “Give me a report of your administration because you can no longer serve as my manager.”

Today’s parable follows another parable about wasting what we’re given. In chapter 15 a young man wasted his place in the family and then wasted his inheritance. He does eventually recognize his selfish and sinful behavior, coming home to receive grace and forgiveness. In today’s parable a rich man finds out that his household manager “was wasting his estate.” He was not stewarding well what he had been entrusted with. I wonder, how often does God look at us and see that we are wasting the good gifts and blessings that we have been given by our heavenly Father?

Knowing his time as mangager was limited, the man acts quickly – “cleverly.” One by one he calls in those who owe his master oil or wheat or whatever. The manager treats wealth as if it had no intrinsic value, benefiting others in the present moment so that he will be benefited in the future. The master recognizes how well the manager has stewarded his gift, just as others who belong to this world do in the present.

Jesus then encourages his followers to use their wealth (and gifts) in the same way – to do good for others in the present world. He tells them that doing good in this world, using well what they’ve been given, will one day reap a future welcome into “eternal homes.” For us, maybe wealth is a blessing that we can steward well here and now. Or maybe we have a gift for teaching or caring for others or a talent in music or administration… These gifts are things that we can steward well to benefit others in this present age. If we choose to waste (or to hoard) what we’ve been given by God, then we too will one day hear, “Give me a report of your administration because you can no longer serve as my manager.”

Prayer: Lord God, give us pause today and lead us to look within, to reflect on how we are using the gifts and blessings that you have given to each of us. Guide us to steward well these talents or wealth to benefit others now, building your kingdom here on earth. Amen.


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The Most Important Thing

Reading: 1st Timothy 2:1-7

1st Timothy 2:1 – “First of all, then, I ask that requests, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving be made for all people.”

Paul writes to Timothy to instruct him on how to build faithful congregations. These words are based on years and years of experience. This letter includes instructions on personal and communal living, on what and how to preach, and on how to guide a congregation to reveal Christ’s love to the world. In chapter 2 Paul hones in on the most important thing: prayer.

In verse 1 we read, “First of all, then, I ask that requests, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving be made for all people.” Before you do anything else, pray. For Jesus, for Paul, and for for us, prayer is the foundation and life-blood of our faith. This simple practice is essential. For Paul, these basic conversations with God should include all people. This includes family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, brothers and sisters in Christ, the person you met at the market, leaders… To pray for others is to lift them and their needs to God. In this way, prayer is an act of humility.

For me, almost every day begins with a cup of coffee, sitting quietly on the couch, slowly praying through a long list of names. This is how I choose to begin my day because it focuses my heart and mind for the day ahead. This quiet work aligns me with God so that my words and actions might better reflect God’s love for all people.

Paul encouraged Timothy to model and teach prayer to his congregations. Paul knew from experience that praying congregations were faithful congregations. In and through prayer they found and we will find the power and the strength to live as God’s people in the world. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, lead and guide us to be faithful first in our prayers. Whether early in the morning or late at night or somewhere in between, through your Holy Spirit ground us in your will and way as we spend quiet moments with you. Open our hearts and minds to hear your voice and to feel your direction for our lives and for our ministries. Amen.


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Glory Revealed

Reading: Psalm 79:6-9

Psalm 79:8 – “Don’t remember the iniquities of past generations; let your compassion hurry to meet us because we’ve been brought so low.”

Photo credit: Tobias Rademacher

As we continue in Psalm 79 today the psalmist asks God to redirect the anger of God that burns like fire. The plea is made to “pour out” that fire on the pagan nations – those that have “devoured” God’s people and have ransacked the land. Then there is a shift. In verse 8 the psalmist prays, “Don’t remember the iniquities of past generations; let your compassion hurry to meet us because we’ve been brought so low.” The psalmist is part of a very, very small segment of the Israelites that remained true to God. It was other’s sins that brought God’s wrath on Israel, in the form of Babylonian conquest.

At this lowest point, living fully in the tragedy, the psalmist still chooses faithfulness and hope in God. To choose otherwise will fracture or possibly remove all faith. There are times when we are negatively affected by past or by systemic or by societal sin. The division in our nation is a good example. Choosing to dwell in and to fuel the fires of “us” versus “them” at every opportunity is living and acting in ways counter to the loving and unifying way of Christ. In this current climate we can choose prayer and God’s presence or we can allow the tide to sweep us along down that evil path.

In verse 9 the psalmist cries out for God’s salvation, deliverance, and forgiveness. These are all found in relationship with God. These are gifts of God that we can receive no matter what is happening in the world around us. While pain and suffering and hardship may come, in prayer we can experience God’s compassion, love, mercy, grace… These gifts of God empower us to remain faithful and to live righteous lives in the midst of this broken world. This is how the glory of God will be revealed. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, when the brokenness of this world feels overwhelming, when the tide feels like it will surely pull us under, help us to feel your hand reaching out. Gently guide us to step into your presence, prayerfully deepening our relationship with you. In that place, pour out your hope and strength upon us, empowering us to be light and love in the darkness of our world. Amen.


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Lean In, Trust

Reading: Psalm 79:1-5

Psalm 79:5 – “How long will you rage, Lord? Forever? How long will your anger burn like fire?”

Today the psalmist asks a question we all ask: How long? In almost every difficult situation that we face and endure, we come to this question. Whether referring to the waves of grief that don’t relent or to the job search that won’t resolve itself or to the bullying that your child faces day after day or to the violence and destruction that the psalmist faces, in times of trial or pain or suffering or grief, we ask God: How long?

While we do not ever receive a specific time and date from God that tells us when relief or resolution will occur, we can have a hand in how we walk in and through these dark valleys. We can choose to shout “How long?” with a clenched fist raised against God. Or we can choose to whisper “How long?” with hands open to receive from God. The psalmist models the second option. For us, we must begin where the psalmist began, naming the situation. In this case, the writer names what it looks and feels like in the aftermath of the Babylonians destroying Jerusalem and the temple. The physical scene is horrific. To look at it and to name it begins to move one past the “Is this real?” stage. While painful, acceptance is an important step in our healing process.

The psalmist is also open and vulnerable with his emotions. From his perspective, all has been done to God’s city, to God’s temple, to God’s people. This goes against previous religious understandings and creates disorientation, forcing a new understanding of God and the world. Adding to the trauma is the ridicule coming from pagan neighbors. At times of grief or suffering or pain perhaps you or someone you know has heard, “If you just did (or didn’t)…” These words sting – as if you would have chosen this terrible outcome.

Laying it all on the table before the Lord and others we love and trust is an act of surrender, a practice in humility. Even as the psalmist asks “How long?” there is a leaning into God’s presence, a trust in God to act and move even in this place of death, loss, suffering… In our times of deep need, may we too be open and vulnerable and honest with God and with those close to us. May our hands be open to receive.

Prayer: Lord God, these initial steps can be so hard. We’d rather close our eyes and withdraw. When this is our first step, Lord, help us to feel your hand reaching out, to sense your Spirit surrounding us. Walk with us in love and grace. Amen.


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“I Will Never Forget…”

Reading: Amos 8:4-7

Amos 8:4 – “Hear this, you who trample on the needy and destroy the poor of the land…”

Photo credit: Nathan Dumlao

Amos was a prophet, likely the first of many to write about the unjust behaviors of Israel’s and Judah’s leaders. He proclaimed that worship without justice was unacceptable to God. Instead of following God’s instructions about sharing with and including the poor in religious festivals that remembered and celebrated God’s loving acts when Israel was freed from slavery and oppression in Egypt, the prosperous and powerful were excluding the poor and needy. Outside of worship those with power mistreated and enslaved the poor. Amos called the people to righteousness and justice – or face God’s judgment.

Turning to our passage from chapter 8, Amos begins with “Hear this, you who trample on the needy and destroy the poor of the land…” These are strong words of warning. Instead of truly worshipping during the sacred festivals, the wealthy and powerful are scheming about how to further exploit the poor and needy. They plan to make the scoop smaller (the ephah) while making the weight heavier (the shekel) to deceive the poor with “false balances.” They can sell less product for a greater profit. As an added bonus for the prosperous, this will make the poor poorer and the needy needier. Soon enough, they think, we can “buy the needy for silver” and “the helpless for sandals.” Through Amos, the Lord says, “Surely I will never forget what they’ve done.”

Today in our land we see cuts to programs that feed the poor and needy alongside tax cuts for the wealthy and powerful. We see politicians wheeling and dealing in “pork barrel politics,” working for personal gain while ignoring needed services to the vulnerable and powerless that live in their districts. In the very same way, the Lord our God says, “Surely I will never forget what they’ve done.”

Prayer: Lord God, your heart is for the vulnerable and powerless. This was clearly evident when you took on flesh and gave us a living example to follow. Raise up our voices for justice, O God, and empower our hands and feet, O Lord, to have a heart like your heart, to serve humbly as Jesus did. Amen.


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Safe, Welcoming, Loving?

Reading: Luke 15:1-10

Luke 15:10 – “Joy breaks out in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who changes both heart and life.”

As today’s passage begins, tax collectors and sinners are gathering around Jesus – “to listen to him.” Jesus often welcomed and loved on such as these, people who were not welcomed or loved by the other group that was present. The Pharisees and legal experts are not there to listen either. They are there to grumble, to complain, and to critique. This second group is unhappy with the “radical” welcome that Jesus offers to all people, especially to these folks that are clearly not part of God’s family.

Many years ago the church that I was a part of had an opportunity to minister to the poor and homeless. The building across the parking lot was purchased with the intent of renovating it to open a day center for this population. Some in the church thought it’d be better to tear it down to have more parking. These voices did not win out. Those typically excluded or kept on the outside found a safe and welcoming and loving place to be during the day, when the local rescue mission was closed.

In response to the religious folk’s hard hearts, Jesus tells two parables. In both, the list thing (a sheep and then a coin) is sought and then found. The finder’s community then celebrates together. In the same way, Jesus says, “Joy breaks out in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who changes both heart and life.” The same sentiment was often said and/or felt at the day center when another person was brought out of poverty or homelessness or addiction or… The same could be said about our churches and about our very lives. Are we and are our churches willing to be safe and welcoming and loving places? Places that cause the angels in heaven to rejoice?

Prayer: Lord God, open our hearts and hands to the needs around us. Lead us to be people who create safe places, who provide genuine welcome, and who love all people deeply. Guide our churches to live this same Christlike faith. Amen.


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New Again

Reading: Psalm 51:7-10

Psalm 51:8 – “Let me hear joy and celebration again; let the bones you crushed rejoice once more.”

Continuing today in Psalm 51, David recognizes his separated state. Yes, God has seen his sin and sent the prophet Nathan to break through to David, leading him to see his sin. David knows that God alone can make him “clean.” In verse 7 David asks for this cleansing – for God to purify and wash him so that he is “whiter than snow.” On his own David would remain in his sin and would struggle with the guilt and shame that often accompanies our sin. The same is true for us. We need God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness to once again be back in right relationship with God.

In verse 8 David is not yet there – not yet redeemed and restored. He longs for these things. We can hear this longing as we read, “Let me hear joy and celebration again; let the bones you crushed rejoice once more.” When we are in this place we too can feel this way. For David, the sacrificial system and the giving of an animal’s life would provide the “means” or payment for forgiveness. For us today, however, Jesus interceded on our behalf. He paid the price, offering himself as that needed sacrifice. In communion we remember this gift formally. But we don’t need to take the bread and cup to be redeemed and restored. Forgiveness comes through a simple prayer of confession and repentance. Jesus then creates a “clean heart” in us, once again walking with a “faithful spirit” within us. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, we experience times when we are separated from you because of our sin and its impacts. Sometimes we tarry, wrestling with the guilt or shame. In these times, O Lord, call out to us, pull us into your grace and mercy. Drawn close to you, make us new again, O God. Amen.


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All of the Glory

Reading: 1st Timothy 1:12-17

1st Timothy 1:13 – “I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and without faith.”

Photo credit: Matt Botsford

Paul, as Saul, was one of those anti-Christian people. As he recollects in the first part of verse 13, he used to speak against Jesus and used to attack Jesus’ “people.” Saul was proud of his religion – Judaism. Connecting to yesterday’s idea of “practical atheists,” this is how the early Christians would have seen Saul. He did not understand or even accept Jesus. Saul’s actions and words strongly opposed Christ and his disciples.

Then Saul had his “come to Jesus” moment. In his words, “I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and without faith.” Christ changed his heart. Looking back on his past life as a Pharisee, Paul now sees himself then as “the biggest sinner of all.” This view is from Paul’s new understanding of what faithful living is. He recognized how Jesus came, lived, and died both to set and example of how to live a faithful and righteous life and to save people from their sins. Christ’s “endless patience” was demonstrated in Paul’s life and conversion. Now he lives to be an example of Christ so that others will come to believe in Jesus.

Paul is very grateful that Jesus saved him. This is what leads Paul to offer these words of praise: “honor and glory to him forever.” The gift of relationship that Paul now knows, the gift that that leads to eternal life, is offered to all people. To the Saul’s of the world and to the practical atheists – even those inside of us at times – Jesus Christ still offers new life. As disciples of Jesus Christ, may we bear witness as Paul did, bringing the Lord our God all of the glory.

Prayer: Lord God, as we seek to walk in relationship with you, work in our hearts so that we live in ways that bring you glory and honor. Use us as conduits of grace and mercy, opening others to the possibility of new and eternal life. Amen.