pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: life


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God: Good, Creative, Loving

Readings: Genesis 1, Genesis 2, Genesis 3

Genesis 3:5 – “You will see clearly and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Photo credit: Marek Piwnicki

As we begin our adventure of reading the Bible in a year, we start at the beginning, in the creation story. Genesis 1 is a very familiar passage – day 1 there is light, day 2 the waters are separated, day 3 land is formed and plants are created… Four times we read, “God saw how good it was.” Then, on day 6, God creates humanity “in our image.” Creation is completed and God now says, “it was supremely good.” Humanity completes creation and raises it from good to supremely good. In chapter 1 we find two themes that run throughout the Bible: God is good and God creates or gives life.

Turning to Genesis 2 we read a different creation story. In this account we read that on day 3 God creates a man. Then, on day 6 of the original story, God creates a woman from the man’s rib. Among the rest of creation, a “helper that is perfect” could not be found so once again, God creates. In chapter 2 we experience our first dissonance. Our brain tells us that both stories cannot be “true.” Our brain is right. Here we learn an important thing about the Bible: it is not a book of “how” but is a book of “who” and of “what.” It is not a science or history book. The Bible is a book about our relationship with a good and loving God.

We close today’s reading with chapter 3. This is another very familiar story. The temptation and sin and fall of Adam and Eve represent another recurring theme in the Bible: human arrogance. Adam and Eve believe the snake’s words: “You will see clearly and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” To be like God – it’s too tempting to pass up. They eat and God’s heart is broken. They hide when God comes to walk and talk with them in the garden. God asks, “What have you done?” This certainly won’t be the last time God asks this question. And it won’t be the last time that God works to restore our relationship with God. All we can say is: thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, in love and with purpose, you created our world and you created us. You allowed us the freedom to choose you or other things. Then and now when we choose other things, your love does not fail, you still desire relationship, and you seek to draw us back to you. Thank you for your great love for all of creation, especially for us, O God. Amen.


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Restore Us, O God

Reading: Psalm 126:4-6

Verse 6: “He [or she] who goes out weeping… shall come home with shouts of joy.”

Photo credit: Shane Rounce

Turning to the second half of Psalm 126 today we bump up against reality. Life happened to Israel and it happens to us. At times our humanity and our tendency towards selfishness and sin gets us to a place of exile, either from God or from one another or from both. And sometimes the actions or decisions of others negatively affect us. And… at times we get sick or a natural disaster impacts us or… In all of these circumstances and situations we too can cry out to God, “Restore our fortunes, O Lord!”

In verses 5-6 comes the promise and the hope. The reality of our times of sorrow or grief or sadness is that life goes on. As the Israelites continued to sow, even with tears in their eyes, we too must continue to keep moving. As we become able to, we need to resume living. The promise is that eventually we will “reap with songs of joy.” God will be at work, will walk with us through our sorrow…, and will bring joy back into our lives. It is this hope that enables us to work through our sorrow, grief, sadness…

Through tear-filled eyes and with heavy hearts the Israelites trusted in God to restore them. They knew that God was and is loving, faithful, and steadfast. Their trust rested upon these things. May we too recall the “great things” that God has done in our lives, trusting that “He [or she] who goes out weeping… shall come home with shouts of joy.” May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, in those moments of doubt and fear, when sadness and grief are about to win the battle, whisper your hope into our hearts. When it is difficult to take that next step, grant us courage and bring us the strength to step forward. When our hearts fill with sadness, wrap us in your love. And when loneliness sets in, send a brother or sister in Christ our way. Walk with us always, O God. Amen.


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Our Whole Life

Reading: Matthew 22:41-46

Verse 42: “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

In yesterday’s first half of our gospel reading the religious leaders asked Jesus a question to test him. The Pharisees were experts in the Law. They knew the scriptures inside-out. Keeping the letter of the Law and honoring all of the traditions was their focus. They were great practitioners of religion. So when they asked Jesus a letter of the Law question, they were likely surprised when he gave them a spirit of the Law answer. The idea of summing up all of the Law into just two commands had to have gotten their heads spinning. If one’s life has been dedicated to keeping each and every of the 600+ laws, what would it be like to consider really keeping and living out just two?

In today’s text, Jesus pushes the conversation further, deepening their new state of unease. It is his turn to ask a question. For the Pharisees, answering “Whose son is he?” should be as easy for them as answering 2+2=? is for us. Yet they have no answer. The answer is not explicitly found in their scriptures. It is there if one digs and goes deeper: the Messiah is Christ, the son of God. But the religious leaders cannot see or even fathom God coming in the form of a baby now grown into this man standing before them. This did not fit their strict and narrow reading and interpretation of the scriptures. Jesus’ question left them with an even great feeling of unease.

We too can find ourselves in this place at times. We can fall into being experts at following the rules or checking the boxes. We can be really good at practicing our religion yet fail to live out our faith. Both are important. Both should answer the question of who Christ is to us. We too can find unease when these two cross paths. Our religion, for example, calls us to love our neighbors. It tells us to give the hungry person $10 to buy lunch. Our faith tells us to buy our lunches and then to sit down at the table with our neighbor. Unease.

As we ponder Christ’s total call on our lives, may we, like David, understand the Lord to be the Lord of our whole life. And, from there, may we live it out with all that we are and all that we have to offer.

Prayer: Lord God, guide me to not only know the word, but to be the word lived out. Guide me to not only help others to know Christ, but to experience Christ in me. Guide me to be not just faithful and obedient, but also to be compassionate and generous. As I seem to grow into you, Lord, grow in me. Amen.


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The Way to Abundant Life

Reading: Psalm 106:1-6 and 19-23

Verse 6: “We have sinned, even as our ancestors did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.”

Psalm 106 begins by praising and giving thanks to God because God is good and because God’s love endures forever. To praise and give thanks to God for these things is something that we should do every day. The psalmist then notes that we are blessed when we “maintain justice” and when we “do what is right.” Living in alignment with God’s will and ways is a blessed way to live. This is the experience spoken of in verses 4-5. The people of God – when living as the people of God – they enjoy prosperity and joy. What blessing!

The Psalm suddenly turns in verse 6. It gets real honest. Here the psalmist writes, “We have sinned, even as our ancestors did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.” This is as true for us as it was for the psalmist. Humanity is prone to sin. Left unchecked by the will and way of God, we become selfish and greedy and prideful… We become the one on the throne or we try and surround ourselves with things that make us feel safe and secure. We seek to achieve and gather, these things soon growing into idols. It might not be a golden calf, but it is certainly as temporal and manmade.

We make idols and lose our way for the same reason that the Israelites did: “They forgot the God who saved them.” We do this when we fail to do what the psalmist prescribed in verses 1-6. Praising God for the love and blessings, living out God’s justice and righteousness, and frequently confessing and repenting of our sins – these are the antidotes to becoming selfish, greedy, prideful… This is the way to abundant life, both now and into eternity. May this be the way that we choose to live day by day.

Prayer: Lord God, forgive my wayward and selfish decisions and choices. Strengthen me to change, to grow less selfish and prideful. Replace these with your justice and righteousness. Open my eyes to your works, filling my heart with praise and thanksgiving – for your mighty deeds and for your gentle touches. All praise and glory to you, O God! Amen.


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Present in All of Creation

Reading: Psalm 19:1-6

Verse 1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

Psalm 19 speaks of two sides of God. They are different aspects of God in some ways yet work in unison to draw us deeper into our relationship with God. Today’s portion points us to the created world, where God’s power, might, and design are revealed. Tomorrow we turn to the second portion of Psalm 19. Here David rejoices in God’s word. Although very different from nature, the word also reveals God’s power, might, and design.

The opening verse sets the stage for today’s passage: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” To step outside right now, to gaze up at the stars dotting the sky – it moves me to awe and wonder. The stars that God knows by name paint a picture of beauty and grandeur. Soon enough the sun will rise and the “champion” will move across the sky, bringing light and warmth and life to all. Clouds will form and float across the sky, sometimes bringing rain to water the earth, sometimes being part of the water cycle in other ways. Plants, animals, and the earth receive the water and are blessed. All of this displays God’s power and might and it reveals God’s attention to the finest detail. Our response should be to worship God the creator.

At times we can lose this perspective. Driving east last summer, headed to camp, the sun was really hot pouring in through the windshield. I grumbled about it. Then I spent a week at camp, surrounded by God’s amazing creation, blessed by the sun and the water. In this place set apart, God was present. Today I am reminded that God is present in all of creation – in the hot sun and in the waves that break in the beach and in all things in between. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, I praise you for the created world and for the many ways in which you are revealed in it. Your infinite design awes me. Your creative power draws me to worship you. Thank you for this world and all that is in it. Amen.


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Pour Out Water, O God

Reading: Psalm 78:1-4 and 12-16

Verse 15: “He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them water as abundant as the seas.”

Psalm 78 is one of many songs that the Israelites would sing at major festivals to remember the acts of God on their behalf. It begins with a declaration in verses 1-4. Asaph declares that they will tell the stories, that they will “tell the next generation.” As the people of God, we continue in this practice. Tomorrow, the Bible that we will read and learn and worship from is the same story of faith that it has been for 2,000 years. We too stand in a long line of many witnesses who have told the next generation of God’s love and power.

However, our faith is not solely based on events that happened long ago. We are also very much a people of the here and now. Yes it is important to remember how God has been faithful. It is also very important to remember that God is faithful and that God will be faithful.

Today verse 15 stood out to me: “He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them water as abundant as the seas.” It drew me to consider how it applies to my life today. Feeling like we are in the desert or wilderness is a regular part of life. Having a “rock” in the road of life happens. Stepping forward and seeking God’s presence and guidance is an act of faith. Here we draw upon our past experiences with God’s acts in our lives. With that strength we can call upon God to pour out waters upon us and in our lives. What is your rock? How can you draw upon our God who is faithful and cares for you?

Prayer: Lord God, that rock can seem so big. It can cause me to get stuck. Yet that rock is a tiny pebble to you. In the desert you brought forth the water of life from a rock. Nothing is impossible with you. Lead me to step forward today, knowing that you are faithful, trusting in your love for me. Amen.


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Chosen

Reading: Matthew 20:1-16

Verse 1: “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.”

Photo credit: Summertrain

Today and tomorrow we will study the parable about workers in the vineyard. The main character and the focus should be on the landowner. We can be tempted to make it about the vineyard workers because they are us. It’s really about God though.

The landowner is up and out and about early in the day. At 6 am he is already at the gathering place for day laborers. A plan is in place. It was set long before 6 am. The parable does not say if some of those present were hired or if all that were there at 6 am were hired. Since we’re talking about God here, I bet all that were there were hired. God welcomes one and all who seek to be of service in the kingdom of God.

As the story unfolds, the landowner returns again and again and again, still seeking to include more folks in the work. Each time he not only promises work, but he offers fair treatment too. God even returns at the last hour, looking for a few more folks to include in this kingdom work.

In the parable, being chosen is great news. Your family will eat that day. In this life, being chosen is great news too. Life here and the life to come just became incredibly better. In response may we rejoice today over our place in the kingdom of God. And may we not stop there. May we be invitational too, encouraging others to enter a place where they will be loved and provided for. As we have received, may we share with others.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for calling me into the labor of your kingdom. Thank you for your generous love and care. Use me to call others into the life that you offer to all of us, no matter where we are, no matter when we come to you. Amen.


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God’s Dominion

Reading: Psalm 114

Verse 7: “Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord.”

Psalm 114 speaks of the deep and intimate relationship that God has with the chosen people. The psalmist writes of three of God’s nights act on behalf of the people. Remembering how God parted the sea, turned back the Jordan, and brought water from a rock in the desert reminds Israel of both God’s power and might AND of God’s provision for them. In response the psalmist calls out to the world, saying, “Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord.” The invitation is to recognize that God is not just their God, but is the God over all of creation.

At times in our lives God will act or intervene or guide in powerful and awesome ways. Think back over your life. When have you felt God’s presence or guidance? When has God encouraged or strengthened or even carried you? And when have you been a part of something that God has done? Was it in your church or at an event or on a mission trip? These God moments remind us of God’s power and might, of God’s love and care. They remind us that God is the Lord of our life.

In verse 2 the psalmist writes, “Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel God’s dominion.” This is the writer’s way of saying that God was present to the chosen people. As we fast forward in the big story of God’s people, we have now entered that family through our relationship with Jesus Christ. God is our sanctuary, our lives are God’s dominion. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, you remind us again and again of your love for us. You touch our lives in so many ways – some big and powerful, some small and almost beyond noticing. You are always there, always watching over, always providing, always ready to respond or act. Thank you for your great love. Amen.


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Words of Life

Reading: Jeremiah 15:15-21

Verse 19c: “Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.”

Chapter 15 begins as a dual lament. God laments the disobedience and hard hearts of the people. Jeremiah laments where he finds himself – cursed and rejected, abused and alone. This leads him to wonder if God even cares. Our passage today begins with Jeremiah asking for God’s care – via revenge on his enemies. That’s a snapshot into his current emotional state. He laments how taking in and proclaiming God’s word has led him to being an outcast. He asks God why his pain – both physical and emotional – is unending. And then he questions God’s reliability, equating God to “a spring that fails.” His pity party has him spiraling deeper and deeper.

God takes no offense. God understands how hard it is to speak truth to a people bent on evil. God understands how frustrating it is to offer true and abundant life to a people refusing these gifts to chase after the things of this world. God understands because God has been here before and because God is once again torn up about the people’s choices. In grace, God invites Jeremiah back to the task, back to right relationship, back to speaking “worthy” words, back to holy living. This is a great challenge to Jeremiah, to live in the world but not of it. We too wrestle with this challenge.

Much of life is spent living in the world. We too are called to a holy life. God promises to be with us too, to “rescue and save you.” In those moments of doubt and questioning, may we recall these words of truth: “Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.” We know the words of life. We know God is with us. May we ever stand upon these truths.

Prayer: Lord God, when the steps are hard, whisper your words of love. When the temptation to lessen who I am to fit in or to avoid conflict arises, whisper your truths. Strengthen and encourage me for all that living in this world brings. Amen.


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Prayer, Patience, Joy

Reading: Romans 12:9-21

Verse 12: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12 begins with a call to be “living sacrifices.” This term and the words that Paul uses to flesh it out bring to mind Christ’s example and his instructions on loving one another well. In today’s passage we receive some specific and direct examples on how to love one another well. As was the case in verses 1-8, so is the case in verses 9-21: these ways of living are possible only through the power and grace of God.

Paul’s primary audience here is the church. This letter is written to the believers in Corinth, addressing some of the issues they’re facing. It is in the Bible because it has application for all believers. Most make perfect sense: “cling to what is good… honor one another above yourselves… share with those in need…” Some are a little harder: “keep your spiritual fervor… mourn with those who mourn… do not be proud… live at peace with everyone.” And then there are a few, to be honest, that make us pause: “bless those who persecute you… do not repay anyone evil for evil… do not take revenge…” All of these are interwoven and mixed together – just like in life. I think that’s because “easier” ones like “share with those in need” become a whole lot harder right after they’ve abused or persecuted you.

Today the key verse that stood out to me was verse 12: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” These three call us to God and to relying on God’s power and grace. Practically speaking, I think we need to work these backwards. Pray, pray, and pray some more. In difficult times, allow prayer to build your patience. Practice patience again and again. Then, through these two practices, we can be joyful in hope. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, Paul tosses us quite the list. Even on a good day some can be quite challenging. Yet we are not called to this faithful way of living and loving just on good days. It has to be a 24/7 lifestyle. Lord, we need you. Pour out your power and grace over and over, filling us up again and again so that we can live daily as faithful examples in this world. Amen.