pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Together in Faith

Reading: 1st Thessalonians 5:9-11

1st Thessalonians 5:11 – “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”

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As we finish this week’s 1st Thessalonians 5 passage, verse 9 begins with a reminder about who and what God is. God is a God who saved the faithful and wants to save all people. God is not an angry God who wants to “pour out his anger.” As we read last week in the parable of the ten bridesmaids, God wants us all to one day be at the eternal wedding banquet. Sadly, some never get prepared to enter into glory. They refuse to accept the invitation.

Verse 10 reveals God’s love for us – for all of us. Christ died to save all people from this earthly life. Yes, he even died for those who might never accept the invitation. God in the flesh desired to see all people enter into God’s love. As those created in his image, we too should desire and should make efforts to see all people come to a saving relationship with Jesus.

Once saved, we have a desire to live with Jesus forever, as Paul reminds us at the end of verse 10. But this desire is not always easy to maintain. Doubt creeps in sometimes. Hardship, suffering, loss, and grief can challenge our faith. The world can push back against our beliefs and our ways of living them out. Sin and the brokenness of this world can weigh heavy upon our faith. In all of these moments and more, we need to heed Paul’s advice found in verse 11: “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” We are better in community. We are stronger together. We can stand more firmly in our faith with one another’s encouragement and support. When one is weak, others are strong. Day by day, may we walk together in faith.

Prayer: Lord God, we know that when we are weak, you are strong. Yet sometimes we have trouble sensing your presence. In these situations, give us the courage to seek others, to find the needed support and encouragement. And when our faith is strong, Lord, give us eyes to see other’s needs. Lead us to come alongside them, lifting and encouraging their walk of faith. Amen.


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Walk in the Light and Love

Reading: 1st Thessalonians 5:4-8

1st Thessalonians 5:8 – “But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of salvation.”

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As we continue in our Epistle reading, Paul differentiates between the believers and those who live by the ways of the world. Those without faith will be caught off guard, surprised by Christ’s return. But the believers? They won’t be surprised because they will be ready to meet Jesus. They are the “children of the light and the day.” Those who follow Jesus “live in the light.” This light – Jesus – allows them to always be on guard, alert, and clearheaded. They are not to “fall asleep” on their faith. These words of Paul also apply to us and to our walk of faith. These words also reiterate the call we heard last week in the parable of the ten bridesmaids: be prepared, be ready, always have oil for your lamp.

In verse 8 Paul offers these words: “But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of salvation.” Paul is beginning to develop his thoughts on the “armor of God.” He will flesh this idea out fully about ten years later in his letter to the Ephesians (see chapter 6.) With these words, Paul emphasizes the importance of faith and love and of our confidence in God. These words invite us to clothe ourselves with Christ – to allow our faith and love to guide us, our words, our actions. They also invite us to allow Christ to protect us and to guard us – especially our minds. This is where those thoughts that lead us into darkness begin to form. If we allow Christ to guard our minds, then we will walk in the light and love of Jesus Christ. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, while we live daily knowing that Jesus Christ will return, the darkness can creep in, slowly. Because of this, our walk in the light can be challenging. We get busy or distracted and then we look out the window of our mind, and that darkness has enveloped us. Lord, guard and protect us. Remind and encourage us. Through your Holy Spirit’s presence, lead us to walk daily in the light and love and hope of Christ. Amen.


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Prepared and Ready

Reading: 1st Thessalonians 5:1-3

1st Thessalonians 5:2 and 3 – “For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly… as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin.”

Photo credit: Nathan Dumlao

As we begin a few days in 1st Thessalonians 5, Paul continues to answer the Thessalonians’ questions about the resurrection. In today’s verses Paul reminds them of two very important things. The first is this: Jesus is returning. Paul and they (and we) know this in our heart of hearts. They are sure of the “what” and even “how” parts of this coming event. It is the “when” that is the unknown.

In verses 2 and 3 Paul writes, “For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly… as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin.” They and we do not know the day or hour. We do not know the year. It will, however, come upon us quite unexpectedly. Suddenly there will be a heavenly shout and a trumpet call. The faithful who have died will rise and… Christ will be here. Right now. Suddenly.

Paul uses two metaphors to describe the sudden and unexpected nature of Christ’s return. First he compares it to a “thief in the night.” You are awakened during the night to a noise downstairs. It is too late. The thief has come. Worse yet, you come home and realize that the thief has come and gone. And you’re still here, having to deal with the consequences of that.

Paul’s second metaphor is labor pains. When pregnant, the mother-to-be knows that these pains are coming. They are unavoidable. It is not unexpected in this way – much as we cannot be surprised when Jesus returns. But that due date? It is a best guess. Yet the woman knows the day has arrived when she feels that first pang of pain. And if preparations begin then or if they are ignored – trouble! So we too must be prepared and ready. May it ever be so, because on that day, “There will be no escape.”

Prayer: Lord God, day by day lead us to be prepared to stand in Jesus’ holy presence. Hour by hour guide us to practice the means of grace so that we are right with you and with one another. Moment by moment use us to be love in the world. Being love lived out, we will recognize love when he returns. Amen.


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Look to God – and to One Another

Reading: Psalm 123

Psalm 123:2a – “We keep looking to the Lord our God for mercy.”

Photo credit: Ben White

What causes you to lift your eyes to God “enthroned in heaven?” Perhaps it is the moments when God becomes present – in the created world, in a friend, in a blessing. In these moments we naturally lift a prayer or song of thanksgiving. We feel close to God, as if heaven came to earth. Or maybe you lift your eyes as the psalmist did, in moments of struggle. In these moments, heaven and God often feel far away.

In verse 2 the psalmist writes, “We keep looking to the Lord our God for mercy.” It feels like the “How long?” question isn’t far away. Yet there is a trust felt in the words of the psalmist. We too keep looking because we know that God is good and faithful and kind and compassionate and… merciful. We keep looking because God has become present again and again. We keep looking in faith.

The psalmist names “contempt” as the current struggle. The arrogant are looking at or treating them with total disgust, thinking that they are totally unworthy of respect. Contempt may be our struggle. Or it might be something else – depression, anxiety, fear, loneliness, injustice, a health crisis. Whatever the struggle, we too look to God. We long for God to act or to move because we too have “had our fill.” If this is your present reality, keep looking to God.

Many are struggling in our world today. It could be one of the things listed above or it could be something else. Our culture teaches us to tough it out, to try harder, to not show anything that could be perceived as weakness. Our faith teaches the opposite: walk together, lift one another, share a burden, be honest. Just as we look to God in moments of need, may we also look to one another. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, grant us the courage and the trust to name our struggles. Lead us to come before you and to be honest with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Also, Lord, attune us to others. Open our hearts to those who might be looking to us and to our communities of faith. Guide us to be your presence, your love, your mercy to those who are struggling. Amen.


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The Three R’s

Reading: Judges 4:1-7

Judged 4:1-2 – “The Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight. So the Lord turned them over to King Jabin of Hazor.”

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This week we focus on the joy that we find in the Lord. Often this joy comes from God’s presence in our world and in our lives – a sunrise, a kind word, a spider web, a loving act, an opened door. Some of the time, this joy comes through God’s rescue, redemption, and restoration. We sin and create separation in our relationships with God and with one another. We turn back to God, admitting our failure, pledging to do better, and our God of great mercy forgives our sin. We then experience rescue, redemption, and restoration. We rejoice in God’s mercy and love. This pattern is repeated frequently in our lives. It has always been the case throughout history. In the opening verses of Judges 4 we read, “The Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight. So the Lord turned them over to King Jabin of Hazor.”

The Israelites, like us, knew better. Sin is almost always an intentional choice. And when a poor choice is made, there are usually consequences. In today’s passage, it was oppression from a pagan people that Israel let live. Israel failed to follow God’s command to remove all of the Canaanites from the Promised Land. The group around Hazor sought to re-establish their power in the land. God used them to humble Israel. It took twenty years of cruel oppression. Hopefully our cycles of sin, confession, and repentance don’t last that long!

Deborah, who was leading and judging for Israel at that time, calls out for Barak, inviting him to gather troops to defeat Sisera, Jabin’s commander. Sisera had 900 chariots – the most powerful weapon of the day. Deborah relayed God’s promise to Barak: “There I will give you victory over him.” This promise of presence and victory is ours too. God is with us. God wants to rescue, redeem, and restore us. With humbled hearts, may we cry out to God for mercy.

Prayer: Lord God, help us to identify the things that we let hang around, in spite of your warnings and instructions. Then lead us to work at removing these things from our lives. The pride, the ego, the desire for more – all must go. And when we lose the battle, which we do again and again, call us to confession and repentance. Rescue us from our sin. Pour out your mercy. Redeem us. Heal our brokenness. Restore us to right relationship with you and with one another. Amen.


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Each Day: Love

Reading: Matthew 25:7-13

Matthew 25:13 – “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.”

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Continuing today in the parable of the ten bridesmaids, we see that they react well to the shout that woke them up. All ten bridesmaids tend to their lamps, trimming the wicks and relighting their lamps. The five foolish ones quickly realize their problem. They ask to borrow some oil. Connecting to the final day of judgment, some people will suddenly wake up and realize too late that they never claimed a faith of their own. In that moment, someone else’s faith will not be able to save them.

The five wise bridesmaids will not lend any oil to the foolish ones. In reality, they cannot: the faith that they have is their own. The bridegroom arrives and they follow him, lamps lit, into the wedding feast. The door is shut and locked. Later, the five foolish bridesmaids knock on the door, seeking admission. They even call out, “Lord, Lord…” In response, the Lord says, “Believe me, I don’t know you.” The “oil” that they bought is not true oil. There will be some folks that go to church or do other “religious” things but do not have a personal saving relationship with Jesus.

Stepping out of the parable and talking to his followers – then and now – Jesus says, “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.” We must always keep watch for Jesus. We must keep awake, tending to our faith so that we always have “oil” in our “lamps.” We must be alert and attentive to the ways that Jesus becomes present to us in the face of a stranger or in our brothers and sisters in Christ. While we do not know the day or hour, we do know what is required of us as followers of Jesus Christ. Each day, every day, may our love of God and neighbor be revealed in all that we do and say and think.

Prayer: Lord God, when we are tempted to go to sleep on our faith – even for a little nap – stir up our hearts by the power of your Holy Spirit. When we’re tempted by a “next time” or “later” attitude, rattle our awareness of your charge to always love here and now. Help us to always shine your love out into the world. Amen.


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Children of God

Reading: 1st John 3:1-3

1st John 3:1 – “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!”

Photo credit: Patrick Schneider

On this All Saints’ Day we celebrate the saints who have gone on to their eternal home during this past year. For some of us, the day holds grief as their loss is recent and still painful. For others, the day holds joy as the grief has begun to recede and the celebration of a life well-lived gains more of the focus. For all those who gather and name the saints, it is a reminder of our connectedness, of the great cloud of witness, and of John’s words today: “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!”

We who believe are the ones that John calls the children of God. Technically, all people are children of God. Just as some do not recognize that we who believe are children of God, they and others do not recognize themselves as a child of God. They do not see or understand or find their worth and identity in God’s love. We do. We know that we are loved and that we belong to God. As we celebrate the saints today, we also celebrate our place in the great cloud of witness.

While some long for the day and others look forward to the day, it will be glorious when we see Jesus face to face because we will see him “as he really is.” In the resurrection we will fully know Jesus. That experience of love will be grand! As that day draws nearer for each of us, may we seek to be pure and holy, just and loving, just as Christ was, is, and always will be. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, we are grateful for those who we will name today as we celebrate the saints who have joined you this past year. We can also name other saints – those who shaped and formed us, who walked with us, and who encouraged us. We ask, O God, that you would use us in these ways, walking with each other and with future saints. Amen.


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Humble Servant

Reading: Matthew 23:8-12

Matthew 23:11 – “The greatest among you must be a servant.”

Photo credit: Clay Banks

In the second half of this week’s gospel lesson, Jesus stresses the equality we share as children of God. Each and every one of us is created by God, made as God intends us to be. God loves us all exactly the same. There is nothing we can do or not do to change that reality.

The rabbis in Jesus’ day were much like Jesus. They gathered to themselves a group of disciples, and they taught them their interpretation of the scriptures. Most young Jewish boys wanted to be a rabbi when they grew up, like many today who want to grow up and play in the NFL or NBA or… The thinning out process was much the same. Many dreamed of being a rabbi but very, very few ever made the grade. Speaking into this hierarchical system, Jesus reminds his disciples that they have “only one teacher.” He is not speaking of himself, but of God. Jesus is reminding them of the supremacy of God. This is also what he is getting at as he tells the disciples not to call anyone else “Father.” He is not talking literally here. Because God’s love and mercy never fail, God will always be elevated above all earthly figures.

Verses 11 and 12 connect back to verses 1-7, where Jesus addressed the words, actions, and behaviors of the religious leaders of his day. In verse 11 we read, “The greatest among you must be a servant.” Jesus is not saying that people can’t be “great.” He is saying that even the great must be servants too. A servant focuses on loving God and neighbor. They serve without regard for themselves. Jesus modeled this. He is our example of humble service. Jesus calls us to walk in his footsteps. When we do serve others in humility, we too will be exalted by God, just as Jesus was exalted. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, open our eyes to see the people and the opportunities that you bring our way today. Eyes opened to see, move our hearts to action. Put into action, use us to serve others, sharing your love and our love with them. Amen.


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Everything We Do

Reading: Matthew 23:1-7

Matthew 23:5a – “Everything they do is for show.”

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Today and tomorrow Jesus teaches about leadership. While his focus is the religious world, his teaching applies to all kinds of leadership: parenting, coaching, banking, engineering… Jesus begins by recognizing the religious leaders’ and Pharisees’ area of expertise. They are the “official interpreters of the Law.” They have studied long and hard to hold those positions. They are good at this, Jesus says, so he instructs the crowd and his disciples to “practice and obey whatever they tell you.” Yes, love God, honor your mother and father, practice the Sabbath ways…

But. But there is a problem. Jesus continues, saying, “But don’t follow their example.” The religious leaders do not walk the walk. Yes, they do talk the talk. They pile on and pile on religious demands – laws made by man, not by God through Moses. But they do not help the people to meet these “unbearable” demands. At the start of verse 5, we read this summary indictment: “Everything they do is for show.” They tell others to love God, but they love themselves.

In the rest of verse 5 through verse 7, Jesus offers examples. They put little fish stickers on their cars then wave angry fists at those who cut them off in traffic. They gossip at the cafeteria tables as they wear their Jesus t-shirts and crosses. They “encourage” Sunday worship but neglect their own personal daily quiet time. They speak of humble service but are always first in line. Yes, in many ways we can talk the talk while failing to walk the walk.

We are always leading. We might not be up front with the microphone, but we are always setting an example, always communicating a message. Religion can have many “rules.” Faith leads with love. If we love God and all of our neighbors really well, if this is our consistent messaging, then everything we do will be for God’s glory. My friends, may it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, as we seek to be witnesses to our faith, make us genuine, humble, honest, transparent. Help us to strive to love you with all that we are. Then, God, pour this love out into others. Thank you. Amen.


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Good, Faithful, Love

Reading: Psalm 107:1-7

Psalm 107:1 – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever!”

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Psalm 107 speaks of how God rescues us when we are in need of help. Today we read of how God rescues wanderers. The next three sections speak of other kinds of rescue. If you are in need of God’s rescue, then read on past verse 7. Find hope and promise in the word of God.

The Psalm begins with a declaration and an invitation. In verse 1 we read, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever!” God is indeed good. And, yes, God’s love will never end. Even after all is made new when Jesus returns, God’s faithful love will pervade the new heaven on earth. Evidence of God’s goodness and love comes in verses 3-7. But first, in verse 2, we are asked a question: “Has the Lord redeemed you?” Anyone who has walked with the Lord for very long will answer, “Yes!” If so, may we follow the instructions that come next: “Then speak out!” May we tell others of the ways that God has rescued and redeemed us, opening hearts and minds to the ways that God might transform their lives too.

In verses 4 and 5 we read of some who need rescued: the lost, the homeless, the hungry, the thirsty. We’ve all been these things. If not physically then certainly spiritually, emotionally, relationally. When we’ve cried out for help, God has rescued us. When we cry out again, we trust that God will rescue us again, just as God rescued Israel again and again and… We have been and know that we will be guided to safety – and to connection, hope, strength… May this be the story we tell. God is good. God’s faithful love lasts forever. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, again and again you have been faithful and good to us. We’ve known your love and the rescue that you bring. Lead us to tell others our stories, helping them to see how your goodness and love can transform their lives too. Guide us to continue to trust in you and to seek your rescue and redemption in our own times of need. In you is all of our hope. Amen.