pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: obstacle


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God Is Faithful and Good

Reading: Exodus 14:19-31

Verse 31b: “The people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.”

We begin this week with a familiar Old Testament story – the parting of the sea. It is a wonderful reminder of how the Lord can make a way when we see no way forward. Because we face challenges in our lives, we can relate to and connect to this situation and to God’s response to the Israelites’ crisis.

The Israelites find themselves up against an immovable and insurmountable barrier. The Egyptian army is in hot pursuit. Because of the 10 plagues, Pharaoh had freed the Israelite slaves. But he later changed his mind. The Israelites say to Moses (and to God), “It would have been better to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert.” If I were God, I’d have been tempted to say, “So be it.” But here’s what God says: “Stand firm, and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.” This context is so important to the passage today.

In verses 19-31, God acts in powerful and awesome ways. First, God adds a layer of protection – a buffer between Israel and the pursuing army. It gives them a moment to recollect themselves. Who has come alongside you in a crisis or time of need? Second, God provides a way. How has God shown you a way forward when you thought there was no way? Lastly, God removes their fear. When has God moved you past a barrier or obstacle, allowing you to go forward in faith and trust?

God was faithful to the covenant and was good for the promise just made. In response, “the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.” Reconsider your answers to the questions in the previous paragraph. Is this also your response to God?

Prayer: Lord God, you have parted the waters; you have carried me through. You have given strength when mine has failed; you have provided hope in the midst of despair. Thank you for your love and care and provision. You are the Lord of all creation and you are my king. Amen.


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Steadfast and Resilient

Reading: Matthew 15:21-28

Verse 22: “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Photo credit: Rainier Ridao

Returning to Matthew’s gospel today we move from ‘clean and unclean’ to Jesus’ encounter with the Canaanite woman. She comes to Jesus seeking healing for her daughter. She is demon-possessed. The clean/unclean conversation centered on the condition of our hearts over and above the keeping of the traditions and the Law. In the culture of the day, we must recognize that a devout Jew would avoid engaging with a Gentile, especially with a woman.

This woman comes to Jesus and says, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!” She is acknowledging his power and his lineage. She is acknowledging his ability to do what she asks of him. She is so desperate for this ability to focus on her daughter that she ignores tradition and approaches Jesus. And Jesus ignores her. But she persists – enough that the disciples finally ask Jesus to send her away. They do not ask him to hear or to grant her request – just send her away. Jesus takes two runs at doing just that. Or is Jesus using this encounter as a way to show his disciples and others what a heart filled with faith looks like and can ultimately yield?

Pushing past these barriers and remaining steadfast in her faith in Jesus, she kneels at his feet and eventually receives praise from Jesus for her great faith. Her daughter is healed “that very hour.” This story is a great reminder to keep our faith strong no matter the barriers or obstacles we face, trusting in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As we are steadfast and resilient in our faith, we too will experience Jesus’ power.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the Canaanite woman’s example of great faith. Thank you for her example of brave faith too – a faith that overcame and triumphed. In those times when we feel things are against us, help us to remain faithful and true to you and to our faith. Amen.


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Faith Is Like…

Reading: Matthew 13:31-33

Verses 31 and 33: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed… is like yeast… worked all through the dough.”

Photo credit: Lidia Nikole

Today and tomorrow we work through a series of “the kingdom of heaven is like” statements from Jesus that are found in Matthew 13. These short bursts, when taken alone, are small truths about our faith. Taken as a whole, though, they paint a bigger picture than we can see and understand from just any one of these mini-parables.

The first parable tells us that “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed.” This bush begins as a tiny seed that is planted in the garden. With good sunlight and soil, with adequate water, the tiny seed grows into a large plant. Once mature, it provides a place for birds to perch, offering rest and shelter. Once upon a time someone planted a tiny seed of faith in our heart. Others nurtured our faith and others tended to it, helping it to grow. As we mature in our faith, we too become seed planters. And we also become able to give to others, offering and helping them to find rest and to find shelter in the storms.

The second parable tells us that “The kingdom of heaven… is like yeast… worked all through the dough.” Yeast is also a very tiny organism. A packet that we add to the dough contains hundreds of yeast. Once mixed in it is almost hidden – too small to easily see amongst the flour, sugar, eggs… And yet it is still there. As the yeast matures it affects the dough, causing it to rise. Our faith is also like the yeast. It is not just one seed planted but many. As our faith grows, we learn this here, we experience that there, we overcome an obstacle or struggle. Hope or peace or strength or trust rises up in us. Our faith, like the yeast in dough, works through all of our life, in the highs, lows, and everything in between. Thanks be to God for the many workings of faith.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for those who planted seeds in my faith life and thank you for those who have nurtured and taught and encouraged my faith over these many years. Use me in the these ways too, O God, helping your kingdom to grow and rise up in our world. Amen.


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The Chance to Witness

Reading: John 1: 6-8

Verse 7: “He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe”.

The opening verses of John’s gospel are beautiful and introduce Jesus to the readers in a way unlike the other three gospels. So too is the way that John the Baptist is introduced and brought into the story of Jesus. In verse six we hear, “There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John”. It is simple and straight forward, but tells the reader all we need to know. In Luke 1 we have a detailed description of the events leading up to and of John’s miraculous birth. Like Mark, John jumps right into the meat of the story. John describes it this way: “He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe”. This verses contains two pronouns and a reference to “that light” that beg further thought and draw the reader into exploring the text.

The first “he” refers to John the Baptist. As we read last week, John the Baptist came as a “messenger” sent to “prepare the way”. John did so by preaching a “baptism of repentance” (Mark 1). “That light” refers back to verses four and five from the powerful opening of John 1. In Jesus we find “life” and John refers to this as “the light of men”, a light that the gospel writer describes as one that “shines in the darkness”. This light that shines in our darkness reveals the sins and struggles within each of us and in our world. This connects to the personal call in Isaiah 40 to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord by making “straight in the wilderness a highway for the Lord”. This involves clearing away the sin and other obstacles that keep us from walking in faith with Jesus Christ.

The “him” refers not to the witness but to the one to whom John the Baptist is witnessing, to Jesus Christ. It is in and on Jesus that we believe. Here John the Baptist is pointing away from himself and on to Jesus Christ. John knew his role, his place in the work of the kingdom of God. Reading on, in verse nine, John points even more directly to Jesus.

John the Baptist was a witness, one sent to testify, just as we are called to be and do. While none of us are likely to be in a street corner or out in a field preaching today (the modern equivalents of John’s place by the Jordan River), we will all have opportunities to witness to our faith and belief in Jesus Christ. When people notice our calm in the storm or our strength in the trial, when others take note of our generosity or of our kindness to all, these are opportunities to do as John did – to point to Jesus. He is the source of our calm, of our strength, of our mercy and grace. When given the chance to witness, may we point to the light of the world, to Jesus Christ our Savior.

Prayer: Lord God, may your light shine in me today. Through Jesus, fill me with a spirit of power. Use that Holy Spirit power to tell the story of what Jesus has done and will do for me and for all who believe. Amen.


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Power

Reading: Luke 13: 31-35

Verse 31: “Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, ‘Leave this place and go somewhere else, Herod wants to kill you'”.

Power is something Jesus, the Pharisees, and Herod all have. Power is something we all have too. The Pharisees and Herod see Jesus’ power as threatening to their power. We too can see Jesus’ power as something that can threaten our lives too.

Jesus uses His power to do good for others. He uses His power to teach a better way of life: the way of love. He also uses His power to heal and restore people. The physical healings of the blind, lame, deaf, crippled, mute, leprous… restore people back into community. The spiritual healings of the tax collectors, prostitutes, theives, adulterers… restore people to wholeness. Jesus’ power is a power that gives life to both the individual and the community.

The Pharisees’ and Herod’s power is centered upon themselves. It is used to take from others and to keep others down in order to build up their own comfort and prestige. It is the opposite of Jesus’ giving power. Some Pharisees say to Jesus, “Leave this place and go somewhere else, Herod wants to kill you”. Go away Jesus, you are raining on our parade. Jesus sees right through them. Basically He says He has things to do and they or Herod cannot and will not get in the way.

This too is true of our power. When we follow God’s lead and use our power to do the right thing, to correct the wrong thing, to share Jesus’ love and care, to help one in need – nothing on earth can stop us. Yes, some can oppose us too and some can put up barriers, but they are just bumps in the road. Just as it was with Jesus, no obstacle can stop what God wants to accomplish in and through us. God will always prevail. This fact is what kept Jesus driving towards Jerusalem, towards the cross. Jesus had an unshakable faith in God’s plan. May we live the same way all day, every day. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord of heaven and earth, may I use the power I have in you to bring good, to offer love, to lift others up. Amen.


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The Hospital We Call Church

John Wesley once noted that sometimes a Christian’s behavior is the greatest obstacle to a non-believer being saved.  Today some churches are refered to as a social club for the holy and righteous.  In some houses of worship we say guests are great but we do not treat them that way – especially if they are not just like us.

In today’s passage from Mark, Jesus addresses our behavior as a follower.  In figurative but somewhat harsh language, we are advised to cut off a hand if it causes us to sin or to gouge out an eye if it causes us to sin.  Jesus tells us it would be better to live maimed or partially blind than to keep sinning and to eventually enter hell.  His point is that our behavior is critical, not only for our faith journey but also for the non-believer who sees us living out our faith.

Jesus concludes this teaching with the call to be salt to the people we encounter.  Through our gracious and loving words and actions we are to ‘season’ the world with God’s grace and love.  As we live out our call to build up His kingdom here on earth, our positive witness will draw the non-believer to seek this same grace and love.

Our behaviors must attract people to God, not make them question having a relationship with Him.  We must offer love and grace when others need it and offer honest and repentant words when our behavior necessitates this.  We must live in the knowledge that we are all sinners saved by grace alone.  May we offer Christ to the world this day, inviting others to join us in our hospital for sinners that we call church.  For it is there we are healed too.

Scripture reference: Mark 9: 42-50