pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: offer


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In the Times and Places

The Gospel of John opens so beautifully.  The words evoke past through future.  “In the beginning” takes us all the way back to Genesis and reminds us that Christ was there too.  John also provides the feel of the eternal in his vision of Christ’s glory “at His father’s side”.

Yet this morning the present tense is what resounds within me.  John writes that He came in the flesh and dwelt among us.  As much as we are still present in this world, so too is Jesus.  Christ, the light, came and lived amongst the darkness.  He stepped into the pain, injustice, suffering and brought light, hope, healing, love.  Jesus continues to be present in this world, still full of grace and mercy.  He comes each time a Christian acts on His behalf.

Today’s Upper Room had a touching story about a woman who brushed away a man out collecting for a mission on a rainy day.  She was too busy with her knitting.  But her nine-year-old daughter innocently asked the question that needed asked: “Why? Why did we give nothing?”  The mother had no good answer, only a lifelong reminder from the faith of a child.  Jesus came and loved.  This day may we offer all the love we can in the times and places that He calls us to today.

Scripture reference: John 1: 1-18


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Call of Christ

Christ chose to come and live among us.  God incarnate made the choice to walk in a human body. In the form of Jesus, God stepped out of heaven and down among us.  The people who lived with Jesus and witnessed His life were blessed to be in His presence, as are we who read about Him 2,000 years later.

In today’s culture, we are impressed when a president of a big company spends time with the workers or when a celebrity athlete spends time in a school or hospital.  At times we too are called to step out of or normal circle and to spend time ministering to the poor, the widow, the orphan, the prisoner.  For some it is a similar step to what Jesus did, willingly offering self for other’s benefit.

Christ set the ultimate example of giving when He submitted to death for our benefit.  Jesus Christ became totally powerless in order to gain ultimate power over death.  He had to be weak and vulnerable in order to gain strength and glory.  We are not called, in general, to give our lives for another, but we are all asked: what can you offer?

Scripture reference: Ephesians 1: 20-23


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Thankful for Each

In 1st Thessalonians, Paul begins the letter by thanking them for their faith and the community that exists between them.  For Paul it is all about the relationships – the ones between the people and God, the one between them and Paul himself, and the ones the people share with each other.  Paul is thankful for both the people and the many relationships that they have.

I too am thankful for the people of my church and the relationships that exist.  The relationships are what bind us together.  Through their willingness to be present and to offer what they can, we see the value of the community and the relationships that undergird it.  I can think of many specific people who offer themselves on Sundays – as singers, players, greeters, servers, reading, praying.  I can think of others who offer of themselves as teachers, shepherds, drivers, cleaners, leaders of areas of ministry.  I can think of many who volunteer at the day center for the homeless and needy – making a difference in people’s lives as they form relationships and offer what they can.

Each of these folks have a relationship with each other, with the body as a whole, and with God.  Every single one matters and all are essential.  Who in your community of faith are you thankful for?  What relationships do you value?

Prayers of blessing upon each one and upon their continuing, growing relationships with each other and with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Prayers also that He remain the cornerstone and foundation today and forevermore!!

Scripture reference: 1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10


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Called to the Same Standard

In Matthew 22 Jesus answers the Pharisees’ question about taxes by says to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.  It is a concept we follow to this day.  Like it or not, we realize that paying taxes is a necessary thing to keep schools open, roads maintained, police and such on duty…

Jesus also says to give to God what is God’s.  Hmmm…  Isn’t everything God’s?  Technically speaking, if He created all of this, isn’t it all His?  And this leads to the questions of how do we give to God and how much do we give to God?  Do we go with the 10% tithe idea or do we give all of ourselves to God?  Hard questions.

In Jesus, we see the goal.  He gave his all for us.  In his daily life, Jesus loved all he encountered, meeting the right where they were at, offering them what he could.  We are called to the same standard.  Ultimately He took the cross and death for our sins.  What more could He give?  In the end, Jesus continued to meet us where we were at and offered what he could – himself.  To paraphrase John Wesley, may we too seek to do all the good we can for all those that we can in all of the times that we can.

Scripture reference: Matthew 22: 15-22


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Be Involved. Offer Yourself.

We all have gifts and talents.  God gives us these to use and for the benefit of others.  As the family of God, all of our talents and gifts are bound up together.  Paul reminds us that, like a human body, each member belongs to all of the other members of the body.

In Romans 12 Paul lists a few gifts: prophesying, teaching, serving, and encouraging.  I’m sure you can think of a few people in your church who have one (or more) of these gifts and maybe you even recognize your gift(s) on this list.  Paul also lists giving generously, leading diligently, and showing mercy cheerfully.  Know a few of these people too?

This list of seven gifts is obviously not all-inclusive.  Many gifts are not listed here yet are definitely gifts that God has bestowed on people.

But maybe you don’t know your gift.  Maybe as you thought about who you knew that was merciful, you thought of a person or two and wondered what their gift was.  The solution?  Try things out!  Maybe as you are teaching a class you discover that teaching is not your gift.  But while teaching you do discover that encouraging or mentoring is your gift.  Maybe as you fill a role serving you find that serving is not your gift.  But while there you do discover that offering compassion is just your thing.

Be involved.  Offer yourself.  God definitely gives each of us gifts.  He does not give us gifts to keep secretly tucked away.  God gives us gifts to use, to develop, to practice to be a part of building each other up and to build up His kingdom here on earth.

Scripture reference: Romans 12: 1-8


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What a Shepherd!!

Sheep have a reputation for being animals that lack intelligence.  They are known to do stupid things at times – they wander off and find themselves lost or in danger.  When the shepherd isn’t around or when they cannot hear his voice, they can become lost or worse.

Sheep are a pretty good metaphor for us, aren’t they?  Not the lacking intelligence part – humans are pretty capable intellectually.  But this make it all the more ironic that at times we too wander away from Jesus, our shepherd.  We know He paid a price.  We know he bled, suffered, and died to pay for our sins yet sometimes we are prone to wander off down a different road.

When the shepherd notices a sheep is missing, he will search for that sheep until he finds it and bring it back to safety.  At times, danger comes near the sheep.  The shepherd takes up staff or sling and protects the sheep.

When we wander away, surely we will hear His voice.  When I hear Him calling, ‘John, where are you?’ then I respond, ‘Here!  Here!  Here I am!’ and I come running back.  As I come to walk again with the shepherd I wonder why I ever went astray.  But Jesus just smiles ad welcomes me back into the fold.  There is no “tsk, tsk’ or sad look in His eyes.  Just a smile and love in the eyes.  At times, do you hear Him calling?  Run to Him!  He will do the same for you.  Jesus offers love, grace, and mercy to all.  What a Good Shepherd we have!!!


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Jesus is Waiting

In John 12, Jesus is at Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’ house.  It is a place Jesus visited often.  But in this case, He has just raised Lazarus from the dead (after 4 days in the tomb).  The place must have been abuzz – with the actual event plus all the visitors who were coming to see both Jesus and Lazarus.  The religious authorities are plotting to end this Jesus before things really get out of hand.

It is in this setting that Mary does something extravagant for Jesus.  She anoints Jesus’ feet with some expensive perfume and dries them off with her hair.  The perfume was worth a year’s wages.  I can’t even begin to think about giving something that valuable to or for another, never mind actually doing it.  Could you?

Yet Mary felt led to do this for Jesus.  True, He has just raised Lazarus from the dead – for this she was surely grateful.  Mary, Martha, and Lazarus had long had a special relationship with Jesus.  He often visited their house and taught there.  She probably considered Jesus a friend and a teacher.

But is makes me think – could I do something so extravagant?  I too have a special relationship with Jesus.  I too am grateful to him – not for raising my brother but for my redemption that He bought with His blood on the cross.  Jesus will one day also raise me to eternal life.  I too spend time with Jesus and like to learn from him.  How about you?  Do these things apply to you as well?  Then it is probably: we all have a relationship, we all spend time, we were all bought.

Maybe Mary sensed that Jesus’ death was drawing near and that this was all she could really offer.  A simple but very loving gesture.It is written that Jesus will return like a thief in the night, that the time and hour in unknown to all but God.

Do we live out extravagant love for Jesus and others?  Do we offer our best every day like each day is it?  Do you want to be standing there with a jar of perfume in your hand when He returns?  During this Holy Week, may we take the opportunities that ARE there to offer our best for Jesus!