pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Communion = Community

Reading: 1st Corinthians 11:23-32

1st Corinthians 11:28 – “Each individual should test himself or herself, and eat from the bread and drink from the cup in that way.”

Photo credit: Geda Zyvatkauskaite

We seek to “stay in love with God” through various means of grace. One of these is Holy Communion. This sacrament first reminds us of Christ’s loving sacrifice on our behalf. The giving of his innocent blood in place of ours made atonement for our sins, paying the price for forgiveness. We approach this gift with a deep sense of awe and reverence.

Sometimes we do something for a while and it becomes just going through the motions. Perhaps you’ve felt that before with something like the Lord’s Prayer. For the church in Corinth, the Lord’s Supper had become one of those things. It was now causing more harm than good. It was creating division in the church. At this point it was more like what we’d call a “love feast” than what we recognize as a communion with its liturgy and formality. In Corinth, it had become a “private meal” with the rich getting drunk and stuffed while the poor were left hungry and thirsty. The church has forgotten that love, sacrifice, service, and community were at the heart of the Lord’s Supper.

Paul addresses this situation by reminding the church that the Lord’s Supper is centered on and celebrates the new covenant made by Jesus Christ. He also reminds them, though, that this communal celebration begins with individual preparation: “Each individual should test himself or herself, and eat from the bread and drink from the cup in that way.” Each person must come before God, humbling confessing and repenting of their sins. This necessary step prepares each to be made “new” again as the blood of the Lamb washes away their sin. To not take this step is to hide or hold onto one’s sin. This brings judgment and condemnation instead of forgiveness and grace.

For each person to come before God, to confess and repent, it levels the playing field. It places us all equally before the table of grace, all sinners redeemed by his blood. In this way, community is restored. It brought one body to the one bread, one blood. That was Paul’s goal. It should be our goal. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, draw us to our knees, to the place of confessing and repenting of our sins. Open up our hands and hearts to release all that separates us from you and from one another. As we come clean, thank you for making us clean. Thank you for your great love that washes away our sins and failures. Thank you for your redeeming love. Amen.


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Modeling Christ

Reading: Acts 10:34-38

Acts 10:34-35 – “God doesn’t show partiality… whoever worships him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”

Today’s scripture from Acts 10 serves as a bridge between the first two of John Wesley’s three simple rules. Peter first acknowledges that “God doesn’t show partiality.” He has come to understand that God accepts the Gentile Christians as they are. Peter now sees that their attempts to make these believers Jews first (then Christians) was wrong and was doing harm to these brothers and sisters in Christ. We too can do harm when we seek to elevate what we think is right over what God is doing at the time. We too can put up barriers to people coming to Christ. We do this when we say or imply that they must look or act or dress or… like us to attend church or to be baptized or…

Peter then recognizes that the Gentile Christians are worshipping God and are living out the example of Jesus. Getting past himself, he has come to understand that they are totally acceptable to God. Indeed, “He is Lord of all!” Reflecting back on his three years with Jesus, Peter can see how Jesus himself engaged one and all. Jesus did not show partiality. Instead he demonstrated welcome, acceptance, and love to all people.

Our passage closes with this observation about Jesus: “He traveled around doing good and healing everyone.” Jesus sought to do good to all. He didn’t first check to see if they really believed in him or belonged to a church. Sometimes faith or belief even came after the good act or after the healing. May we always be generous with our acts of kindness and love. Modeling Christ to others, we draw them towards Jesus and his love.

Prayer: Lord God, open our hearts wide too. Lead and guide us to see all people as Jests saw them. Each person was worthy of his time, his attention, his efforts, his love. Help us to engage our world this way too. Amen.


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God at Work

Reading: Mark 2:1-12

Mark 2:2 – “So many gathered that there was no longer space, not even near the door.”

Photo credit: Milo Weiler

In Mark 2 we find a story that is not directly about prayer but can speak to us about prayer. We’re early in Mark’s gospel. According to what’s written, Jesus has healed people and is beginning to draw a crowd. Of those who packed out the house in today’s reading, how many do you think prayed on their way there?

The story first focuses in on four people who have brought their paralyzed friend to be seen by Jesus. Surely all five prayed in the way to see Jesus. So great was their perseverance, so strong their love for their friend, they tore open the roof to get their friend before Jesus. And Jesus’ initial words? “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Likely not what these five were praying for. Great for the man, but…

Jesus then perceives the thoughts of the legal experts. He calls them out. What prayers do you think they quickly muttered? They certainly were not praying to be put in their place by Jesus. Yet they are. Their thoughts opened the door for God to work good in many ways. It is at this point that the man is healed, answering the prayers of the group of five. In this moment, the crowd is amazed and praises God.

While many prayers went unanswered this day, God was still very much at work in the lives of all of these people. We hold hope for the legal experts. Maybe this humbling experience led to growth in their faith too. God’s desire was and is to draw all people to a saving knowledge of God. So may we continue to pray faithfully, trusting in God to work good in our lives and in our world.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the reminder to ever seek your presence, to linger in that space, expecting good from you. Help us to ever be open to what you are doing, especially when it is beyond our limited vision or understanding. Draw us closer to you, moment by moment, encounter by encounter. Amen.


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For All People

Reading: 1st Timothy 2:1-4

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

As we begin 1st Timothy 2, Paul encourages Timothy (and us) to offer prayers for everyone – “for all people.” Paul assumes that Timothy will pray for the regulars: family, friends, people he knows who need specific prayers. This is likely familiar territory. Maybe you, like me, have a standard list of people and situations that you pray for every day plus a few that are in your prayer list for a time or a season.

Paul next singles out praying for “kings and everyone who is in authority.” Why would Paul do this? Well, look no further than our current reality. In Timothy’s day it was the Roman authorities and the Jewish religious leaders who were persecuting the church. What prayers might Timothy lift for those in authority? What prayers might help lift that are in alignment with God’s will and heart? May our godly thoughts on these questions guide our prayers for our leaders.

In verses 3 and 4 Paul gives Timothy (and us) the “why.” Paul reminds us that it is “right” and that it “pleases” God when we offer prayers for all people, especially for those that are hard for us to pray for. It is our charge. First and foremost, it should be so because God desires for “all people to be saved” and to come to “a knowledge of the truth” – to understand and know God’s will and heart for themselves. Second, to pray hard prayers, that changes and empowers our hearts too. As our prayers become better aligned with God’s desires, our world will better reflect God’s kingdom here on earth. May our prayers work towards this goal and hope.

Prayer: Lord God, open our hearts wide, enabling us to pray as you call us to pray. And, Lord, open wide the hearts of our leaders, filling them with what fills your heart: mercy, grace, compassion, love. Guide all of our leaders to be leaders for and of all people, working for the good of all people. Amen.


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The Will to Choose

Readings: John 3:16-16 and 34-36, and John 14:1-7

John 3:17 – “God didn’t send his son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

Photo credit: Kelly Sikkema

John 3:16 is about as well-known as any verse in the Bible. God sent his one and only son into this world, taking on flesh, becoming one of us, so that he could die on our behalf, removing our sins, opening the way for us to enter eternal life. This is a beautiful picture of sacrificial love.

The next verse reminds us of God’s unconditional love: “God didn’t send his son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” God’s first choice is not to be a God of judgment but a God of love, mercy, grace, and salvation. This is what God desires for all humanity, not judgment. God also created humanity with free will or the will to choose. So we can choose to not choose Jesus as our Savior. We can choose to live for self. We can choose to be judged. We can choose to ignore the words of life that Jesus speaks, to ignore the prompting and guidance of the Holy Spirit. In doing so, we invite “the angry judgment of God” upon ourselves.

Jumping forward to John 14, it is a heavy moment. Sandwiched around the command to love one another “as I have loved you” is the news of Judas’ betrayal and of Peter’s denial of knowing Christ. Jesus tells the disciples to not be troubled but to trust in God and in him. He then promises that he will come back for them so that they can be with him in heaven. In response to Thomas’ confusion, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus’ life and example are the way to know God and God’s truths. They are the way to live the life that God intended for us to live, the life here and now that leads one day to life eternal. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, you sent your son to save and redeem us. You desire this for each and every one of us. It must break your heart to see the one you wove together in the womb, the one you created for relationship with you, choose the ways of the world. Lord, break our heart for what breaks yours. Amen.


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Worthy is the Lamb

Reading: Revelation 3-5

Revelation 5:5 – “Don’t weep. Look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has emerged victorious so that he can open the scroll.”

Chapter 3 concludes the messages to the seven churches. The church in Sardis looks good on the surface but is really dead. They need to remember what they first learned, changing hearts and lives. If so, their names will be declared in heaven. The church in Philadelphia has little power but they have stood strong. They will be pillars in heaven, names written there. And Laodicea… neither hot nor cold, just lukewarm. This church is perhaps most relevant today. Jesus is about to “spit them out.” They are “miserable, pathetic, poor, blind, naked.” Yet Jesus stands at the door and knocks. If they hear and open the door, he will come in and be with them. If they emerge victorious, they will sit with Jesus on his throne in heaven.

Chapters 4 and 5 shift to heaven as John enters his second Spirit-led trance. At the center God sits on the throne. 24 elders on thrones surround God. There are seven torches and four living creatures before the throne of God. The creatures have six wings and are covered all over with eyes. They never rest but praise God, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.” The elders join in the praise, declaring God to be the one worthy of glory, honor, and power.

John then noticed that there is a scroll in the hand of God. He weeps because no one is worthy to open it. Then an elder says, “Don’t weep. Look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has emerged victorious so that he can open the scroll.” The Lamb, Jesus Christ, comes and takes the scroll. The elders, the living creatures, millions of angels, and all of creation praises and worships the Lamb, the one who was slain. What a glorious day it will be!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the reality check as we began today. Draw us out of the comfy middle ground. Empower us to stand boldly for you. And thank you for the peak into heaven, for the reminder of your majesty and power, for the reminder of who and what the Christ child will be and become. All praise and honor and glory are yours! Amen.


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Life to the Full

Reading: John 10 and 11

John 10:10 – “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life – indeed, so that they could have life to the fullest.”

In today’s reading we really see the division created by Jesus’ words and ministry. It is first revealed in the healing of the blind man. The “light of the world” ends the man’s darkness, restoring his sight. There is division amongst those who now see him. Some say it is the blind man and others say it just looks like him. This question is answered as the man is brought to the Jewish leaders. Calling in his parents, they testify that he is their son who was born blind. They say they don’t know how he sees. Even though he has already told them, the leaders ask again. He asks them, “Do you want to be his disciples too?” They insult him. In response he reminds them that God doesn’t listen to sinners but to those who are devout and do God’s will. The man is expelled from the synagogue.

The story transitions next to spiritual blindness. Jesus centers this teaching on the shepherding metaphor. The shepherd enters through the gate, the sheep know his voice, he leads them out. Jesus declares, “I am the gate.” Others come to “steal, destroy, and kill.” The good shepherd, Jesus, “came so that they could have life – indeed, so that they could have life to the fullest.” Life to the fullest. What an image! What a reality for those who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

The metaphor continues with Jesus telling the Pharisees that he will “lay down his life for the sheep.” Unlike the hired hands now listening to the story, Jesus cares about the sheep – and about the sheep not if this pen too! More division reveals itself as they argue about Jesus having a demon. Others ask, how then could he heal this man?

As chapter 11 closes, Jesus tells the “Jewish opposition” that the signs he does should testify to his being one with the Father. He invites them to see this, to believe in him. But they are ready to stone him. As Jesus’ time has not yet come, he escapes, going out to Bethany to minister there.

Prayer: Lord God, reading these stories we so clearly see that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Yet when we step away, going out into that world, we can become blind to needs, to our own sin, to injustice. Lord, help us to live with eyes wide open, living and enjoying the fullness of life that you give to all who believe. Amen.


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Ripe for Harvest

Reading: John 4

John 4:35 – “Open your eyes and notice that the fields are already ripe for the harvest.”

Photo credit: Paz Arando

As Jesus travels from Judea to Galilee, he passes through Samaria. Stopping at a well to rest, he encounters a Samaritan woman. Jesus shocks her by asking for a drink. Eventually he offers her “living water” – a water that satisfies and that “bubbles up to eternal life.” She desires this water. Jesus reveals that he is a prophet and then as the Messiah. The woman goes back to town and says to all, “Come and see… Could this man be the Christ?” Many do come and see and others encounter Jesus as he stays and teaches for two days. Many believe that Jesus “is truly the Savior of the world.”

In the moments when the woman is in town, Jesus tells the disciples that he is “fed by doing the will of the one who sent me.” Turning to their call to be sent, he invites them to “Open your eyes and notice that the fields are already ripe for the harvest.” Jesus encourages them to “gather fruit for eternal life.” The disciples will see and experience this at the well and in the town of Sychar.

Chapter 4 closes with Jesus traveling to Cana. Along the way he meets a man who asks Jesus to heal his dying son. In faith this man has sought out Jesus. Jesus says, “Go home. Your son lives.” On the way back home the man meets his servants, who tell him the son was healed at the very moment Jesus spoke the words. The man and his entire household come to believe in Jesus.

In each encounter people experience Jesus’ power to change hearts and lives. Many come to believe. Jesus still has the power to change hearts and lives. May this power be revealed in and through you and me. With eyes wide open, may we faithfully enter the harvest field.

Prayer: Lord God, with a word you change hearts and lives. Through the Spirit, plant your words in our hearts. Place your words of life upon our tongues. Use us each day to draw others to you, changer of hearts and lives. Amen.


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Are we? Do we? Will we?

Reading: Luke 10-11:36

Luke 10:36 – “What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man who encountered thieves?”

Jesus sends out the 72 because the harvest is big and the workers are few. They are to heal and cast out demons. They are to share their blessing with people of peace. They are to trust in God to provide. Because they bring the kingdom of God near to people’s lives, they can rejoice: their names are written in heaven. We can be like the 72. Are we?

Next Jesus speaks of those places that have rejected the kingdom of God. It will be better for Tyre and Sidon and for Nineveh – the first would’ve listened and Nineveh did change hearts and lives. Jonah stood as a sign for Nineveh and now one stands in Israel’s midst who is greater than Jonah. Christ stands in our midst yet today. Which city will we be like?

Jesus is then tested by a legal expert. He asks what he must do to gain eternal life. When asked what he thinks, the expert offers the two great commandments. Pushing the issue, he asks, “Who is my neighbor?” Well, a man going down to Jericho was attacked and left for dead. A priest and then a Levite see the man and pass him by. A Samaritan, moved by compassion, cares for the man – extravagantly. Jesus asks the expert, “What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man who encountered thieves?” Yes, the one who showed mercy is the neighbor. The expert is told: “Go and do likewise.” We are told the same thing, again and again in the Gospels. Do we?

Choosing faith is the focus of the teaching about Martha and Mary. Being persistent is the focus of Jesus’ teachings about prayer. Jesus tells us, “Ask… receive. Seek… find. Knock… the door will be opened.” Our good, good father God wants to and will give the Holy Spirit to those of us who ask, seek, and knock. But will we?

Prayer: Lord God, we read today of the call to trust, to witness, to change our hearts and lives, to be a good neighbor, to be persistent, and to go to you expecting a good answer from a good, good God. We see the results of lives lived in these ways. Our question today, God, is if we choose this way of life. Today, Lord, encourage and empower us to “go and do likewise,” loving you and neighbor extravagantly with all of our being. Amen.


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Jesus’ Power

Reading: Matthew 7-8

Matthew 7:14 – “The gate that leads to life is narrow and the road difficult, so few people find it.”

Jesus first addresses our tendency to be judgemental as we begin chapter 7. He asks why we’re concerned with a splinter in our neighbor’s eye when we have a log in our own eye. It is so true. We’ve all been here – again and again and again… His advice? Take care of the log first. Then maybe, just maybe, you can help your neighbor with that splinter.

From this great challenge, Jesus next brings encouragement. Ask, search, and knock and you will receive, find, and have the door opened. God wants to give good things. In the same way, treat others as you wish to be treated. Simple words to hear and comprehend, challenging to live out daily. That’s why Jesus next says, “The gate that leads to life is narrow and the road difficult, so few people find it.” By contrast, the gate to destruction is broad and the road is wide. Many walk this path.

Jesus then teaches about false prophets and false faith. Both are evident by their bad fruit or by their lack of fruit. “Fruit” is the good done in the world. This kind of fruitful faith comes from our foundation. Are we building faith on the bedrock of Jesus Christ or on the shifting sands of the world? On the rock, our faith will not only produce good fruit, it will also withstand the storms of life.

Chapter 8 begins with many healings. Central is the healing of the centurion’s servant. He knows that he is unworthy of having Jesus in his home. He also knows authority when he sees it. He knows Jesus has it. Jesus can say a word and healing will come. Jesus declares he hasn’t seen faith like this in all of Israel. A few are drawn to follow Jesus after the healings, but they have too many worldly concerns to really be a disciple.

The chapter closes with two different reactions to Jesus’ power. After calming the storm (and admonishing the disciples for their weak faith), people are amazed at Jesus’ power. After freeing two men of their demon possession, the townspeople are afraid of his power. They plead with him to leave. Today people have the same reactions when they brush up against Jesus’ power.

Prayer: Lord God, you invite us to love well – ourselves and others. You invite us to bring your healing touch – to ourselves and to others. You offer peace in the storms and relief from worry, doubt, fear – for ourselves and for others. May we know your power today, O God – for ourselves and for others. Amen.