pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: peace


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Instead…

Reading: Job 20:19-29

Job 20:22 – “Even in their plenty, they are hard-pressed; all sorts of trouble comes on them.”

Today’s reading comes from the book of Job. Much of the content, including today’s, is set in the belief of the day: “God blessed the righteous and punishes the wicked.” In the understanding of the day, there were no exceptions. Zophar, today’s speaker, and Job’s wife and other friends – they cannot begin to fathom the possibility that Job is righteous. Job lost almost everything, therefore Job is a sinner.

In verse 19 Zophar is speaking of “they.” These are the wicked in the land. These are the sinners in the context of the day. These crush and abandon the poor, stealing their houses. These do not know contentment. The constant desire for more leaves their “belly” ever hungry. And what they’ve accumulated, Zophar says, “their riches will not endure.” He adds, “Even in their plenty, they are hard-pressed; all sorts of trouble comes on them.” Yes, there is no true peace or joy, no true contentment for the wicked of this world.

One day, though, Zophar tells us, God will fill the wicked’s bellies with “burning anger.” One day the wicked will enter the “complete darkness” that awaits them. Yes, one day heaven will “expose their guilt” because this is the fate of the wicked. All of this remains true for those who live for self, who trod over others and do not care, who take advantage of the powerless and the marginalized. There is a choice to be made. There is a better way: the way of Christ. Instead of accumulating, we can practice generosity. Instead of running over, we can stand with. Instead of seeking advantage, we can strive to level the playing field for the lowly and the downtrodden. Brothers and sisters in Christ, may it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, turn our hearts away from selfish thoughts, desires, and actions. Turn our hearts towards compassion, generosity, and justice. Use us to stem the tide of evil that plagues our land. Use us as light and love that shines into the darkness and hate. Amen.


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Reconciled Together

Reading: Ephesians 2:11-16

Ephesians 2:13 – “But now, thanks to Christ Jesus, you who were once so far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

Chapter 2 opens with Paul reminding the believers in Ephesus that they were all once “people of this world,” living for self, doing whatever felt good. Living this way, they were “children headed for punishment.” But because of God’s great love and grace, they were saved. The believers were offered and accepted the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Beginning in verse 11, Paul reminds the Gentile Christians that they were once without Christ. Non-Jews by birth, they were “aliens rather than citizens… strangers to the covenants.” Because they were on the outside looking in, they were without hope. Continuing from this place of lostness, Paul writes, “But now, thanks to Christ Jesus, you who were once so far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” The Gentile Christians now know the love and grace of God. They now are citizens of God’s family, heirs to the promises.

Shifting gears, now addressing the Jewish Christians yet wanting the Gentile Christians to still hear, Paul writes, “Christ is our peace.” Jesus is what unites Jew and Gentile into one group. Through his sacrifice, Jesus “broke down the barrier” that had separated them. The law of love detailed in Christ’s life and teachings has now replaced the “detailed rules” found in the Law of Moses. “By the cross,” Jesus reconciled both Jews and Gentiles to God, making them one, ending their hostility to God and to one another.

As Christ continued to break down barriers, the division between Jew and Gentile became less and less. Yes, there were still parts of each that remained, but it no longer divided them. Today, what divides Methodist from Catholic from Baptist from… is much less important than what unites us as the body of Christ. May this truth increasingly become a reality for all believers today, just as it did in Ephesus.

Prayer: Lord God, continue to open hearts to unity in the body of Christ. Help us to see our great commonalities rather than our small differences. Lead the church today to be united as the family of God. Amen.


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The Condition of Our Heart

Reading: Romans 2:5-11

Romans 2:9 – “There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil.”

Paul contrasts two kinds of living in today’s passage. First he addresses those who are “stubborn.” Their hard hearts refuse to change. They persist in doing evil. They are selfish and disobedient. God’s judgment will fall on these people. Paul writes, in verse 9, “There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil.” Final judgement will come on “the day of wrath,” when the good and evil will be eternally separated.

Our passage also addresses the fate of those who do “patient good work.” Paul is not arguing for a works-based salvation here but is pointing out that the fruit of a heart set on God will be evident. Instead of trouble and distress, those whose hearts are set on God will experience “glory, honor, and peace.” On the day of judgment, the righteous will receive “immortality,” or the salvation of their souls.

Paul and most others in the Bible portray the choice between good and evil, between righteous and unrighteous living, in black and white terms. The reality, however, is that no one is good all the time or evil all the time. All of us certainly tend one way or the other. We are either seeking to follow Jesus and to reflect his will and way or we are living for self, reflecting the will and way of the world. In the end, all will face final judgment. As Paul writes, “God does not have favorites.” We will be judged by the whole of our life. This will reveal the condition of our heart. May our hearts be filled with love of God and neighbor.

Prayer: Lord God, in the daily walk of life, keep us focused on doing and being love in the world. May the world of our hands and the words of our mouths be pleasing in your sight. May our hearts reflect your heart for all of creation. Amen.


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Raining Down Love

Reading: Colossians 3:12-17

Colossians 3:14 – “And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

Credit: Rebecca Gelaney

Today’s reading is a call to authentic holy living. Paul begins by inviting the Colossians to being “clothed” in the practices and attitudes of Jesus. The Colossians are encouraged to put on “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” These five characteristics, when lived out fully each day, would reflect Christ to each other and to the world.

The focus then shifts to the other side of the equation: how to act and be with one another when the other isn’t practicing these Christlike traits. Paul exhorts the believers to be “tolerant with each other” and to regularly practice forgiveness. They are to do these things because God regularly does this with them.

Paul then turns to what John Wesley said “contains the whole of Christian holiness.” This one characteristic connects and undergirds all the others. In verse 14 Paul writes, “And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” In all you do and say and think, lead with love. Doing so we will find that the peace of Christ does control our hearts. Leading in love we will express gratitude to God and for one another. Because of our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will teach and warn each other, helping all to walk in faith.

In all things, in all ways, in all places and times, may we “do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” This witness of love holds the power to transform hearts, systems, cultures, and nations. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, you call us to be love in the world, to bring light into the darkness. Use us as a witness that stands out from the ways of the world. Use us to rain down love into all of our relationships, into all of the brokenness, into the lives of all that we interact with. Fill us to overflowing with the spirit and heart of Christ, pouring these things back out into the world all around us. Amen.


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Building the Kingdom

Reading: Matthew 12:24-30

Matthew 12:25 – “Every kingdom involved in civil war will become a wasteland. Every city or house torn apart by divisions will collapse.”

We begin a week focusing on unity, peace, and love with a passage from Matthew 12. The Pharisees and Jesus often had interactions that highlight the differences between faith in Jesus and the religion of Judaism. The point of contention in today’s reading centers around the casting out of demons.

After healing a demon-possessed man, some people are beginning to ask of Jesus, “This man couldn’t be the Son of David, could he?” The Pharisees do not think Jesus is the Messiah, so they seek to offer an alternate explanation for the healing of the man. The Pharisees declare that Jesus can cast our demons because he is in cahoots with Satan. In response to this claim, Jesus counters with: “Every kingdom involved in civil war will become a wasteland. Every city or house torn apart by divisions will collapse.”

Unfortunately we have seen this happen again and again in kingdoms, cities, homes, and even in the church. Civil strife, personal conflict, selfish ambitions – they all lead to and very often end in disunity, division, collapse. Satan is almost always the author of this. What Jesus is doing is just the opposite. By the power of God’s spirit, Jesus heals, bringing reunification, belonging, wholeness. With the same power of the Holy Spirit we can counter disunity and division.

Jesus offers a summary statement in verse 30: “Whoever isn’t with me is against me, and whoever doesn’t gather scatters.” When we speak words of peace and love that lead to unity, we are gathering with Jesus. When we work to end strife, conflict, and other sins that lead to division, then we are working with Jesus, seeking to build the kingdom of God. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, where there is division, use us to bring unity. Where there is conflict, use us to bring peace. Where there is hatred, use us to spread love. Where there is separation, use us to build a bridge. In all ways, use us to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. Amen.


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Contagious

Reading: 2nd Corinthians 7:5-7

2nd Corinthians 7:6 – “God comforts people who are discouraged, and he comforted us by Titus’ arrival.”

Photo credit: Uta Scholl

As Paul and his companions arrive in Macedonia there is no rest for the weary. There are problems – “external conflict… internal fears.” For Paul and his coworkers these trials and hardships could be barriers to ministry. But God has other plans. In verse 6 we read, “God comforts people who are discouraged, and he comforted us by Titus’ arrival.” At just the needed time, God sends Titus, bringing along the encouragement that he has received himself in Corinth. In turn, Titus encourages Paul and others there in Macedonia.

When one lives out their faith it often inspires others to live out their faith too. This isn’t just true for comfort. It also works this way with peace, joy, trust, generosity, assurance, grace, humility, mercy, contentment, forgiveness… The practices of our faith are contagious!

Titus also brings a personal message for Paul. The church in Corinth longs to see Paul. They want an opportunity to express their regret for what happened during his last visit. On that second visit Paul was deeply hurt. The church has dealt with this person but still wants to apologize and receive forgiveness face to face. This news brings Paul much happiness. To mend a relationship, to offer care and concern, to restore what was broken, these things bring us much joy and happiness too.

Where do we need to bring comfort through our words of reconciliation and grace? Where do we need to respond to the brokenness in our lives or in the world?

Prayer: Lord God, guide our lives, leading us to be people who live out a contagious faith. May the light and love of Christ in our hearts be cast wide in the world, bringing healing and wholeness to our relationships and to other’s lives. Amen.


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Humble Service

Reading: Matthew 23:11-12

Matthew 23:11 – “The one who is greatest among you will be your servant.”

Matthew 23 compares who the religious leaders are with who Jesus calls his followers to be. Earlier in the chapter Jesus says, “Don’t do what they do.” The religious leaders are asking the people to do things they won’t do themselves. Looking at this admonition and the other context verses, I am reminded of the show, “Undercover Boss.” The title implies the premise of the show. A couple of things usually happen on every episode. First, the boss (or the owner) has their eyes opened as they become a new hire for their company. Performing these menial tasks takes them to the core of what it meant to be a servant in Jesus’ day. Remember the disciples’ shock when Jesus washed their feet? Servant! The second regular occurrence is the boss meeting an employee who is more servant than employee. This person’s love and dedication are noteworthy, they stand out. This is what Jesus is talking about when he says, “The one who is greatest among you will be your servant.”

The second verse in today’s passage also is a regular occurrence on “Undercover Boss.” The boss is usually the one who has lifted himself or herself up (in a good way – through hard work…) Often this rising up, though, breeds pride and/or arrogance, as it has in the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. The religious leaders work hard to set themselves apart from and therefore above the people. Opposite of this, Jesus notes, “all who make themselves low will be lifted up.” This is often the case on the show with the employee who is more like a servant. The boss rewards their servant attitude with a nice promotion or a generous raise. While God doesn’t give us promotions or raises when we choose to humbly serve others, there are definitely “rewards” – joy, peace, content… – that come with living our neighbors in ways that stand out. May we choose to serve well today.

Prayer: Lord God, it can be easy to get caught up in ourselves, thinking this task or that job is “below” us. It can be hard to humble ourselves to scrub a toilet or to mow a yard or… thinking “someone” else should do that. This poor attitude soon permeates our spirit. When we struggle in these ways, O God, remind us of Christ’s example. Call us to walk in his servant footsteps. Amen.


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Worthy of the Call

Reading: Ephesians 4:1-7

Ephesians 4:2 – “Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other in love.”

Chapter 4 of Ephesians begins with Paul’s call to “live as people worthy of the call” of God. We can see this as the summary statement for what follows in the next few verses. Paul’s focus overall is the unity of the body of believers. The “church” should reflect to the world the love, grace, mercy… of God. To fail to do so greatly damages the church’s ability to witness to the world. If the world cannot see God and Christ in the church and in her actions, then the world will never listen to her words.

With these thoughts in mind, Paul gets down to specifics: “Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other in love.” Practicing these four virtues or behaviors on a regular basis will work to bring unity to the body of believers. Humility works against pride and judging – two primary dividers of any group of people. Gentleness guides our words, our thoughts, our actions, steering them away from gossip, critiquing, and harsh words and actions. Patience raises our levels of understanding concerning our differences in thought, belief, and practice, and it makes us take pause before speaking words that might cause harm or hurt. These first three virtues guide us to accept one another in genuine love, bringing peace and unity to the body of Christ.

When we as individuals and we as the church live out these Christ-following virtues, the oneness that Paul speaks of becomes evident in our lives and in our churches. This draws others towards Christ. Living a life and a faith worthy of our calling matters for us personally and it matters for the watching world. Therefore, in all things may we lift high the Lord our God.

Prayer: Lord God, living out these virtues – humility, gentleness, patience, acceptance – can be challenging. So, Lord, when we’re tempted to be less than you call us to be, whisper your words of love and grace, peace and unity into our ears. Bring before our hearts and hands the example of Christ. Empowered by these reminders, use us to build your kingdom in our hearts and here on earth. Amen.


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A Good Shepherd

Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12 and 20-31

Ezekiel 34:27 – “They will be safe on their fertile land, and they will know that I am the Lord when I break the bars of their yoke.”

Photo credit: Ronnie Khan

Chapter 34 begins with the denouncement of Israel’s current leaders. What was the case before exile has continued in exile. God through Ezekiel pronounces doom on these poor leaders for living in luxury while ignoring the weak, the sick, the injured, the strays, the lost. There are many injustices so the flock scattered and then became prey. God promises to hold these bad shepherds accountable.

Beginning in verse 11, God offers the remedy. Here God proclaims: “I myself will search for my flock and seek them out… I will rescue them…” God will gather the scattered and care for the weak, the sick, the injured… As we continue in our reading we see that God will judge between the “fat and lean” sheep – between those living in luxury and those who struggle to survive.

God promises restoration, a new era. A David-like ruler will be appointed and a new covenant of peace will be established. Rains of blessing will pour down. Oppression and injustice will be no more. In verse 27 we read, “They will be safe on their fertile land, and they will know that I am the Lord when I break the bars of their yoke.” Without the yoke of oppression and injustice, there will be peace. There will be no famine; there will be no disgrace.

While the bad shepherds ignored these words of judgment, these words would offer great hope to the weak, the sick, the injured… to those living on the margins and edges. These words feel very relevant today. As injustices scatter people, as oppression sits heavy on others, as callous acts increase hunger, the people of God long for a good shepherd – not just for ourselves but also for the least of these among us. God’s children long for the rains of blessing and for a time of peace and grace. O God, may it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, you’ve always, always, always had a heart for the weak, the sick, the injured… You’ve always, always, always called for the faithful to join you in your care for the least of these. Lord, bridge the huge gulf between our reality and your preferred future. Use us to be a part of that bridge, each in our own ways caring for the weak, the sick, the injured… for the scattered and the oppressed. Amen.


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New Life in Christ

Reading: Romans 7:4-6

Romans 7:6 – “We have died with respect to the thing that controlled us, so that we can be slaves in the new life under the Spirit.”

As we begin this week focusing on having lips to speak and ears to listen, we begin in Romans 7. In our walk of faith, one of our greatest struggles is often choosing what voice(s) to listen to. For Christians this struggle often centers around what the world or our culture tries to tell us. This voice tells us that “things” matter most: wealth, power, status… Our inner being, “self,” can be drawn into this narrative because we are innately selfish, greedy, prideful…

In today’s passage Paul writes about choosing new life in Christ instead of trying to live under the Law of Moses. For devout Jews at this time following the Law was almost all that mattered: offer this sacrifice, say that prayer, attend the festival, give, worship. On the surface these can sound and can be good. But when one’s faithfulness to the rules leads to judging and rigidity in things like compassion, empathy, and service, then it can become a bad thing. And failing to uphold the Law led to a guilt and a shame that the Law could not remove.

Paul shares how this changes with the coming of Jesus Christ: “We have died with respect to the thing that controlled us, so that we can be slaves in the new life under the Spirit.” The religion of checking the boxes, the life that leads to death, has been superceded by faith in Christ. Living the new life in Christ, through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, tunes our ears to the will and way of God. This leads to a life that bears good fruit. Rooted in love, this fruit is peace, patience, joy, hope, forgiveness, self-control… Thanks be to God for the new life that we find in Christ!

Prayer: Lord God, as we die to self and to the ways of the world, what freedom we find. Instead of chasing after and worrying about accumulation, we become filled with content and peace, we practice presence and generosity. Instead of seeking to elevate self, we praise and glorify God as we lift others up. Thank you for the life of joy and hope, of love and grace found in Christ. Amen.