pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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To Trust in Faith

Reading: Matthew 26:36-39

Matthew 26:39 – “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me.”

As we wrap up a week on faith overcoming our fears, we turn today to Jesus’ time in the Garden of Gethsemane. It has been a tumultuous week in Jerusalem. Jesus has clashed with the religious leaders. He has washed the disciples’ feet and instituted holy communion. He has spoken of betrayal and denial. As the time for his arrest, trial, suffering, and death nears, Jesus goes to a place of prayer that he has frequented. The disciples know this about Jesus and this place.

Entering the Garden, Jesus leaves most of the disciples, instructing them to “stay here” while he goes to pray. Taking Peter, John, and James a little further into the Garden and into his struggle, Jesus tells them, “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying.” He tells them to stay they and to “keep alert” – pray! Falling to the ground, Jesus prays, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me.” The human piece of Jesus fears what is soon to come: the arrest… The Divine piece of Jesus fears the separation from God when he takes upon himself our sins.

Choosing faith and trust over fear, Jesus prays, “However – not what I want but what you want.” What’s coming will be extremely hard, painful, difficult. But it is God’s plan. It’s always been the plan. In our moments of fear, when we can see what’s coming and when it is the unknown that raises up fear in us, may we too choose to trust in faith, knowing that our good, good God loves us and is in control. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, fear is something that we deal with often. It rises up in times of risk and danger; it rises up in times of challenge and trial. In the moments when fear is beginning to grip us, Lord speak into our hearts and minds. By the power of the Spirit, remind us that we are yours and yours alone. Amen.


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A Harmonious, Symbiotic Relationship

Reading: Genesis 2:4b-9

Genesis 2:7 – “The Lord formed the human from the topsoil of the fertile land and blew life into his nostrils.”

In Genesis 2 this creation narrative places humanity at the center of a beautiful garden. Before God created plants or crops, before God sent rain upon the earth, “The Lord formed the human from the topsoil of the fertile land and blew life into his nostrils.” God creates someone to care for, to tend to, to dwell with God in God’s next creation: “a garden in Eden.” Perhaps this is the order because God wanted the human to see the garden’s creation. Understanding that the garden and all in it were created by God would shape how the human saw and interacted with the garden.

The word “Eden” translates “delight.” That is what the garden was. Where else would God dwell with humanity? The trees are beautiful and they bear edible fruit. This food will nourish and sustain humanity. They care for the garden and the garden cares for them. There is a symbiotic relationship here. This idea can be extended to God and humanity. We are at our best when we live in a harmonious, symbiotic relationship with God.

In the center of God’s garden are two trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The first tree is though to yield unnaturally long life or even immortality. The second tree is thought to give cognitive enlightenment or to give humanity insights that only God was to have. God will set these trees apart, intending to keep humanity from them.

Prayer: Lord God, we are intended to walk in a close, personal relationship with you. That was and is your plan. Lord, enable us to choose love and obedience daily so that we can experience your presence in our lives daily. Guide us to be faithful stewards to all of your creation. Lead us to treat all of your creation as we wish to be treated by you. Amen.


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Do We Pray… and Listen?

Reading: Matthew 26:36-44

Matthew 26:41 – “Stay alert and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation.”

Today we enter a familiar scene: Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. The cross looms large. He is moving steadily towards his death. The arrest follows this passage. Jesus feels a great need to pray. He knows that what lies ahead will be a cruel and physically punishing death. The human part of Jesus and the divine part reveal themselves in his prayers.We too find ourselves in this place, wrestling with the promises we know to be true set against the fears within and the lies of the world.

Most of the disciples remain at the entrance to the Garden, but Jesus takes Peter, James, and John a bit deeper in..Jesus shares his inner struggles with these three: “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying.” He then asks them to “keep alert with me.” Jesus is asking his friends to pray with him. Going a bit deeper into the Garden, the human side of Jesus prays that this task of dying be taken from him. Then, fully aware of God’s plan, the divine part prays, “Not what I want but what you want.” There is surrender to and worship of God in these words that are prayed three times.

Returning to Peter, James, and John he finds them asleep. Waking them he offers them encouragement, saying, “Stay alert and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation.” Jesus knows the trials coming for them and the rest of the disciples. He’s been modeling how to face these trials, but they’ve been sleeping. Soon they too will have to decide between God’s will and their own will. We face these same trials. Do we walk in faith and trust or do we allow fear, worry, doubt… to guide us? Do we pray and receive guidance and strength from the Spirit, or do we listen to another voice?

Prayer: Lord God, how often we hear more than one voice. The voice of your Spirit is always there but so is our own voice. The noise of the world clamors often too. In moments of trial and temptation, in times of struggle and hardship, whisper your promises and your love into our hearts. May that whisper garner all of our attention. May the voice that always rings true show us the way to surrender to your will and ways. Amen.


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Your Will Must Be Done

Luke 22:39-46 and 67-71

Luke 22:42: – “Father, if it’s your will, take this cup of suffering away from me. However, not my will but your will must be done.”

Before looking at Luke’s account of Jesus before Caiaphas and the council, we begin in the garden, where Jesus prayed. In verses 39-46 Jesus and the disciples are in a familiar place. They are in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. In our text we see that it was Jesus’ custom to pray there regularly. As he prepared to pray he encourages the disciples, saying, “Pray that you won’t give in to temptation.” Going further into the garden, Jesus kneels and prays.

Jesus prays, “Father, if it’s your will, take this cup of suffering away from me. However, not my will but your will must be done.” He is wrestling with what lies ahead. The divine part of Jesus understands that this is God’s plan. So deep is his human anguish, though, that an angel comes and strengthens him. Jesus then prays so hard that he sweats and this appears to be like “drops of blood falling to the ground.” That is some earnest prayer. This contrasts sharply with the disciples’ approach. Faced with anguish and uncertainty and fear, they opt for sleep, being “overcome with grief.” Jesus again encourages them to pray.

Now we turn to Jesus’ encounter with Caiaphas and the council. This is a group chat here, not a one-on-one conversation. In response to queries about being the Christ, Jesus quotes here from Psalm 110, not Joel 7. Yet the general idea is the same. Jesus gives a non-answer to the question: “You say that I am.” They really don’t, just as they didn’t in Matthew’s gospel. Jesus is allowing God’s will to be done here. The story will continue as the council brings this “blasphemous” Jesus to Pilate. The charges change as they enter the political arena. The train rolls on.

Prayer: Lord God, give us the strength of Jesus in our moments of trial and temptation. Open our eyes and hearts to your bigger plans, to your purposes. When we are human, tempted to sleep or otherwise deal with the hard emotions or realities, strengthen us by your Spirit, keeping us from giving into temptation. Empower our faithful obedience to your will and way. Amen.


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Presence, Purpose, Plan

Reading: Psalm 139:13-16

Psalm 139:14 – “I give thanks to you that I was marvelously set apart.”

Overall, Psalm 139 is a celebration of God’s presence in our lives. The psalmist celebrates this presence, this touch, that is there with us even before birth in verses 13-16. There is a recognition that God is with us before we make any conscious choice to walk with God. So great is God’s love and care for us!

In verse 13 the psalmist acknowledges that it was God who formed his “innermost parts,” who “knit him together” in the womb. There is a deep connection, an intimacy to these thoughts. In the Hebrew world, innermost parts would include the soul (or spirit.) God’s touch is not just upon the physical aspects of who we are.

We lean into this idea in the next verse. Here the psalmist writes, “I give thanks to you that I was marvelously set apart.” Because he was uniquely and wonderfully made, there is a recognition that God has a purpose for him and, therefore, for each and every one of us. Made in the image of God, our purpose certainly includes caring for one another, for living one another just as God loves and cares for us. This plan and purpose is evident in verse 16 as well: “every day was written that was being formed for me.”

Whether our days are 10 or 10,000, whether our years are a handful or many score, God is ever present in meaningful and purposeful ways. Each and every day, good, bad, and in between, God walks with us, offering love and care. In this we rejoice, joining our thanksgiving with the psalmist’s!

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you today for creating us with your purpose and your plans in mind. We celebrate your presence in our lives. It is a presence that is constant, loving, and caring. Lord, help us to be this for others, being conduits of your presence, love, and care. Use us to bring you into the world and into the lives of those we meet. Amen.


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Trust and Belief

Reading: Job 2:7-10

Job 2:7 – “The Adversary… struck Job with sores from the sole of his foot to the top of his head.”

We enter Job’s story at the point of his second “test.” In chapter 1 Job loses all his livestock and all of his sons and daughters. Job says, “The Lord has given; the Lord has taken; bless the Lord’s name.” Job is known as the wisest and most faithful man in all the world. The Adversary’s argument is this is because God has blessed Job. Yet when all of this was lost, Job remained faithful to God.

Test two comes next: “The Adversary… struck Job with sores from the sole of his foot to the top of his head.” Afflict Job himself, the logic goes, then he will curse God. Covered top to bottom in oozing sores, Job sits on an ash pile and scrapes his sores. Job’s wife sees his condition and says, “Are you still clinging to your integrity? Curse God, and die.” (Some translations read, “Bless God, and die.”) She believes Job is being assaulted by God. Her life has also completely fallen apart. Likely because Job has sinned – which he hasn’t. She thinks God is against Job. She’s saying, ‘Enough already!’

Job tells her she is being foolish. He is right with God and he knows it. He asks her, “Will we receive good from God but not also receive bad?” Put another way: ‘If God does reward and punish, we must accept it all, must we not?’ Job’s trust in God is sure. His suffering is unjust and undeserved. Yet God is God: all-powerful and all-knowing. Job does not understand why he is suffering. His understanding of God and how God normally works is the same as his wife’s: be good and be blessed by God, do evil and be cursed by God. And here he sits in a pile of ashes, covered in oozing sores. Job chooses trust and belief over his reality. In those moments when life makes no sense to us or to our faith, may we, as Job did, trust faith and belief in God.

Prayer: Lord God, at times we will find ourselves where Job did – life making no sense. What’s happening doesn’t fit our understanding of you or of how things “should” work. In these times and places of disorientation, draw us to you. Help us to trust and believe in your wisdom that is beyond ours, in your plan that goes far beyond our vision, and in your love that is much greater than we could ever imagine. Amen.


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This Wonderful World

Reading: Genesis 1:1-23

Genesis 1:4 – “God saw how good the light was. God separated the light from the darkness.”

Today we read the first part of the first of two creation stories that begin the book of Genesis. As the story starts, the earth is without shape and the sea is dark. There is no order to anything. God’s first act is to say, “Let there be light.” As the light appears, “God saw how good the light was. God separated the light from the darkness.” Day and night are created, bringing more order to the world. As the story unfolds, God continues to bring good, to bring order, to bring purpose into the world. All of this reflects “who” God is and reveals God’s intent for “what” the world should be.

God then creates the sky, the seas, and the land. God speaks and plant life grows. This too has order and purpose and goodness. The plants are designed with seeds, indicating a purpose and an ongoing plan. God then creates lights – sun, moon, and stars – to govern day and night, seasons, sacred days, years. And on day 5 God speaks into being the creatures of the sea and sky. These too are designed to multiply and reproduce. Each of these days carries a tag line: “God saw how good it was.” All that God does is good. This is “who” God is.

God’s speaking and creating with only words can be hard to grasp in a real, scientific way. So it is important to remember that this is not a scientific accounting of how the world came into being. This, again, is a story about who and what God is. God’s nature is inherent in creation: goodness, order, purpose, planning. As we continue tomorrow, we delve deeper into the “what.”

Prayer: Lord God, these beautiful words reveal you to us. The creation was sweeping and grand, powerful and amazing. Your thoughts explode into a million paths, creating this plant and then that one and those over there. You are an awesome God. Thank you for this wonderful world. Amen.


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God’s Presence, Goodness, and Love

Reading: Psalm 19

Psalm 19:8 – “The Lord’s regulations are right, gladdening the heart. The Lord’s commands are pure, giving light to the eyes.”

Psalm 19 celebrates God’s presence with us. David first recognizes God in the created world. The Psalm begins, “Heaven is declaring God’s glory.” This is evident in God’s “handiwork.” To take in the vastness of the stars, to feel that limitless power, is to sense and feel God. Yet God’s handiwork is also small and intricate, like a spider web or like a tiny seed that yields a beautiful flower. David also recognizes God in the passing of time. One day to one night, over and over again, reveals God’s good plans for our world. David acknowledges that the sun, moon, and stars do not literally speak, yet the presence of God in them reaches out “to the ends of the earth.”

Starting in verse 7 David turns to God’s “instruction.” He is speaking of the Torah, the collection of laws and commands that governed his life. Following these, David gains wisdom. They gladden his heart and give light to his eyes. The Law is true, worth more than gold, “sweeter than honey.” David finds great reward in keeping God’s will and way. This too is evidence that there is a God, one who ordered not only creation, but life itself. As a follower of Jesus, we also find joy in keeping God’s will and way. We find that doing so, we have a relationship with our God. Within this relationship we experience peace and hope, assurance and contentment, comfort and guidance. Loving God and loving neighbor yields a life centered outside of self, a life that truly reflects God’s goodness and love.

In the closing verses, David shares another way that he experiences God. Fallible and sinful as we are, God is overflowing in forgiveness, redemption, and restoration. This is because God created us to be in relationship – with God and with one another. Again and again God cleansed and restored David to right relationship. Our rock and redeemer will do the same for you and for me. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your presence in the world – yes, in the heavens but also in the tides, in the spring growth, in the gentle snowfall. Thank you for pursuing us, for seeking us out, for desiring to be in relationship with us, and for being willing to do whatever it takes to keep us there, loving us unconditionally. This day may we honor you by reflecting your love and goodness into the world. Amen.


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A Steadfast, Patient Resolve

Reading: James 3-5

James 4:7-8 – “Submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. Come near to God, and he will come near to you.”

Photo credit: Aaron Burden

Chapters 3-5 deal with living as a friend or enemy of God. To be a friend of the world is to be an enemy of God. James first addresses speech: taming the tongue. Though small, like the rudder of a ship or a spark, the tongue is powerful: “a world of evil at work in us.” With the tongue we both bless God and curse one another. “It just shouldn’t be this way!”

A better way is suggested: “wisdom from above.” Contrasted with the jealousy and selfish ambition of the world, the better way is “pure… peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine.” The ways of the world lead to murder, fighting, theft… Instead, James says, pray to the Lord, go to God: “Submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. Come near to God, and he will come near to you.” When we cry out to God, humbly seeking the Lord, God will “lift you up.”

James encourages us to live in the present, not looking too far ahead, not relying on our wealth or other things of this earth. Soberly, we are reminded, “You are a mist.” We are but a tiny blip on God’s eternal timeline. All we do and say and think should be done with God’s will, plan, and purposes in mind. Accordingly, we are to pray for one another, confess our sins to each other, and hold one another accountable. And as we live this life, looking forward to the day of the Lord, we should do so with patient resolve. Like the prophets and like Job, may we be steadfast in our walk of faith.

Prayer: Lord God, the battle is real, the war wages on. We are helpless and weak; you are strong and mighty. Come alongside us in Spirit, fight for us and with us. Give us a patient resolve and a sure faith. Guide us moment by moment. Amen.


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God’s Plan, Our Role

Reading: Ephesians 3-4

Ephesians 4:1 – “Therefore, as a prisoner of the Lord, I encourage you to live as a people worthy of the call you received from God.”

In today’s reading Paul shares God’s plan for the church and then unpacks how followers are to be a part of that plan. In chapter 3 Paul shares that it has been God’s plan all along to include “every ethnic group” in the body of Christ. Paul declares that this “secret plan” has always been to include the “Gentiles” – a term often used by Jews to describe ALL non-Jews. This plan was accomplished through Jesus, who gives every believer “bold and confident access to God through faith” in Jesus. Paul then prays for the church, asking God to strengthen them through the Spirit and to reveal the power and enormity of God’s love. In these ways the believers “will be filled entirely with the fullness of God.”

In chapter 4 Paul unpacks what it means to be a part of the body of Christ. With chapter 3 in mind, he begins, “Therefore, as a prisoner of the Lord, I encourage you to live as a people worthy of the call you received from God.” Paul calls the church to be people of humility, gentleness, patience, and love. He reminds them of what unites them: there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God.” Paul also reminds them that each was gifted to be a part of “the working and building up the body of Christ.” Each has a role to play. We each have a role to play in this task.

Paul then calls the believers to a mature faith, away from living like the Gentiles (now meaning all those outside the faith) and into living as a “new creation” in Christ. Paul invites them to “clothe yourself” in the image of God. He is connecting here to their baptism, where they literally de-robed and then rerobed, symbolically taking off their old self and clothing anew in Christ. Paul closes the chapter with the call to be “kind, compassionate, and forgiving,” modeling what Christ did for them. This too is our role. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, we rejoice in your love that reaches out to all people. We celebrate your grace that has no limits. Fill us with your presence this day and employ each of us for the building up of the body of Jesus Christ. Amen.