pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: power


by Leave a comment

The Blood of the Lamb

Reading: Exodus 12:11-14

Exodus 12:13 – “The blood will be your sign… Whenever I see the blood, I’ll pass over you.”

We move deeper into the Passover story today. The lamb has been selected, watched over, slain, and roasted. Some of its blood has been placed on the door frames of their houses. The table is set. Beginning in verse 11, instructions are given for how to eat the meal. Equal parts anticipation and readiness, the Israelites are to eat the meal ready to go – sandals on, walking stick in hand. God then tells the Israelites what will happen: “I’ll pass through the land… I’ll strike down every oldest child… both humans and animals.” Knowing this, there must have been great fear and angst in their homes that night. To know that widespread death was occurring just outside your home would’ve been very unnerving. And to know that you and your family were saved by the blood of the lamb – amazing.

God reassures Israel, saying, “The blood will be your sign… Whenever I see the blood, I’ll pass over you.” Death will not visit their homes, families, or livestock. They have been marked by the blood of the lamb. This great act of salvation will be remembered “for all time.” Every year, Passover is celebrated. One of those years, thousands of years after this first one, Jesus and his disciples sat at a table in an upper room, celebrating Passover. Present were the lamb and bitter herbs, the bread and the cup. At this final Passover for Jesus, new instructions were given. His disciples are to remember this gift every time we take the bread and cup. Through the blood of the lamb, through Jesus’ sacrificial death, we are to remember that we are freed from the power of sin and death. The plagues of our day are power, greed, and selfishness. Jesus frees us from all of these, empowering us to live as people of love, grace, welcome, forgiveness, belonging, and community. Through our daily living, we carry the mark of Jesus. Because we bear the mark of Christ, we are saved daily from our sin and we will be saved one day into eternal life. For these acts of salvation, we say, thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for marking us with the blood of the lamb. Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, we become a part of your family. The blood that protects also washes us clean, again and again. And through Jesus’ new, risen life we are shown the way to eternal life. Thank you for making us yours and for keeping us yours. Amen.


by Leave a comment

All So Wrong… How Deeply Loved

Reading: Matthew 16:21-23

Matthew 16:23 – “Get behind me, Satan… You are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts.”

Photo credit: Shane

Of all the disciples, Peter seems to be the most “human.” Perhaps this is why it feels like we know him the best of all the disciples. He has his “gold star” moments and he also has moments when it seems like he barely understands who Jesus is. Perhaps we know him best because he is just like us. Last week we read his declaration of Jesus as the Christ. His shining moment led to Jesus stating that he will build his church upon Peter, the “rock.” This week, in the text, Jesus begins to explain the way that the church will be founded and established. He must suffer and die. Then he will rise on the third day.

Although it is certainly not the first time that Jesus has shared this news with the disciples, Peter acts like it is. Maybe he now hears this news through the lens of being #2 to Jesus. Peter’s world was much like our world today. Power was might. Success was measured in wealth, status, and/or possessions. There was a social hierarchy and society taught you to try and climb that ladder. In this moment, Peter seems caught up in all of this. We’ve been there too. We understand.

So Peter grabs ahold of Jesus and begins to scold him. Peter proclaims, “This won’t happen to you.” Not on my watch, Jesus. Reflecting the needed reality check, Jesus says to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan… You are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts.” The depth of love required to endure humiliation and torture, to die a very painful and public death – it is hard for us humans to understand at times. It’s no wonder Peter got it all so wrong here. We do too at times. That’s Jesus’ point, though. He came to save you and me. And Peter too. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, living daily in the world, it is easy to get caught up in the ways of the world. Draw us into daily time with you. Fill us with your ways and with your love. Then guide us to walk counter to the ways of the world, giving instead of taking, surrendering instead of ascending, lifting rather than pushing down. Lead us, O God, in your way of love. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Choose Good

Reading: Romans 12:14-21

Romans 12:18 – “If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people.”

Wrapping up our Epistle reading for this week, Paul has some tough words for us. He first asks us to bless those who harass us, to laugh with those who are laughing, and to cry with those who are crying. The invitation is to be present to one another in all of life. The “all” idea continues: “consider everyone as equals” and hang out with people “who have no status.” Don’t just try and see people as all the same. Demonstrate it with your daily life. While these actions are challenging, they are all choices that we can make.

Verses 17 and 18 up the degree of difficulty. In verse 17 Paul proclaims, “Don’t pay anyone back for their evil actions.” It can be so tempting to try and get even. If we manage to not do this, we can be tempted to hold a grudge, nursing that hurt. You know, the lesser of two evils kind of thing, we can tell ourselves. But even holding a grudge is an evil action. It lessens a relationship. It places someone outside of “all.” In a world that certainly champions “justice” – as long as it is our understanding of justice – we have to work hard at following Paul’s proclamation.

In verse 18 we read, “If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people.” We might read those first eight words as an out. Until we remember that in Paul’s world, all things are possible with God. And, we are not called to rely on our own ability but upon God’s power and presence. So we are left with this: “live at peace with all people.” Paul is back to that inclusive thing: all people. Not just those who are like us or who love us. Also those who harass us, those who take evil actions against us, and those who need a good dose of justice. When we live at peace with all people, then we “defeat evil with good.” May it be so day by day.

Prayer: Lord God, it can be easy to get lost in the weeds of revenge and anger, to get caught up in the ways of the world. There we lose sight of unconditional love and the beauty of grace. We lose sight of those bright “flowers” that are right there and life becomes hard and filled with discontent. When our vision lessens, and all we see are the weeds, Lord raise our eyes up to you. Fill us up with your love, mercy, and grace. Be ever present to us, O God. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Moses’ Truths -> Our Truths

Reading: Exodus 3:4-15

Exodus 3:10 – “So get going. I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”

As we continue in Exodus 3, God sees that Moses has noticed the burning bush. “Moses! Moses!” comes from the bush. Moses engages, “I’m here.” A conversation has begun. God establishes the presence of holiness – “take off your sandals” – and of relationship. God is the God of Moses’ father and is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

After introductions, God gets to the matter at hand. God has heard the cries of God’s people. God has seen the oppression and injustice. God feels the Israelites’ pain. Moses can relate to all of this. After all, this is what led him to kill that Egyptian many years ago. It is why he is hiding out in Midian. God promises a return to the Promised Land, to the Israelites’ home. Then the sudden bombshell: “So get going. I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” Moses reacts as we would. Say what? Who, me? Are you sure?

Getting to the most important detail, God says, “I’ll be with you.” It is not by Moses’ power that the people will be freed. No, it is by God’s power alone. “I AM” will be with Moses as he responds to God’s call upon his life. That is all that matters.

So… What is God’s call upon your life? Into what ministry, into whose life, into what situation? While we seldom have “burning bush” moments, God definitely calls, most often through the nudges and whispers of the Holy Spirit. And Moses’ truths are our truths. It is God’s plan. God will go with us. God will equip us for the mission ahead. God’s power will do the heavy lifting. With these truths in mind, may we be willing to hear and accept God’s call upon our lives.

Prayer: Lord God, first, remind us of your faithfulness in the scriptures and in our lives. You call, you show up, you remain present. You equip and lead and guide. Second, help us to trust in these truths and in the things we’ve experienced ourselves. Lastly, lead us into your call, using us to free people from all that entangles them. Amen.


by Leave a comment

One Person at a Time

Reading: Exodus 1:15-22 and 2:1-10

Exodus 1:17 – “Now the two midwives respected God so they didn’t obey the Egyptian king’s order.”

Coming back to Exodus 1, we read the rest of the story today. The Israelites continue to grow in number, in spite of Pharaoh’s attempts to lessen them. In today’s reading Pharaoh calls in two Hebrew midwives and tells them to kill all babies born male. They do not follow orders: “Now the two midwives respected God so they didn’t obey the Egyptian king’s order.” Called back in and questioned, Shiphrah and Puah outsmart Pharaoh. They trusted in God’s power and God made a way.

Pharaoh comes up with a new plan: incite the Egyptians against the Israelites. He instructs his people to throw every Hebrew boy baby into the river. Pharaoh counts on those feelings of disgust and dread, stirring them up and giving them an outlet with his cruel edict. For at least one Hebrew baby boy, this plan fails too.

At the start of chapter 2 a boy is born. His mother hid him for three months. No longer able to do so, she places him in a tar-coated basket and puts it in the river. His sister watches over it and when Pharaoh’s own daughter sees the baby, Miriam offers to find someone to nurse the baby. She risks much, offering a plan that goes against the edict. The princess, moved by compassion, agrees to the plan, also risking much. Moses’ life is saved. These women who used the power available to them stood for life. Through their bold actions, they thwarted Pharaoh’s plan – at least for one boy. In most of our lives, this is how we use our power too. With our words and actions we can make a great difference – one person at a time. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for these examples of women who risked much for what was right and good. Give us the same faith, the same compassion. Help us to see the opportunities you give us to stand and speak for all that is good and right and just. Empower us just as you empowered these women. Amen.


by Leave a comment

What Truly Contaminates

Reading: Matthew 15:10-20

Matthew 15:18 – “What goes out of the mouth comes from the heart. And that’s what contaminates a person in God’s sight.”

Heart in Fire and Water Isolated on Black Background. Computer Graphics.

Leviticus 11 through 15 contain the laws of Moses that deal with being clean (or unclean if you break a law.) Many of the laws in these five chapters were concerned with keeping healthy. Eating certain foods, for example, in a time without refrigeration often led to illness. So… do not eat pork. Since five chapters worth of dietary and other cleanliness laws were not enough, the religious leaders added more over time.

“Wash your hands before eating” was one of them. This rule is not found anywhere in the Law. But this manmade rule had power in Jesus’ day. His disciples had just eaten without washing their hands, breaking “the elder’s rules handed down to us.” Jesus responds to the Pharisees’ criticism by quoting from Isaiah 29, where the prophet speaks about “empty worship.”

In verses 10-20 Jesus addresses and explains what truly contaminates or makes a person “unclean.” To be unclean is to be separated from God. He declares that it is NOT what we put into our mouth that matters. Food just comes out and goes into the sewer. However, “What goes out of the mouth comes from the heart. And that’s what contaminates a person in God’s sight.” What comes out of our mouth matters. And that all comes from the heart. It is in the heart that one finds the sources of sin: “evil thoughts… sexual sins… false testimony… insults.” These are some of the things that have the power to “contaminate” or to make us unclean before God.

Jesus is talking about what John Wesley would later call “personal holiness.” If we practice personal holiness (or holiness of the heart,) then we walk in right relationship with God. And if we walk in a right relationship with God, then we tend to walk in right relationships with one another. Living out our social holiness, we do not harm others. Instead, we do good and practice love, mercy, grace, compassion… And what flows from the mouth is good and pleasing to the Lord our God. May it be so for us all.

Prayer: Lord God, empower us to look deep within our own hearts. Give us the strength and the courage to root out those things that can separate us from you, leading us to then treat others as “less than.” Transform our hearts and lives, O Lord, filling us with love and grace and compassion and mercy. Then, may these flow from our hearts and may they be upon our lips. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Redeeming the Lost

Reading: Romans 11:1-2

Romans 11:1a – “So I ask you, has God rejected his people?”

Photo credit: Mitchel Lensink

As we begin two days in Romans 11, we begin with the first two verses. These verses continue Paul’s argument against salvation through the Law. Instead, Paul sees grace as the saving agent. In our two verses today, Paul touches on when God’s people (or us) are not faithful to God. Verse 1 begins, “So I ask you, has God rejected his people?” When I first read this verse, to be honest, my mind said, “Maybe.” I thought of the policies and things done today by those claiming to be Christian, and thought, surely God is at least deeply grieved by this. But upon more reflection, I realized that this has been going on since the actual time of Jesus. In his day it was the Pharisees who used the Law for their own purposes. Later it was those who led and funded the Crusades. There have always been folks who have used “faith” as a weapon.

Paul’s response to his opening question is this: “Absolutely not!” God always remains faithful. Paul offers himself as proof. He is an Israelite through and through – and he loves and follows Jesus. Paul invites us to remember Elijah. He felt like he was the only faithful person left. But the faithful were actually down to a small fragment – 7,000 who had not turned to idols. Through the faithful, God redeemed the lost. God continues to do so today. You and I – we are living examples. Through our sin and failures, God has not rejected us once. Through grace we are redeemed again and again. Like the story of Elijah and God’s faithfulness, our story of grace and redemption has power. Our story can change lives. Who do you know that needs to hear the story of how Jesus changed your life?

Prayer: Lord God, today many worship idols. They aren’t carved of stone or wood but are found in the mirror, parked in driveways, stashed in bank accounts, put forth in social media. These folks are as lost as most in Elijah’s day. So, Lord, use us to turn people to you – some back to you, many encountering you for the first time. Fill our stories with a Holy Spirit power – with the power to change lives. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Genuine and True

Reading: Genesis 45:9-15

Genesis 45:9-10 – “Come down to me. Don’t delay. You may live in the land of Goshen, so you will be near me.”

Photo credit: Milo Weiler

Finishing up this week’s Genesis 45 text, Joseph gives his brothers instructions. He is once again the man in power. This is the main message to his father, Israel: “Come down to me. Don’t delay. You may live in the land of Goshen, so you will be near me.” Joseph adds that he will support the whole family and all that they own. This will last at least as long as the famine – five more years. Believing that he was sent ahead for this purpose, Joseph is stepping into God’s plans and purposes for his life.

Joseph then embraces and weeps over Benjamin – his younger brother that he had never met. He then turns to his other brothers. Kisses and hugs and tears draw them in. Fear subsided, they are able to talk with Joseph. Joseph’s honesty and compassion led them to accept his offer of forgiveness and reconciliation. Yes, he spoke the words of forgiveness, but the brothers were wary. These additional assurances allowed them to know that the forgiveness was genuine and true.

As a kid, every once in a while I heard these words from my mom or dad: “Say ‘I’m sorry. ‘” And often, after a mumbled “I’m sorry,” I would hear these words: “Say it like you mean it.” At times we forgive or are forgiven because it is expected or because it is the “right” thing to do. But it does not come from the heart. There is no grace. There is hard work yet to be done. When within our power, may we truly forgive from the heart, bringing reconciliation with our forgiveness. Then healing can begin. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, sometimes we just go through the motions. But hurt and anger still reside, just below the surface. Lead us to practice true forgiveness, full of grace. Guide us then to a place of reconciliation, where the relationship can be restored. Thank you, Lord. Amen.


by Leave a comment

I AM Is with Us

Reading: Matthew 14:22-27

Matthew 14:27 – “Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.”

Turning to our gospel lesson, Jesus has just fed 5,000 men plus women and children. His focus returns to why he originally came to this deserted place: to grieve the beheading of John the Baptist. And perhaps to wrestle with his coming fate as his hour too draws near. Jesus sends the disciples across the lake in a boat and then dismisses the crowd. Finally alone, he ascends the mountain to pray. Jesus spends the night in prayer.

The disciples spent the night battling a storm. Maybe there was some praying going on in the boat too. We read that very early in the morning, Jesus came to the disciples, walking in the water. In the storm, the waves, the early morning light, the disciples think Jesus is a ghost. Only God walks on the waters. They are “terrified.” Responding to their fear, Jesus shouts out, “Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” Do not fear – the power and presence of God almighty is here with you. Take courage – you are not alone. I AM is with you.

In times of sorrow and grief, in moments of fear and doubt, in situations where we are unsure or paralyzed, may we do as the human Jesus did: pray to God. Get alone if necessary and enter into a time of honest conversation with God. And in the storms of life, in the long hours of struggle, in the days of oppression or addiction or abuse, may we trust in what the disciples came to know: I AM is with us. God is always here. God’s power and presence are always with us. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, draw us into your sure and strong presence. In times when we feel powerless, pour out your power. In moments when we feel alone, pour out your abiding Spirit. Lead us and guide us, protect us, and provide a way. Thank you, Lord. Amen.


by Leave a comment

A Confessing Faith

Reading: Romans 10:5-9

Romans 10:9 – “Because if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and in your heart have faith that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

As we step into Romans 10 today and tomorrow, Paul begins with Moses and the Law. For Moses and for the Jews, righteousness comes through keeping the Law. Do all these things and you will live. Except no one can keep all of the Law. It is not possible. Therefore, if we cannot keep the Law, then it cannot bring life. The greatest effort to keep the Law still leaves one dead in their sin.

In verses 6 and 7 Paul removes the responsibility for finding or earning eternal life from our hands. In a very roundabout way, Paul reminds us that we don’t need to go to heaven or hell – either figuratively or literally – to find Jesus. No, he writes, “The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” Jesus in Spirit is right here with us. We don’t need to go on a search for Jesus. God has already done the work. It’s not about us doing anything. The Spirit of Christ is here, available to us.

Verse 9 confesses faith in the work that has already been done on our behalf. Here we read, “Because if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and in your heart have faith that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Faith in Jesus is the way to salvation. If we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then we receive grace, the gift that defeats the power of sin and death. Freed from the power of sin and death, we are able to live as light and love in the world, inviting others to know the source of light and love and grace: Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.

Prayer: Lord God, we first thank you for the gift of salvation received through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We thank you for doing the hard work that defeated the power of sin and death. We thank you for the grace that flows from Christ’s sacrifice, the grace that removes our sin and makes us new again. We ask that you would use us to reveal these things to the world, so that others can come to a confessing faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Amen.