pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Heart Treasure

Reading: Luke 12:22-34

Verse 33: “Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail.”

Yesterday we looked at Paul’s invitation to strain forward towards the prize that we will one day receive in heaven. Along this journey we can face many challenges. Sometimes we get stuck. This happens most often when the things of this world rise up, getting in the way of our faith. So today we turn to Luke 12 to hear Jesus’ words about an emotion that can be very hard to deal with or to push past: worry. We often get stuck when we become overly focused on our “stuff” – the things that make us feel safe and secure. Instead of looking heavenward, though, we choose to concern ourselves with the things of this world.

Jesus first addresses our basic needs: food, water, clothing. He begins with the ravens. Look how God feeds them! Jesus then points to the lilies – look at their splendor! With both examples, Jesus reminds us that we are far more valuable than birds or “the grass of the fields.” God knows we need these things and will meet our needs. Next, we are reminded to first seek the kingdom of God – the things not of this world. This is the greater need. Here too Jesus offers encouragement: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” This calls us to trust.

Jesus then addresses our actions step: “Sell all your possessions and give to the poor.” This action step sits at the core of who and what we trust. It calls us to trust at the deepest level. Like Abel, who gave to God from the firstborn lambs in Genesis 4, and like the widow who gave all she had to live on in Mark 13, can we also offer up our possessions to God, trusting that God will provide? Doing so we will “provide purses that will not wear out” for ourselves. Doing so, we will lead with the heart, the true source of our treasure – our faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord God, we know that you love us beyond our understanding. We know that you care for us and for our well-being. We know the promises of presence and of resurrection life. Help us to loosen our grip on the things of this world, freeing us to better grasp the things of heaven. Amen.


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Press On!

Reading: Philippians 3:4-14

Verse 8: “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

As we begin reading today’s passage perhaps we feel a common ground here with Paul. He begins by addressing our tendency to put “confidence in the flesh.” Paul lists his accomplishments and accolades – and in the religious culture of Israel at that time, it is quite the list. The tendency to define who and what we are by our job title or by our degrees or by some measurable worldly success is one we always need to be aware of.

The old Saul described in verses 4-6 has been born anew as Paul the apostle. In verse 8 he writes, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” All those titles, all that he did before – gone! He even goes so far as to call all of that old life “rubbish.” Paul has come to understand that faith in the Lord who wrote the Law is far better than the religion of simply checking the boxes that came with following all of those laws. Paul has come to live out a faith that has opened him up to the power of resurrection and to the joy of “sharing in his sufferings.” It is counter cultural to cast aside all that the world holds dear. To our old self, it feels upside down to lay all of that aside in order to live out “the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” Yet this is the “goal” and the “prize” to which all followers of Jesus Christ are called to.

I love the language and imagery that Paul’s words create in verses 12-14. This is what it means to be in love with Jesus. He “presses on” to “take hold” of Jesus Christ. He “strains” towards the goal “to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Jesus Christ.” What a beautiful goal! What a glorious effort! May this too be our “one thing.”

Prayer: Lord God, help me to fully find my identity in you. May the things of this world fall away on account of knowing you as Lord and Savior. Give me the courage and strength to daily press on towards that heavenly prize, walking humbly with Jesus day by day. Amen.


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Focus

Reading: Philippians 3:10-14

Verses 10-11: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection… to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

Continuing on in Philippians 3, Paul looks back on his credentials and considers them “loss for the sake of Christ.” He sees those titles and roles as “rubbish” compared to “the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord.” Paul has focused his life on his relationship with Jesus. Paul has learned that what he used to think was righteous – following every letter of the Law and persecuting those who did not – wasn’t really righteousness. Through his relationship with Jesus he has discovered true righteousness – one that “comes through faith.” It is found in the heart, not in the head. It is found in grace and mercy and love, not in how one follows the rules.

At times our identity or how we identify others can limit how we see, treat, love, minister to others. If we allow our identity to limit us in these areas, we become less effective than we could be for Christ. If, for example, I place “pastor” ahead of “Christ-follower” in how I see myself, then I will be less effective for the gospel. In a similar way, if I look at certain people and see them as unworthy of my time and love, creating in me an unwillingness to serve or minister to them, then I have become much less effective. If I do not first and foremost see others as a beloved child of God, then I have become a stumbling block.

This is where Paul was when functioning as a “Hebrew of Hebrews… as legalistic… blameless.” Recognizing Christ as Lord and Savior, Paul instead poured himself out, giving up all earthly credentials. In verses 10 and 11 he writes this of his new focus: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection… to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Christ has become his all in all. The passage closes with Paul’s “why”. He desires to continue“straining” toward the goal. He strives to “press on” to one day take hold of the “prize for which God has called me heavenward.” The “prize” for Paul and for all who follow Christ is to attain eternal life. Accordingly, may all we do and say be focused on this goal – both for ourselves and for all who do not yet know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Prayer: Lord God, keep my eyes on the prize. Doing so, use me well in my day to day service to you and to others. In and through me may all see and hear of your love and of the call to life eternal. Amen.


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Straining, Straining, Straining

Reading: Philippians 3: 4b-14

Verse 12b: “… I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me”.

Paul opens this section of Philippians with a long list of his accomplishments in his “past life”. At times we can do this. The “back in the good old days” stories can be fun to relive or they can be good reminders of what or who we used to be. For Paul, they are the latter. Before knowing Jesus, Paul was known as Saul. Saul was a very devout rule follower. Saul checked all the boxes of obedience to religion and was very respected among other rule followers. Saul and his fellow religious folks knew the Law inside out but did not follow the Law-giver. They had tons of head knowledge with no heart change.

Then Saul met Jesus one day and had a radical change of heart. In an instant he knew all of those past accomplishments we’re “rubbish”. He came to understand that righteousness comes not from following the letter of the Law – from checking off the boxes – but from faith in Christ alone. Saul took the Gentile-based version of his name and, as Paul, set about introducing as many people to Jesus as he possibly could. Knowing Christ and helping others to know Christ became Paul’s only goal, no matter the cost. He writes the letter we read from today while he is in prison. Where he is does not matter to Paul. His focus remains the same. Even as Paul sits in chains he writes, “… I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me”. Yes, his freedom has been taken, he is barred from speaking in the square and the synagogue, but Paul still writes to encourage the church in Philippi and churches ever since. His words are of great encouragement today.

Paul’s words can become our words. In verse 13 he speaks of “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead”. I love his choice of “straining”! In spite of opposition or trial or suffering or cost, with all that he is Paul is giving everything he has to spread Jesus’ name so that all can know the good news. Paul strains for the same reason we should strain: the goal, the prize “for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”. May we keep our focus on the goal too, straining ahead, straining to share Jesus Christ with as many as we can.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to strain more often. Push me a bit more out of my safe, comfortable places. Amen.


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All in All

Reading: Philippians 3: 10-14

Verse 12: I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

There is great power in today’s passage.  There is great hope.  There is great promise.  There is great encouragement.  Pail is fully rooted in Christ and in His love.  He has given his all for the gospel and is willing to suffer and even give his life if that will advance the gospel and bring glory to God.  Paul opens today with a clarion call for all believers: “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection”.  Like Paul, we also want to know these two things.  We want to know Christ for this earthly life so that we can love and serve others as Jesus did.  We want to know the power of His resurrection for this life and the life to come.  In this life, the power of Jesus’ resurrection brings us victory over sin.  Jesus’ resurrection power defeats the guilt and shame and chains of sin so that we can be made holy and pure in this life.  It is a power we call on again and again.  Jesus’ resurrection power also looks to the future – His resurrection power enables us to defeat death and to live eternally with Jesus in heaven.

Knowing all of this is what allowed Paul to be sold out for Jesus and the gospel.  It is what allows us to have the faith and the courage to live as sold out, all in Christians.  If we believe in the power of Jesus Christ and His resurrection, we too can live as Paul did: willing to do anything and willing to face anything to advance the kingdom here on earth.  This is what Paul is talking about when he writes, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me”.  Christ took hold of Paul to give him a hope, a love, a promise, a future.  Paul did not take hold of all this and sit on it to keep ut for himself.  He gave his all and eventually his life so others would gain it too.

Paul concludes today with these words: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God had called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”.  Hear these words – straining ahead, pressing on, the prize, called, in Christ Jesus.  Paul’s life reflected the fact that Jesus Christ was his all in all.  May our lives and faith reflect this as well, all for God’s glory and the building of His kingdom here on earth.


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Day by Day

Have you ever faced a task that seemed monumental or so large that you didn’t even  know where to begin?  Maybe it was a huge pile of dirt or rock or wood that needed to be moved.  Maybe it was 30 years worth of pictures that needed sorting and organizing.  Sometimes it is hard to get started and sometimes we even want to give up in the middle.  Yet when we step back and look, we can see that the pile is smaller or that things are starting to take shape.

In our faith journey, that perfection in Christ that we are called to can seem monumental or huge.  At times we feel lost in the race, unsure of our footing, not quite able to see around the next curve.  Sometimes we feel that there are more questions than answers.  But we do not lose hope.

Paul knew the goal and the call of God heavenward through a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Paul also knew the journey was made day by day, step by step.  Our journey is the same – day by day and step by step.  On this journey too, we can step back and see progress and growth.  In this we find the encouragement to continue to fight the good fight, to pursue the prize of our own call heavenward.  And day by day we draw ever nearer.

Scripture reference: Philippians 3: 12-14