pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: prosper


by Leave a comment

Rescuer, Redeemer, Hope

Reading: Habakkuk 2:9-11

Habakkuk 2:11 – “A stone will cry out from a village wall, and a tree branch will respond.”

The book of Habakkuk wrestles with the question, “Why do the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer?” The prophet struggles with the idea that God could use the wicked for God’s own purposes. In the midst of our own suffering we too can wonder how any good can come from our suffering. In these moments, like the prophet, we must trust and lean into our good and loving God.

In our short passage Habakkuk pronounces doom on “the one making evil gain.” Babylon has used power, deceit, and dishonesty to add to their own wealth, at the expense of Israel. The prophet predicts that the ultimate outcome will be shame and death for evil Babylon. In many ways this is a timeless story. Greed and the hunger for power will always be sins that humanity struggles with. Today many people could utter the words of the prophet.

Hope comes in verse 11. The prophets hopes for a rescuer, for a Messiah. He trusts that God will redeem and restore God’s people. Hope will come through the cornerstone, through the root of Jesse. The longing of God’s people will be answered in Jesus Christ. He continues to be our rescuer, our redeemer, our hope. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, this ago-old story feels true yet today. The gap between those with and those without grows. Power becomes more consolidated. May we, your children, be the stones that cry out for justice. May we, created in your image, be the branches that bring righteousness back to the land. God, restore your people, redeem the oppressed. Amen.


by Leave a comment

“I Do Not Change”

Reading: Malachi 3-4

Malachi 3:10b – “See whether I do not open all the windows of the heavens for you and empty out a blessing until there is enough.”

Today we close out the Old Testament as we read Malachi 3 and 4. Some of the words today point to the Messiah. Chapter 3 begins with a prophecy about a messenger that will come to “clear the path.” Then suddenly the Lord will be in the temple. How Simeon and Anna rejoice on that day! This covenant Messiah will be like a refiner and cleaner. The priests will be purified. He will testify against the sorcerers, adulterers, cheaters, oppressors. He will call out those who ignore the foreigners in their midst and those who do not really revere God. The section closes with this declaration: “I am the Lord, and I do not change.” Jesus will be God in the flesh – no more, no less.

Beginning in verse 7 we return to the disputes between God and Israel. God invites them to return to God. They ask, “How?” God tells them step 1 is to return to giving the full tithe. This is a step of faith and trust, as it is for us today. God challenges them (and us), saying, “Put me to the test.” Step up and see what happens. Continuing, God proclaims, “See whether I do not open all the windows of the heavens for you and empty out a blessing until there is enough.”

The next dispute centered on harsh things being said about God. They think serving God is useless. As evidence they point to the evil people who are prospering. They “test God and escape.” Instead of responding directly, God turns to the righteous few. They revere God. They drew close to God. They will be God’s “special possession” when God distinguishes between the righteous and the wicked. The arrogant and evil will burn like straw on that day. The “sun of righteousness” will rise on the faithful, bringing healing in its wings.

The book ends with God declaring, “Look, I am sending Elijah.” The second Elijah will come to clear the path before the “great and terrifying day of the Lord.” God invites Israel to turn the hearts of parents and children to one another. This will avoid the curse and will prepare them for the refining arrival of the Lord. We dive into that tomorrow as we begin our journey through the New Testament.

Prayer: Lord God, you do not change. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Your heart for the least flowed throughout the Hebrew scriptures. Sometimes this was for your people. And sometimes it was for “the other.” In Jesus, your heart for the least and the other was revealed as he loved such as these. You invite us to be your heart, to be Jesus’ heart, to love the least. May it be so. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Trust in God, Wait with Hope

Reading: Habakkuk 1-3

Habakkuk 3:2 – “LORD, I have heard your reputation. I have seen your work. Over time, revive it. Over time, make it known.”

Habakkuk has a chat with God. The chat revolves around why God allows the righteous to suffer while the wicked prosper. Habakkuk struggles to understand how a good God could allow such evil to exist. We continue to wrestle with these struggles today.

The book begins with a question: “Lord, how long will I call for help and you will not listen?” This is a question we’ve all raised. Habakkuk cries out about the violence and injustice. God responds, “I’m about to rouse the Chaldeans.” Babylon will sweep in, taking “captives like sand.” Habakkuk questions how God could choose to use this evil empire, the one that sacrifices to its own strength. He declares that he will “take my post” as he waits for God to respond.

God responds with a vision. Habakkuk is to clearly write it down on tablets. This vision is for an appointed time. While they will wait for it, God declares, “For it is surely coming; it will not be late.” God tells Habakkuk that the righteous will live honestly. The arrogant – the ones who are never satisfied – they will fall. The ones who plundered will be plundered. Doom is coming to all who trust in idols. The Lord is holy. At the appointed time, the earth will be silent before the Lord.

Habakkuk then goes to the Lord in prayer. He begins, “LORD, I have heard your reputation. I have seen your work. Over time, revive it. Over time, make it known.” He trusts that God will one day “tread the nations,” defeating wickedness. Habakkuk trusts into God’s vision for the future. Right now the fig doesn’t blossom. Right now the pens and stalls are empty. But right now, Habakkuk declares, “I will rejoice in the Lord… my deliverance… my strength.” He chooses to trust in God. He chooses to wait with hope. May we choose to do the same when we are suffering, when we are in the struggle. God is loving. God is faithful.

Prayer: Lord God, when we are struggling with the evil in the world, when we are questioning your activity or inactivity in the world, lead us to use Habakkuk as our guide. May we lay our lament before you. May we trust in you to respond. May we choose a bold faith, one that trusts and hopes in you alone. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Good Plans

Reading: Jeremiah 25-29

Jeremiah 29:11 – “I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the LORD; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope.”

We begin with a summary. For 23 years Jeremiah has spoken God’s word. The people wouldn’t listen or pay attention. God is mustering Babylon. For seventy years, Judah will serve Babylon. Jeremiah takes the cup of God’s wrath and forces many nations to drink of it. Disaster is coming to many nations.

We rewind in chapter 26. Jeremiah revisits his temple sermon of chapter 7, adding some more detail. The priests and prophets wanted to kill him because of the words he spoke. The officials and people stand up for Jeremiah, saving his life. Chapter 27 moves forward to king Zedekiah. Jeremiah makes a wooden yoke, symbolizing the new relationship that Judah will have under Nebuchadnezzar. He warns against listening to the false prophets. The remaining temple equipment will go to Babylon, until God is ready to bring it home. We get examples of these false prophets here and at the end of chapter 29. The false prophet Hananiah says the exile will only last two years. He is confronted by Jeremiah. Hananiah breaks the wooden yoke. It will become a yoke of iron, says God. Three more false prophets are dealt with in chapter 29. As always, the word of God prevails.

Chapter 29 begins with a word of great hope. In a letter to the exiles in Babylon, Jeremiah tells them to settle down, to build houses, to marry and have children, to pray for their cities of exile. As they prosper so will Judah prosper. In 70 years God will bring them home. In verse 11 we read, “I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the LORD; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope.” What words of hope!

Prayer: Lord God, you reign over all the earth. Your word is ever true. Cut through the lies of this world, drawing us to the good plans that you have for those who love you. Amen.


by Leave a comment

In All of Life

Reading: Psalm 98

Verse 1: “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.”

Photo credit: Rainier Ridao

Psalm 98 is a song of praise and worship. The psalmist lifts up salvation and God’s righteousness and faithfulness as reasons to sing praises to the Lord. In our lives, we certainly can offer lots of praise and thanksgiving to God when we are experiencing these and other blessings in our lives. In the good days it is easy and natural to praise God and to lift our worship heavenward.

It is not always easy, though, to praise the Lord. When we experience unwanted change or loss, when we receive that sobering diagnosis, when we feel isolated or lonely – it can be hard to find joy and to have praise on our lips. Today I am reminded that worship or praise doesn’t always have to be loud or joyous or exuberant. It can be prayerful or quiet or meditative. It can be centered on our understanding that as a child of God, God loves us and has plans to prosper us and wants to bring good into our lives.

Yes, I am sure that God enjoys listening in on a good old hymn or a communal prayer. But our faith is also personal and intimate. A quiet moment, a heartfelt prayer, a stillness simply resting in God’s presence – these too are deeply pleasing to God. In and through all things, we know that God is in control. Praise and worship is sometimes simply reflecting this truth back to God. May our praise and worship reflect this in all of life.

Prayer: Lord God, in the days of sunshine and beauty, in the days of darkness and despair, in the days of intermittent clouds and the everyday of life – may I ever praise and worship your holy name. You are my constant in all of life. For that I can always rejoice. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Faithful Journey

Reading: Psalm 1

Verse 3: “He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields it fruit in season”.

Psalm 1 draws a clear distinction between those who walk in the way of the Lord and those who do not. The psalmist describes the faithful as blessed, prosperous, and enduring. The faithful do not join in with the mockers and sinners. By contrast the wicked will be like chaff – they will quickly perish. When presented in these terms, it is easy to identify which destiny one would prefer. Eternal life or be burned up in the fire? Easy choice, right?

Yes, the destination matters, but the journey, the day to day of living, is where the destination is really determined. Because of that our Psalm also speaks of the journey itself. The first area of focus is internal and personal. Blessed is the one who meditates on God’s laws. Blessed is the one who carves out time each day to better know and grow closer to God. The second component of our journey is external or outwardly focused: “He [or she] is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields it fruit in season”. A tree is an excellent choice. A tree has longevity and permanence. Our journey of faith should parallel this. We should drink of Christ’s nourishment steadily and regularly. We should walk faithfully, day after day, all of our lives. This is the “abide in Christ” idea that we have been thinking about lately. The external is revealed in how this daily abiding affects our daily living. It shows in the ways we bear fruit in season. Our “seasons” are the ministries and opportunities that God presents us with as we journey with Christ through this life.

The seasons vary: Sunday school teacher for some, mission team participant for others; serving at the local humane society for some, being on the Trustees or Finance team for others; playing or singing in the band or choir for some, mentoring a person on parole or one in recovery for others. This is but a tiny list of the ways that God can and will use us to “bear fruit” if we are simply willing.

Two questions to ponder: Where do or can you serve on God’s team? How are you rooted in the one who “watches over the way of the righteous”?

Prayer: Blessing God, day by day you seek to walk closely with each of your children. Day by day you bring new opportunities to stand faithfully, to work to build your kingdom one piece of fruit at a time. By the power and presence of the Holy Spirit open my eyes and heart to walk and serve you faithfully all of my days. Amen.


by 1 Comment

Welcome and Hospitality

Reading: Jeremiah 29: 1 and 4-7

Verses 5 and 6: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat… Marry and have sons and daughters”.

Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles invites them to become a part of the society that they have been forced into. It can be the tendency to try and remain isolated and to hold onto what makes one unique. Thinking back to the high point of immigration in the US, for example, cities had ethnic neighborhoods like Little Italy and Chinatown. In some cases whole towns had a mostly homogeneous ethnic make-up. In our passage today, God is encouraging the Israelites to become a part of where they are. They are instructed to “build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat… Marry and have sons and daughters”. They are to live with and amongst their new neighbors.

Today we have both immigrants and refugees that come to the US. The refugees are most like the exiles because these groups tend to arrive in significant numbers. There are often language barriers and usually social and cultural differences as well. These factors tend to isolate us from our new neighbors and vice versa. But they do not have to. A little north and east of the town I live in is a town that welcomes refugees and immigrants. The school system works hard to help the children and the community provides employment opportunities for the adults. Churches play a role in the acclimation process in a number of ways. The Latino and Hmong people have enriched and have helped the whole community to thrive. They are not without instances of prejudice and intolerance, but overall it is a successful experiment. They are modeling well Jesus’ example of loving the other.

In almost all of our communities we have new people move in. In my town they usually come from another town in or near South Dakota, but occasionally they are from further abroad. In these cases, we too should extend welcome and hospitality to them. We as Christians should do what we can to help them succeed and flourish because when they prosper, we prosper too – not just economically but socially and spiritually as well.

As individuals, as churches, and as communities, may we be people of love, extending radical hospitality to all we meet. In doing so we also extend God’s love.

Prayer: Father of all, help me to be a friend to all. Empower me to love others unconditionally, just as you love me. Create in me generous hands and feet and a giving heart, just as Jesus modeled for us. Thank you, Father God. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Cycling Closer

Reading: Psalm 80: 1-2 and 8-19

Verses 1-2: “Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel… Awaken your might; come and save us”.

Today’s Psalm echoes the emotions and events of the passage from Isaiah 5 that we have read the last two days. God rescued the people from Egypt and led them to the Promised Land. God cleared away the inhabitants and Israel grew and prospered. All was well in the land. Then, starting in verse twelve, things head south. Israel is picked at and ravaged. The psalmist pleas for God to look down and watch over them once again.

This cycle is common in the Old Testament. Life is good when Israel walks in God’s ways. Then sin enters the people. It is usually through engagement with outside people that leads to worshipping other gods. This leads to a consequence from God. In time the people repent and return to walking in God’s ways. All is well again in the land.

In verse sixteen is the admission of guilt. The people do not like the consequence – they are perishing. Again the psalmist asks for God to rest favor upon the people, the children that God has raised up. The psalmist offers God backwards logic: “revive us and we will call on your name”. The Psalm closes with one last plea for God’s face to shine upon the nation of Israel.

When I read and consider this Psalm, it is an easy connection to my life. I journey through the same cycle. I live in close communion with God and life is good, all is well. Then I am tempted and fall into sin. While the actual sins have changed over time, the root cause remains the same: choosing my will over God’s will. This will ever remain part of who I am. It is a battle that will always be fought as long as I draw breath. All followers of Jesus Christ know this cycle, know this battle.

We also know it does not end in defeat. We have hope in our Lord. We receive mercy and grace and forgiveness. God never gives up on us, just like God never gives up on Israel. God continues to till our soil, to mature our faith. As we grow in faith, we sin less often. Our understanding of sin becomes more refined, our eyes become sharpened. We hear the Holy Spirit better and better, avoiding the sin we once stumbled into. God’s face shines brighter. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the journey that you have walked with me. Thank you for ever being at work within me, drawing me closer and closer to you. May I walk each day a little closer than the day before. Amen.


by 1 Comment

Righteous

Reading: Psalm 1

Verses 1-2: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked… but his delight is in the law of the Lord”.

Psalm 1 paints a pretty sharp contrast between those who are righteous and those who are not. The psalmist begins with a warning not to spend time with the wrong crowd: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked…”. The psalmist also includes sinners and mockers in the groups to avoid. While all Christians sin, we do not live a life of sin. In the general sense, the psalmist is spot-on: if we hang out with the wicked, the sinners, the mockers, then we will likely become these things ourselves.

In verse 2, the writer goes on to say, “but his delight is in the law of the Lord”. The righteous not only delight in the law but also meditate upon it day and night. It is to live and breathe God’s ways. The blessing is compared to a tree – healthy roots soak up the water of life, it bears fruit, it does not wither. Prosperity comes to those who dwell in the Lord. All done in alignment with God’s ways and desires will prosper.

The Psalm returns to the wicked in verses 4 and 5. They are blown this way and that in the changing winds. They cannot stand in the judgment. Like the house built upon the sand in Matthew 7, the winds and waves beat down the house built upon a poor foundation. If we desire to stand firm, our foundation must be found in God.

A promise concludes the Psalm: “the Lord watches over the way of the righteous”. God is present to the righteous. He goes with us always. The Holy Spirit is our constant companion offering guidance, direction, discernment, conviction… We are never alone. Thanks be to God.

Lord, help me to walk in your ways. Keep me intimately connected to your Word and your ways. Grant me discernment so that I can walk in your truth. May my life allow others to see you and your love. Amen.


by Leave a comment

God is There

Reading: Habakkuk 1: 1-4

Habakkuk begins by voicing what many of us have voiced as well: “How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen”?  Sometimes our prayers have been for a loved one, sometimes for a friend, and sometimes they are for a far away someone or a group of people that we do not know personally but are somehow connected to our heart strings.  We see hurt and injustice near and far and we bring it to the Lord.  But is seems to persist anyway.  Like Habakkuk, we cry out, “How long?”

Sometimes we come to a place where we feel we cannot bear the pain or hurt any longer.  Our cries turn to anger and we express our frustration with God’s apparent inactivity.  We hear this cry in Habakkuk’s words.  In our mind it makes no sense why our living God would ‘allow’ it to continue.  In our anger we may even want to turn away, to just forget the situation.  But we cannot.  Deep down we know that God does not ‘allow’ pain…  It is part of the world, just as joy is part of our world.  The Spirit reminds us of Jeremiah’s words, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (29:11).  We may not be able to understand God’s plans, but we still hold onto the promise.  There is comfort in this as we walk through the midst of a time of suffering or pain or injustice.

Even as we cry out, “How long?” we know that God is right there.  Our God of love seeks to bring us peace and strength and comfort and reassurance and whatever else we need right in the midst of our trial.  “I am with you” says the Lord.  In our trials, may we always trust into God and hold tightly to the hope we profess.  God is faithful.  God is love.  May we cling to the Lord our God in the storms.