pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: purpose


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Humility and Obedience

Reading: Philippians 2:5-13

Verse 8: “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!”

Our Epistle reading carries the title “Imitating Christ’s Humility” in my Bible. In verse 5 we are invited to have the same attitude as Jesus Christ. Then, in verses 6-11, Paul quotes an early Christian hymn that wonderfully describes Jesus’ humility and obedience. It begins with the reminder that Jesus laid aside infinite power and glory to become “nothing” as he took on “the very nature of a servant.” Jesus became human. Moving on we read, “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!” Though excruciatingly painful, Jesus took the nails for you and for me. It was God’s solution to our arrogance and disobedience. Jesus lived out God’s plan for his life. Our call is to live with this same attitude.

Because Jesus was humble and obedient, God “exalted him to the highest place.” Jesus rose to resume his place at God’s right hand. In response to Jesus returning to this rightful place of power and glory, every knee should bow at his name and every tongue should confess, declaring that “Jesus is Lord!” That is the correct and just response. But because of our arrogance and disobedience, many choose not to make this declaration. This is a sad but real choice that many people make.

Paul encourages us to make a better choice. In verse 12 he urges us to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Faith is an ongoing process that involves a holy and revenant attitude towards Jesus as Lord. When in humility and obedience we choose to live this way, we experience God’s work in our lives and we live according to God’s “good purposes.” God has a plan for our lives too. Like Christ, may we choose to surrender our life to God’s good plan.

Prayer: Lord God, give me the courage to live counter-culturally. Give me the strength to choose humility and obedience in a world that preaches the opposite. And give me the power to live out your plans, revealing to the world that Jesus is indeed Lord of all. Amen.


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To Preserve a Remnant

Reading: Genesis 45:5-15

Verse 7: “God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth.”

Photo credit: Tyler Milligan

As Joseph’s reunion with his brothers continues, he offers them words of assurance and encouragement. Joseph fully believes that it is God’s plan unfolding. He is 100% sure that God’s plan has both human and divine purposes.

There are a few human purposes. The first is to preserve lives. Joseph is placed in mighty Egypt, in a country with large enough resources to grow and store enough extra food to sustain themselves and others during 7 years of famine. That is a monumental task. God gifted and directed Joseph to orchestrate this massive food program. Without Joseph there it is unlikely that any of this would’ve happened. And God sent Joseph ahead to be in a spiritual place to offer grace and forgiveness to his brothers. The trials and sufferings accompanied by the joys and victories have readied his heart to reconcile with his brothers.

As amazing as this all is, there was a greater purpose being worked out: “God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth.” Everything that has happened is wonderful. But the main purpose was to preserve a remnant of God’s people to keep alive God’s covenant promises. The family of Israel moves to Egypt and not only survives but thrives. They become a great nation. This is ample proof of God’s love for Israel.

Today I look at the church and the word remnant comes to mind. God and faith seem to have less and less space in our collective hearts. The church’s influence feels in decline. Yet God is faithful. In the end we know that Jesus returns and makes all things new. Evil does not win. This brings to mind a question: How is God using you and me to preserve a remnant that will ultimately triumph over all?

Prayer: Lord God, you are faithful and true. Not a word has gone out or will go out from your lips that isn’t forever. Give us hope. Encourage us as we seek to be your faithful disciples here on earth. Amen.


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God Can and Will

Readings: Genesis 29:15-28 and Psalm 105:1-6

Verse 2: “Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.”

Today we pair yesterday’s reading from Genesis 29 with Psalm 105:1-6. By doing so we see a broader picture of God’s love and goodness and faithfulness. The Psalm is a corporate encouragement. It invites all of God’s chosen people to remember what God has done and to praise God: Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.” The psalmist invites his readers then and us today to remember the wonders and miracles as well as the judgments of God, connecting all the way back to Abraham and Jacob, two of the greats of the Hebrew faith and story.

Abraham and Jacob were two of many people that God used who were far from perfect. We could include Sarah and Rebekah and Laban in this list. They too were flawed and human, sinful and selfish. When these imperfect people’s stories are read alongside Psalm 105, we are reminded once again that God’s plans and purposes can be and will be accomplished through very human people. That’s good news for you and me!

As we considered Leah and Rachel yesterday, thinking of how their role in God’s story might have affected them, today we recognize that God chose them specifically for this part of God’s story. And we recognize that God continued to work in their lives, long past the place we find them at in Genesis 29.

If God chose and used and blessed men like Jacob and Laban and women like Leah and Rachel, then God definitely can and certainly will choose, use, and bless people like you and me. If you love the Lord and praise God for all that God has done and will do, then there is a place for you in God’s ongoing story. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, I am grateful that you choose anyone to be a part of your story. It reflects your love for all of us – even for those who maybe don’t know you well or even at all when you choose them. The width of your love is amazing! Thank you, Lord. Amen.


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Kind, Generous, Serving

Reading: Genesis 24:42-49

Verse 42: “Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come.”

Photo credit: Ditto Bowo

In today’s portion of Genesis 24 the servant of Abraham lifts a prayer to the Lord. It is a prayer for the mission that he is on. Before he can say “Amen” a young woman appears. She is God’s answer to his prayer. She graciously gives him a drink and generously waters the camels. Rebekah would’ve had to make many trips to water the 10 camels. Can you imagine the thoughts that went through his mind and heart as he watched?

As they talk he learns of the family connection, further assuring him that she is God’s answer to his prayer. He offers gifts of jewelry, an invitation to a relationship. The servant praises God for this answer to prayer. This is something we’ve experienced and done too. God has answered our prayer and we express gratitude. Rebekah is God’s answer to prayer. The question for us to ponder now is this: When are we a Rebekah to others?

Sometimes we know the answer to this question and sometimes we do not. Some of the time we are clearly the answer to someone’s prayer. They tell us so with their words and/or with their actions. They are grateful and thankful. When we are kind or generous or serving others, we might be an answer to someone’s prayer. More often than not, we do not know our impact on others. God just works in and through us, accomplishing God’s plans and purposes. May we choose to have a spirit of kindness, generosity, and service each day, allowing God many opportunities to work in and through us.

Prayer: Lord God, use me as love poured out and made real today. In all things and with all people may I be generous and kind and compassionate. Use me today as a means for others to experience your love and provision. Amen.


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God’s Plans and Purposes

Reading: Psalm 33:6-12

Verse 11: “The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of God’s heart through all generations.”

Turning to Psalm 33 we are first reminded that God is the creator. The psalmist calls us to “fear the Lord” because God “spoke and it came to be,” because God “commanded and it stood firm.” For the ancients there was a “forever” feeling to this world. To a large degree that is still the secular feeling today – the world will be here forever.

In verse 10 there is a pivot. Humanity likes to plan. It makes us feel like we are in control. We’re really not. In verse 10 we are once again reminded that God “foils the plans” and “thwarts the purposes” of humanity. This, of course, is humanity living outside of God’s will and ways. It is when the world tries to guide the shop that God foils and thwarts those plans.

By contrast, in verse 11 we read, “The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of God’s heart through all generations.” Those words – “forever” and “through all generations” – they contrast to our temporary and earthly plans. Our lives and therefore our plans are but a tiny, tiny blip on God’s timeline. This is our reality. So let us turn to the promise and truth of the next verse. We are “blessed” when “our God is the Lord.” When we choose not the things and ways of the world, but instead choose to faithfully and obediently participate in God’s plans and purposes, then we are blessed. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, when decisions arise, guide me to first turn to you in prayer, seeking you in the discernment process. By the power of your Holy Spirit, reveal to me the way that I should go. Then fill me with the trust and courage to faithfully and obediently live out your plans and purposes for me. Amen.


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Chaos to Beautiful Diversity

Reading: Genesis 1:1-25

Verse 2: “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

Genesis 1 is a great place to begin the week that culminates in Trinity Sunday. As Disciplines writer Ginger E. Gaines-Cirelli puts it, “In the beginning, a diverse God – Creator, Word, and Spirit – created a diverse world, all interdependent, all profoundly good” (page 184). What a beautiful thought!

Now, the world did not begin this way. Verse 2 establishes the starting point of our world: “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” In the beginning there was a nothingness. It was formless and empty, dark. The deep waters represent the unknown. Because the deep was unknown, it was feared, it was avoided. Chaos and angst lived there.

Chaos and angst are still the parts of life that we avoid or wish we could avoid. Yet “life” happens – death enters unwanted, relationships become strained and break, illness and disease impact us, nature reeks havoc, employment and other decisions that people make affect our lives and families… In these moments we can feel like our world is formless, empty, dark.

As Genesis 1 begins God takes action. The chaos and nothingness are replaced with order and purpose – 2 things we love! As creation unfolds all that God does is good, everything is valued, there is an interconnectedness to all of creation. There is a beautiful yet connected diversity to this world that God created. May we see, appreciate, and love this world, especially one another. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, what an awesome and amazing and beautiful world you created! Thank you for this gift. May we receive it, live in it, love it, and honor all parts of it as all of our world is your creation. Amen.


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Three Lessons

Reading: Acts 1:12-14

Verse 14: “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

Photo credit: Clay Banks

In yesterday’s portion of Acts 1 Jesus gives the disciples some instructions. They were to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit was given. And they are to be witnesses of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Now, I do not know about you, but I might have tried to tackle these in reverse order. I am a doer. It is hard for me to wait when a clear task is right there in front of me.

The disciples return to the city and gather in the place they’ve been staying. The 11 gather together with other devoted followers of Jesus: “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” This faithful group was “constantly in prayer.” There are several lessons for us to take away from these three verses.

First lesson: follow Jesus’ instructions. Trust that God has a plan and a purpose and that you are equipped for it. Be obedient to that. Second lesson: include others. Note that the 11 didn’t huddle up and shoo everyone else out. Like them, we need to realize that being witnesses is all of our jobs. It’s not a task just for the pastor or other church staff or even the leadership team. Together we accomplish this task better and more effectively. Third lesson: pray. Pray a lot – “constantly.” Pray about what was spoken to you by the Holy Spirit, by the Bible, by someone… Wrestle with it before God. Seek discernment and direction. Spending time in prayer further connects us to God and to God’s plan and purpose. This deepens our faith. And this better equips us for the task that God has laid before us.

As we all seek to witness to our faith may we be obedient to God’s instructions, may we seek out others to walk faithfully with, and may we pray, pray, pray.

Prayer: Lord God, speak to me today. Lay out your plan and purpose for me. Grant me the will, the courage, and the faith to be obedient. Lead me to those you want me to partner with in ministry. Reveal all we need to know and understand as we spend time in holy and prayerful conversation with you. Amen.


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Enough

Reading: John 20:30-31 – “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

When you first read these 2 verses maybe you, like me, feel that there really is more to the story of Jesus. And being raised in this culture, if more is available, we certainly want it. More knowledge, more wisdom, more followers, more time, more possessions, more wealth – you name it – we want more.

If one reads through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, one realizes that there aren’t a lot of stories that are in all four gospels. A few are, yes, but each gospel writer had a particular focus or purpose and gathered material accordingly. The writers even arranged the material in a different order here and there because that better fit their focus. From this perspective it makes perfect sense that John would write “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book” at the end of his gospel. Oh wait! He then sneaks in one more miracle even after this statement.

Even though it is fascinating to think about or even to imagine all of the other potential stories about Jesus that aren’t in the gospels, the reality is that each gospel, on its own, is enough. Each, in their own way, presents a picture of Jesus that is enough to lead someone to believe in him as Lord and Savior. Now one may appeal to you more than another. That is natural as each was written with a focus or for a specific purpose.

Our reading concludes with John writing, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” May it ever be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, the gospels are indeed more than enough – not only in content but in function. The complete picture is painted and yet your stories remain alive, offering new insights or a new application when I come to them from a different perspective or with a new need. Thank you for the living word – our living hope, our eternal promise. Amen.


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Witnesses

Reading: Acts 2:14 and 22-32

Verse 32: “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.”

As we jump into Acts 2, Pentecost had just occurred. The Holy Spirit has fallen on a group of Jesus followers. This event has drawn a large crowd of Jews “from every nation under heaven” (verse 5). It is to this crowd that Peter speaks in today’s passage. He recounts the crucifixion of Jesus. He begins by recalling who Jesus was: “a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs.” And then, “by God’s set purpose,” Jesus was put to death by the Jews with the help of the Romans. We can choose to focus on the role played by the Jews (or Romans) or we can choose to focus on the fact that the crucifixion was always part of God’s plan for Jesus. I choose that latter.

Filled with the same Holy Spirit that fell at Pentecost, Peter continues, quoting from Psalm 16. Here David looks to the Lord, envisioning “the Lord always before me,” the one that assures him “that my body will live in hope.” David has this living hope because it has been revealed to him by God that God will not “let your Holy One see decay.” This prophecy speaks of Jesus Christ, the Lord. Peter connects this dot for his audience and for us in verse 31, where he says, “Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of Christ.” It was all part of God’s plan, spoken by David about 1,000 years before the life of Christ.

Our passage closed with a statement that is true in 2 ways. In verse 32 we read, “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.” Peter, the other disciples, and about 500 followers have seen, encountered, spoken with the risen Christ. This is one truth. The other truth is the witness that we can offer. We know this to be true because the risen Christ lives in our hearts, filling us too with this same living hope. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, today I am once again amazed by the arch of your story. Centuries before Jesus, David spoke of Christ, his eternity, his death and resurrection. Your plan has clearly been at work for generations and generations. Lord, empower followers today to bear witness to Jesus Christ, our living hope. Amen.


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The Spirit at Work

Reading: Ezekiel 37:11-14

Verse 14: “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land.”

Photo credit: Luka Savcic

Yesterday’s portion of Ezekiel 37 ended with a vast multitude standing where dry bones had once been. The wind, the breath, the Spirit – pneuma – had filled dead lungs and brought new life. This vision reminds us that God can and will bring new life, hope, restoration. As we too fill ourselves with the Spirit of God, we can once again stand on solid ground.

God explains the vision to Ezekiel and to us in verse 11. These dry bones represent “the whole house of Israel.” As a community of faith they have become dry and scattered, strewn out in the desert of exile. Their hope was gone. But God was not finished with them. I’ve heard it said a few times recently that death proceeds resurrection and new life. These are the overarching themes in this week’s readings. Sometimes, yes, the death is physical. At other times we die to self, surrendering our will to God’s ways. And sometimes the death is to a sin or behavior or prejudice that we bear. Each leads to new and abundant life.

In Ezekiel’s day the house of Israel was all who believed in God. It was not in a good place. Sometimes this is true of the church today. It has been this way from time to time since day 1. As I consider the thought of death and resurrection and new life, it feels like the church is in this cycle now. This is not a bad thing. God is in control. I trust that God is at work. We are right where God wants us to be for God’s plans and purposes. Can you see the dry bones? Can you sense the Spirit at work, bringing forth new life once again?

Prayer: Lord God, at times the church feels battered and broken. It can feel like a bad wreck now and then. Yet your Spirit is alive and well, moving in and through us, drawing us all to a new thing, to new life. That will look different. That is good. In the midst, Lord sustain us in the valley, fill us with new life, and lead us out into what you have planned for your church. Amen.