pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: redeem


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The Three R’s

Reading: Judges 4:1-7

Judged 4:1-2 – “The Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight. So the Lord turned them over to King Jabin of Hazor.”

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This week we focus on the joy that we find in the Lord. Often this joy comes from God’s presence in our world and in our lives – a sunrise, a kind word, a spider web, a loving act, an opened door. Some of the time, this joy comes through God’s rescue, redemption, and restoration. We sin and create separation in our relationships with God and with one another. We turn back to God, admitting our failure, pledging to do better, and our God of great mercy forgives our sin. We then experience rescue, redemption, and restoration. We rejoice in God’s mercy and love. This pattern is repeated frequently in our lives. It has always been the case throughout history. In the opening verses of Judges 4 we read, “The Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight. So the Lord turned them over to King Jabin of Hazor.”

The Israelites, like us, knew better. Sin is almost always an intentional choice. And when a poor choice is made, there are usually consequences. In today’s passage, it was oppression from a pagan people that Israel let live. Israel failed to follow God’s command to remove all of the Canaanites from the Promised Land. The group around Hazor sought to re-establish their power in the land. God used them to humble Israel. It took twenty years of cruel oppression. Hopefully our cycles of sin, confession, and repentance don’t last that long!

Deborah, who was leading and judging for Israel at that time, calls out for Barak, inviting him to gather troops to defeat Sisera, Jabin’s commander. Sisera had 900 chariots – the most powerful weapon of the day. Deborah relayed God’s promise to Barak: “There I will give you victory over him.” This promise of presence and victory is ours too. God is with us. God wants to rescue, redeem, and restore us. With humbled hearts, may we cry out to God for mercy.

Prayer: Lord God, help us to identify the things that we let hang around, in spite of your warnings and instructions. Then lead us to work at removing these things from our lives. The pride, the ego, the desire for more – all must go. And when we lose the battle, which we do again and again, call us to confession and repentance. Rescue us from our sin. Pour out your mercy. Redeem us. Heal our brokenness. Restore us to right relationship with you and with one another. Amen.


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Hope

Reading: Psalm 78:1-7

Psalm 78:4 – “We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord.”

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Asaph begins Psalm 78 by introducing the audience and the purpose of this Psalm. He is going to instruct the people of God. It should be noted that he is writing to a very small fragment of the former kingdom of Israel. As detailed in the rest of the Psalm, the nation divided into the northern and southern kingdoms. The north’s ten tribes continued in their sin one too many times. God sent the Assyrians, who laid waste to the north and took many people into exile. Only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained in the south. It was during this time period that Asaph writes, “We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord.”

In today’s verses, Asaph emphasizes telling the next generation the truth – the good and the bad. Lessons can be learned from both our successes and from our failures. To paint only a rosy picture does a great disservice to our children. It creates a false hope. From each failure, we learn lessons and we learn that God is faithful and good. It was true for Israel and it is true in our lives. God does not leave us in our sin. When we are repentant, God rescues, redeems, and restores. This builds true hope. And, yes, it is sometimes after learning a hard lesson. A necessary but hard lesson. In verse 8, that is Asaph’s hope. Here he writes, “Then they will not be like their ancestors – stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.” Ah.

Asaph’s writing was promoted by wrestling with questions like these: How did we get here? Why are we here? Who is responsible? Who and what do we want to be? How do we get to that preferred future? This questioning is the next step in truth-telling. May we teach our children this next step too. O Lord, may it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, how we need you. On our own, we quickly become less than you created and intend us to be. Selfishness leads to sin and division. There we lose hope. Lead and guide us to tell the whole story and to wrestle with the searching questions and with the truth that they tell. Guide us to work for a future with hope for all people. Amen.


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Good, Faithful, Love

Reading: Psalm 107:1-7

Psalm 107:1 – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever!”

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Psalm 107 speaks of how God rescues us when we are in need of help. Today we read of how God rescues wanderers. The next three sections speak of other kinds of rescue. If you are in need of God’s rescue, then read on past verse 7. Find hope and promise in the word of God.

The Psalm begins with a declaration and an invitation. In verse 1 we read, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever!” God is indeed good. And, yes, God’s love will never end. Even after all is made new when Jesus returns, God’s faithful love will pervade the new heaven on earth. Evidence of God’s goodness and love comes in verses 3-7. But first, in verse 2, we are asked a question: “Has the Lord redeemed you?” Anyone who has walked with the Lord for very long will answer, “Yes!” If so, may we follow the instructions that come next: “Then speak out!” May we tell others of the ways that God has rescued and redeemed us, opening hearts and minds to the ways that God might transform their lives too.

In verses 4 and 5 we read of some who need rescued: the lost, the homeless, the hungry, the thirsty. We’ve all been these things. If not physically then certainly spiritually, emotionally, relationally. When we’ve cried out for help, God has rescued us. When we cry out again, we trust that God will rescue us again, just as God rescued Israel again and again and… We have been and know that we will be guided to safety – and to connection, hope, strength… May this be the story we tell. God is good. God’s faithful love lasts forever. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, again and again you have been faithful and good to us. We’ve known your love and the rescue that you bring. Lead us to tell others our stories, helping them to see how your goodness and love can transform their lives too. Guide us to continue to trust in you and to seek your rescue and redemption in our own times of need. In you is all of our hope. Amen.


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God IS There

Reading: Exodus 14:22-31

Exodus 14:31 – “The people were in awe of the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.”

Photo credit: Diego Gennaro

The exodus story continues! The Israelites walk through where the sea had been. The dry ground under their feet and the walls of water to the left and right must’ve been amazing. Many must have walked through eyes wide open and jaws hanging down. Meanwhile, the Egyptian army was in hot pursuit. They probably didn’t even notice the amazing things that God was doing. If so, maybe they’d have stayed on their side of the sea.

God drew the army in and then threw them into a panic. The slow movement allowed Israel to finish crossing the sea. At this point, the Egyptians realize that God was fighting for Israel. It was too late. Moses stretched out his hand and the sea returned to its normal place. The whole army drowned. God rescued Israel. It happened right there before their eyes. The outcome? “The people were in awe of the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.”

In the possible God moments, are you more like the Israelites or more like the Egyptians? Do you notice when God shows up to rescue? Or to redeem or to reconcile or to renew? When we are open to or even seeking God, we see that God is there. I’ve noticed encounters with God in a church balcony, in an ER room, in a prayer room at an event, and in a hospital room more than once. But I’m sure I’ve missed others. Yet in the moments when we need God to be present, God is there. Always. Be open to it. Seek the Lord. God is there.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for making a way for Israel. And thank you for showing up in amazing ways during our times of need. Help us to notice, to see, and even to seek you. Open our eyes to see the times that you part the sea, and the times when your touch is gentle and small. In all things, may we encounter you, O God. Amen.


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Present Always

Reading: Matthew 18:18-20

Matthew 18:20 – “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.”

Continuing in Matthew 18 today, Jesus emphasizes the power of his presence. We experience Christ’s presence when we gather in his name, working together to reconcile a broken relationship. We are extending Christ’s presence when we seek to rebuild connection and when we continue to pursue wholeness even when the other person is resistant. In today’s reading we learn that because Jesus is with us in the reconciliation process, our decisions and actions are guided by the Holy Spirit’s presence. There is divine support for our decisions made and for our actions taken under the guidance and direction of Christ’s Spirit.

Jesus assures us that these things decided upon and prayed over in his name will be done by God. God will do God’s will reflective of our thinking, speaking, acting, and praying according to God’s will. When our efforts at conflict resolution include holy conferencing, the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and a desire to restore and redeem what was broken, then God will work in and through us to bring healing and wholeness to our relationships and to our communities of faith. Unity is God’s plan.

Jesus reminds us of this unity in verse 20, saying, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.” As we undertake the holy work of reconciliation, Jesus is present in Spirit. And Jesus is present when we gather for worship, when we come together in fellowship, when we enter into a time of study or prayer as a small group, when we serve a meal to a school staff or to folks struggling with poverty… Yes, Jesus is always present to us when we gather in his name. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, we are grateful for your Spirit that leads and guides us in all of life. We are especially grateful for the Spirit’s presence in our times of conflict and hurt. In these uncomfortable and often tense situations, lead and guide us to be people of love and grace, mercy and forgiveness, kindness and compassion. Thank you, Lord. Amen.


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Stories of Mercy

Reading: Romans 11:29-32

Romans 11:31 – “In the same way, they have also been disobedient [and] because of the mercy you received, now they can receive mercy too.”

As we conclude our time in this week’s Epistle reading, the main idea is that God’s mercy extends to all people. This is a common theme in the New Testament and in Paul’s writings in particular. In many ways, Paul reminds us that we all fall short. Because of our human nature, we are tempted and we sin. Yet this is not our fate. Because of God’s great love revealed in Jesus Christ, we receive mercy. Our sins are forgiven and through repentance we become closer to the image of God. This is a process we experience again and again – hopefully with less and less frequency as we mature in our faith!

As it is with all aspects of our faith, mercy is meant to be shared with others. Because we receive mercy, we are to help others to receive mercy. This begins by being people who practice mercy in our lives and in the relationships that we keep. It extends by sharing our stories of redemption, and perhaps of rescue. By sharing our stories of mercy, we open other’s eyes and hearts to the possibility of them receiving God’s mercy. Because God’s mercy knows no bounds, our stories vary greatly. Some of us were saved from an addiction – alcohol, drugs, pornography, sex. Some of us were rescued from a vice – greed, pride, sloth, judging, control. Some of us were redeemed from a poor decision – theft, cheating, abuse, dishonesty. We each have our story of mercy. We are called to be conduits of God’s mercy. Who do you know that needs to hear your story of mercy?

Prayer: Lord God, help us to know and to develop our stories of mercy so that we can be articulate about your boundless mercy. Use us like prevenient grace – that which goes before and opens doors, inviting others to experience your mercy for themselves. Thank you, Lord. Amen.


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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.


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Thanksgiving and Praise

Reading: Psalm 105:1-6

Psalm 105:1 – “Give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make his deeds known to all people!”

Photo credit: Pablo Heimplatz

Psalm 105 is a call to worship. Yes, it was a call to worship long ago for the Israelites. And it is a call to us today to worship God in the ways that we live out our faith in the Lord our God. The Psalm begins with this invitation: “Give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make his deeds known to all people!” There are three parts to this invitation. First, give thanks. Whether through prayer, a journal, or both, daily thank God for your blessings, large and small. This practice of gratitude is good for our soul. Second, call on God’s name. This could be calling on God’s name in prayers and petitions. And it could be seeking God’s guidance and direction in our lives. And third, witness to your faith. Share the story of what God has done and is doing so that others might be drawn to our Lord and Savior.

These basic invitations are echoed in verses two and three: Sing, give praise, rejoice in the Lord! In verse four we’re invited to pursue or seek God’s presence and strength. While God is ever present and ever willing to be a part of our lives, God will not barge in or force the issue. God waits for us to “open the door,” and then God enters in. Invite God in!

Verses five and six invite us into acts of remembering. These are both personal and corporate. Remember God’s wonderful and marvelous works in your life and in the world around you. Remember through thanksgiving and praise. Recall God’s acts of justice – in your life and in our world. Offer thanks and sing! And remember who and whose you are: “children of Jacob… chosen.” For our place in the family of God, may we lift a celebratory and joyous word of prayer or a song of praise to the Lord our God!

Prayer: Lord God, we pause and offer our thanks for all you do in our lives to lead and guide us, to strengthen and encourage us, to forgive and redeem us, to restore and save us. You are an amazing, awesome, wonderful God! Thank you for choosing us and for being our God. Amen.


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Focus on the Good

Reading: Matthew 13:36-43

Matthew 13:43 – “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their father’s kingdom.”

Moving forward and inside the house, the disciples receive Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the weeds. Jesus (and now the Holy Spirit) plants good seeds in the hearts of Jesus’ followers. The evil one plants bad seeds that produce weeds. At the end of this “present age” the angels will come and harvest from the world “all things that cause people to fall away and all people who sin.” For these people, there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” in the “burning furnace” (hell.) “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their father’s kingdom.” The redeemed will exult in glory.

The disciples asked Jesus for an explanation because they did not get what he was saying. Jesus offers guidance and answers. At times we need guidance and direction. We don’t understand or we don’t know the next step to take. Jesus invites us to come to him, to ask him our questions. In prayer, we take them to the Lord. God responds to our prayers and through the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit, we grow in our faith and in our trust in God. As we grow in these ways, we will “shine like the sun” in this present age, even as we wait with longing for our final redemption. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, focus our hearts and eyes on you and on the good in our world. It can be easy to get distracted, to focus on the evil all around us. So, Lord, keep us out of the weeds. Lead us to focus on being the good in the world, on shining your light into this world. Amen.


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Weak, Ungodly, Sinners No More

Reading: Romans 5:6-8

Romans 5:6 – “While we were still weak, at the right moment, Christ died for ungodly people.”

Photo credit: Nick Fewings

In the first part of this week’s Romans 5 passage we were reminded of the hope, love, and peace that are ours in and through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Yesterday we were also reminded that we don’t just endure but also grow and are refined as the Holy Spirit guides us through the troubles and problems that are just part of living in this world. Looking back, these times can feel like a small miracle. Today, in verses 6-8, Paul turns to the work of Jesus that made and makes all of this possible.

In verse 5 Paul reminds us of this truth: “While we were still weak, at the right moment, Christ died for ungodly people.” There are three parts to this statement. First, Christ died for us while we were still weak. Before his death, all people everywhere were powerless in the battle with sin. Our human flesh is far too weak to stand against the evil one. But with Christ we are strong. Second, Jesus’ death occurred at just the right time. His birth, life, death, and resurrection – all parts of God’s plan. All solidly in God’s control. Jesus’ example, witness, and teachings – all placed exactly when and where they needed to be along the spectrum of God’s unfolding plan to redeem all of creation.

And lastly, Jesus died for the ungodly. This is not bound by time, place, or any other human construct. It is not bound by ethnic or social or even religious constraints. All of humanity are ungodly. Without a saving faith in Jesus Christ, we all live as ungodly, wretched creatures. Without belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we live in a state of separation from God. Without Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, we would live in this state forever. However, Paul reminds us, “while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Why? Because God loves us. Yes, God loves us.

Prayer: Lord God, it is true that some might die for a good person or for a just cause or even for the right reason. But for the ungodly, for the blind, for the ones lost in sin? Only Jesus and only through love divine. Thank you, O God, for sending your Son, knowing this was his human fate. Thank you, O God. Amen.