pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: relationship


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Help and Hope

Reading: Psalm 146:5-10

Psalm 146:5 – “The person whose help is the God of Jacob… whose hope rests on the Lord their God – is truly happy!”

Psalm 146 celebrates God’s activity on behalf of those in need. The psalmist declares that those who seek help from God and who place their hope in God, they will be “truly happy.” When God is the one we turn to, hope in, trust… then our focus becomes our relationship with the God “who is faithful forever.” We can rejoice even in our trials and sufferings because we know that God will triumph over all these things one day.

In verses 6-8 the psalmist speaks of the Lord’s activity in specific ways. We could re-write these verses, substituting in ways that God has acted in our lives. We could name a time when God brought justice to a time when we were being mistreated. We could write of the time when the Lord freed us from a prison of our own making. Just as the psalmist rejoices in the ways that God feeds the hungry, opens blind eyes, lifts the lowly, and protects the vulnerable, we too can celebrate moments when God has done these very things (and more) for us.

Daily remembering that we are “the person whose help is the God of Jacob… whose hope rests on the Lord their God,” we can daily draw upon the power and presence of our God. Drawing upon, leaning into, trusting in God, we can find and live out the happiness and contentment found in Psalm 146. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, you reign forever, over all the earth! Your presence is constant, your love is neverending. Daily you desire to walk with each of us, from the least to the greatest. Open each of our hearts to receive you, to surrender to your will and ways, to be your hands, feet, and love in the world. Daily use each of us to draw all people into your help and hope. Amen.


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Jesus Offers, Invites

Reading: Matthew 11:2-6

Matthew 11:3 – “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”

By the time Matthew’s gospel reaches chapter 11, Jesus has given the Sermon on the Mount, has healed many people, has calmed a literal storm, has gathered the twelve disciples, and has begun training them to carry on his ministry of healing and wholeness. During this time, John the Baptist’s ministry has diminished and he now finds himself in prison, having angered King Herod. Searching for hope, John sends his own disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” From his prison cell, it must not feel like the kingdom of God is what he’d hoped it would be.

Presenting evidence of what the kingdom of God looks like here on earth, Jesus mostly quotes from Isaiah 35 and 61, adding a few of his own words too. Jesus is reminding John of how the Old Testament prophets described the Messiah and his kingdom. Healing and wholeness, fullness of life, deep relationships and community, humble service – this is God’s plan for this created world. It is to be as Jesus taught, “on earth as it is in heaven.”

The evidence that Jesus gives are both our inheritance and our marching orders. Jesus offers to open our eyes so we can see as he sees, just as he invites us to do the same for others. He walks with us when we cannot walk alone and he asks us to do the same with one another. Jesus cleanses us of our “diseases” and he speaks truth into our hard hearts. He brings life to what was once “dead” and he restores relationships. All of these, in turn, Jesus invites us to do for the world. As we find healing and wholeness through Jesus Christ, may we work to bring these to our world in need. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, open our hearts and minds to receive all that you offer. Being filled with your love, guidance, presence, healing, and hope, turn us out into the world, pouring ourselves out for the healing and wholeness of all creation. Use us to manifest your kingdom here on earth. Amen.


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Together with One Voice

Reading: Romans 15:4-6

Romans 15:4 – “Whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction so that we could have hope through endurance.”

Photo credit: Fredrik Ohlander

As we enter Romans in chapter 15, Paul is in the process of elevating the community over the individual. For example, in chapter 12, Paul argues that individuals are given gifts by the Spirit for the benefit of the community (not for individual gain or glory.) In chapter 14 Paul emphasizes pleasing God and loving neighbors more than self. At the start of chapter 15 Paul encourages patience with those who are less mature in faith. As Christ did, Paul invites those who are able to build up their neighbors.

Today in verse 4 we read, “Whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction so that we could have hope through endurance.” Paul and his theology are deeply rooted in the Old Testament and in the Law in particular. But his understanding and application of the scriptures changed radically through his relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul saw and understood how Jesus came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. There is no better example of this than in the Sermon on the Mount, beginning in Matthew 5. Again and again Jesus unpacks the Law through his use of the sayings, “You have heard that it was said… But I say to you…” In each of these examples and in how he lived out his faith, Jesus was demonstrating what love of God and love of neighbor truly looked like. Paul looks at these examples and encourages the church to emulate Christ’s attitude in their lives.

The early church needed hope so that they could endure the trials and persecution of their day. We too need hope to faithfully love God and neighbor in the midst of a culture that elevates self above all else. Like the early church, may we find strength in the scriptures, in Christ, and in our community of faith, all to “glorify God… together with one voice.”

Prayer: Lord God, we pray for daily strength and encouragement, for hope and peace. Draw us deeper into your word, deeper in our relationship with Christ, and deeper into our communities of faith. In these things we find support, help, and the power to love you and to love neighbors as Christ first loved us. Lord, use our daily living to glorify your name and to build your church. Amen.


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Christ Reigns!

Reading: Colossians 1:15-20

Colossians 1:18 – “He is the head of the body, the church… firstborn from among the dead so that he might occupy first place in everything.”

In today’s hymn of praise Paul elevates Jesus to his rightful place: the one who is supreme over all of creation – past, present, and future. Paul begins by identifying who Jesus is: “the image of the invisible God.” In the flesh, dwelling here on earth, Jesus revealed fully who and what God is. Then Paul connects Jesus to the very beginning, to Genesis 1, stating that “all things were created by him.” Paul unpacks “all” a bit to help us understand the totality of Christ’s reign. “All” includes things visible and invisible, including all powers and rulers. Paul doubles down, declaring that Jesus existed before all things and that in Christ, “all things are held together.” Christ reigns over all of creation! Hallelujah!

In verse 18 Paul then writes, “He is the head of the body, the church… firstborn from among the dead so that he might occupy first place in everything.” Here Paul enters the now and then. Jesus is the head of the church now and into the future, giving guidance, direction, strength… through his Spirit. And Jesus is the path to the next life, the way to eternity. Through the cross and his blood, Jesus made a way for all things to be reconciled to God, to be made right with God.

This act of surrender was not just at the cross. The fullness of God also surrendered, taking on flesh, experiencing suffering and sorrow, doubt and temptation. God chose this because God longs to be in relationship with us. God in the flesh walked as one of us so that we could become one with him. Hallelujah and amen!

Prayer: Lord God, alpha and omega, beginning and end, first and last, you are in all things and all things were created for your glory. We are created in your image, made to be your heart and hands and feet in this world, just as Jesus was. When we fail to honor you, reconcile us. Use us to reveal to the world what it is to live daily with you on the throne of our hearts. Amen.


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Wonderful Love

Reading: Luke 23:39-43

Luke 23:42 – “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

As we continue in the crucifixion scene, we read Jesus’ only real interaction with anyone since he spoke to the mourning women on the way to the cross. In our reading today one criminal joins in the mockery and adds a selfish request: “Save yourself and us!” It is then that another voice speaks, this time for Jesus. The second criminal asks the other, “Don’t you fear God?” This is a telling question. He recognizes that they’ll soon die and that he’ll soon stand before the next judge – the one who will pronounce a sentence of eternal light and love or one of eternal torment and darkness.

Turning to Jesus, the second criminal says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He wants to go where Jesus, the innocent one, is going. Jesus offers him words of assurance, of welcome, of love. Yes, “today you will be with me in paradise.” This is so interesting to me. Jesus does not require a confession of sin first. He doesn’t quiz the man about his past life. Jesus doesn’t wait for a pledge of repentance or for a request to be baptized. The man just wants to be with Jesus for whatever is next. He longs for a reality-changing relationship with the Lord. Jesus welcomes the man in love.

This remains who God is. We don’t have to be perfect to present ourselves to God. In fact, God does some of God’s best work when we come broken or hurting or humbled or vulnerable. It us then that we are most malleable, most ready to be made new again. This is love. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, it is reassuring to know that your love never changes. At our very best and at our very worst, your love is the same. It is a wonderful love. Lord, help us to have this kind of love. Amen.


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All We Need

Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-6

Jeremiah 23:5 – “He will rule as a wise king. He will do what is just and right in the land.”

Photo credit: Hans Heiner Buhr

Chapter 23 of Jeremiah is titled “Promise of Restoration.” The promise begins with a warning and then adds God’s solution. In verse 1 the prophet declares, “Watch out, you shepherds…” Jeremiah is specifically referring to the kings of Judah but also to the religious leaders. While the king is ultimately responsible for the well-being of the people, the priests also had a prominent role to play in helping the people remain faithful to God. All of the shepherds, however, have become inwardly focused. Instead of tending to the needs of the flock, the selfish behaviors of the leaders has, in effect, “scattered my flock and driven them away.” God declares to these bad leaders, “revenge” is coming.

Verse 3 shifts leadership back to God. God will act, gathering the sheep, making them fruitful and numerous again. God will “place over them shepherds who care.” Under good shepherds, there will be no fear or worry. Needs will be met. All will be well cared for. Jeremiah’s words get more specific in verses 5 and 6. These messianic words point to Jesus, the one who will rule as a “wise king.” Guided by the Spirit, the wisdom from on high, Jesus’ kingdom will be one of justice and righteousness. He will offer salvation to all people.

When Jesus arrived in Israel, they needed a Savior. The people longed for someone to save them from the Romans. Jesus longed to save them from their sins and lack of abiding faith. Jesus taught and healed, inviting the people back into an intimate, dependent relationship with their God. He then died, offering self as the sacrifice, offering salvation to the world. This Jesus, he continues to save us from self and to give us all that we truly need. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, we can long for things we do not need. We can wish that you would wipe away our problems and our enemies. Remind us again and again that you love us so much. Remind us that you always provide just what we need. Help us to abide in you, trusting in your will and way. Open our eyes to see that your way is always the best way. Amen.


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Imagine…

Reading: Isaiah 65:20-25

Isaiah 65:23 – “They won’t labor in vain, nor bear children to a world of horrors, because they will be people blessed by the Lord.”

The themes of yesterday’s reading from Isaiah 65 get fleshed out today as we continue reading. We see what the new heaven and earth will be like. We see the reasons for joy and gladness. Infants will live to see old age. Good health and long life will be enjoyed by all people. All will be housed and have enough to eat. Imagine what this would be like! Sadly, though, this could be a reality right now if we just loved and cared for one another as God created us to do.

In this light, verse 23 hits hard: “They won’t labor in vain, nor bear children to a world of horrors, because they will be people blessed by the Lord.” Many will go to work today wondering when they will earn a living wage, making enough to not have to live paycheck to paycheck. Many will wake their children and wonder if they can feed them another day or if the bills might somehow get paid so that they can still have a roof over their heads. Talk about horrors. What would it take for such as these to be “blessed by the Lord?”

To be blessed, the current people of God must be so intimately connected to God that God would hear and answer before we call or speak. Such an intimate relationship would first require that we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. When we love God this way, we find that we love others in the same way. With eyes of love we would see the vulnerable. And as we see them and are moved by the Spirit, God would hear and answer, leading us to be a part of making the new heaven and earth more of a present reality. Imagine what this would be like…

Prayer: Lord God, we have so much more than enough. Because of your great love, we have great abundance. But we also have great greed and an inward focus. Lord, loosen our grip on things. Bend our focus outward, away from self. Send us to the people and places of need. Use us to bring wholeness to our world. Create around us communities where all flourish, where all are blessed. Connect us to one another, spreading hope and grace. Amen.


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A Charge to Keep

Reading: Psalm 98:4-9

Psalm 98:9a – “He is coming to establish justice on earth!”

Continuing in Psalm 98 today, the new song kicks off. All the earth shouts triumphantly to the Lord. Humanity adds lyre, trumpet, and horn to their voices. The seas roar and humanity echoes. The mountains rejoice as the rivers clap along. There is a great rejoicing when all of creation joins together to praise God. Reading these five verses, one can sense the connection that God designed between humanity and the created world. If you’ve walked quietly in the woods or sat alone on the beach or looked peacefully out from the mountaintop, you’ve likely sensed this connection between self, creation, and God. In these moments, it is as God intended it to be.

Humanity has not always gotten this intention “right.” Often we tilt the relationship in our favor, exploiting creation and even one another for our own benefit. Even though we have gotten “better,” too often we fail to treat all of creation as an intimately connected part of who we are. God recognizes this. In verse 9 the psalmist declares, “He is coming to establish justice on earth!” Since the writing of this Psalm, the verb tense has changed. Jesus has come to establish justice. He walked among us, teaching humanity about living justly with one another and with creation.

Jesus’ dual purposes – to live amongst us to teach us how to love and to die for us to free us from the power of sin and death – these meant that he could not be here forever. So he left the task of establishing justice to his disciples. Eventually this charge fell to you and me. As I look at the world, it is far from a just place for all people and for all of creation. There is much work to do. The work must begin where we are – feeding the hungry family next door, comforting the grieving elder down the street, standing with the abused spouse and children who need protection, fighting for the just treatment of the vulnerable in our communities… A charge we have to keep. May it be so until all have justice.

Prayer: Lord God, one of us cannot fix all of the injustice in the world – or even in our smallest of communities. But together… Together with you, we are powerful and mighty. Lord, walk with us, using us to bring justice to creation and to one another. Amen.


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Wonderful Things

Reading: Psalm 98:1-3

Psalm 98:1a – “Sing to the Lord a new song because he has done wonderful things!”

Psalm 98 is a song of praise for God’s victory. These words of joy come from deep within the psalmist’s soul. His or her joy simply exudes from these words of praise. It pours forth especially from the first line: “Sing to the Lord a new song because he has done wonderful things!”

When have you felt this kind of joy in your life? When have you felt completely blessed to be in God’s presence? For me, great joy has come in moments both big and small, at times anticipated and at other times totally unexpected. From moments in worship when suddenly tears of joy are streaming down my face to times when holding a newborn child in my arms, these experiences fill my heart, reminding me that God is present in our lives.

The psalmist rejoices first in victories won by God’s “strong hand… his holy arm.” These might be great military victories or they might be triumphs over sin in our lives. I’d lean towards the second because the author next expresses joy in God making salvation and righteousness known to “all the nations.” Today’s portion of Psalm 98 closes with the psalmist celebrating God’s love for and faithfulness to God’s people. This has helped spread salvation to “every corner of the earth.” What joy the psalmist has!

What is the source, what fuels this joy? It comes from time in two ways. First, it comes from time spent with God: practicing a daily quiet time of prayer and study, investing in our relationship with God. Second, our joy builds each time we experience the hand of God touching our lives. These “touches” also deepen our relationship with God, opening our eyes to see joy, widening our hearts to be filled with joy.

Prayer: Lord God, your salvation and righteousness continue to pour forth into the world. Your love and joy pours out from your heart into our lives. We join the psalmist in celebrating the wonderful things you do in our lives and in the world. Hallelujah and amen!


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Alive and Connected

Reading: Luke 20:27-38

Luke 20:38 – “He [God] isn’t the God of the dead but of the living.”

The Sadducees come to Jesus with a question. The Sadducees were a group of religious scholars who were committed to a literal interpretation of the Law and to then applying this understanding to life. This group enjoyed challenging one another’s interpretation of the Law. What they are doing with Jesus was partly this practice. But it is also partly a power play. Because they interpret so literally, the Sadducees cannot make room for concepts like resurrection from the dead. In this interaction with Jesus, the Sadducees want to prove that their interpretation is correct, that their understanding is right. We too can be guilty of wanting scripture to fit our needs or to feel that our reading of this or that passage is the correct reading. We can, at times, want scripture to conform to our way instead of allowing scripture to conform us to God’s way.

In today’s interaction with Jesus, the Sadducees take a Mosaic Law and they run it out to the extreme. In Jewish culture, the oldest male in a family was privileged. For example, they received a double portion of the inheritance. They usually married first. If the oldest brother died without a male heir, the next brother would marry the widow to continue the oldest brother’s family name. So Jesus, in heaven, does the woman belong to the seventh brother or what? Well, Jesus tells them, in heaven there is no marriage. Like the angels, all who are worthy of this resurrection life are simply God’s children. That relationship will be all that we care about in the age to come.

As the interaction closes, Jesus brings the idea of being God’s children into this age too. He tells the Sadducees that God “isn’t the God of the dead but of the living.” This age matters. How we live in this age matters. Our relationship with God is paramount here too. Jesus adds, “To God they are all alive.” Living or dead as we see it is not how God sees us. Living or dead, our spirit, our connection to God, that is always alive. For this unchanging relationship, for this unending love, we say thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for being our God, our Father, both in this age and in the age to come. Your love for us never changes. When we want to get a bit like the Sadducees, wanting our way to be the right way or the only way, remind us that your ways are far above our ways. Turning to the Spirit within, guide us to seek your voice, to discern your purposes. Help us to walk in faith each day in this life so that one day we can see you as you truly are. Amen.