pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: relationship


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Mender and Restorer

Reading: Isaiah 58:9b-12

Isaiah 58:12c – “You will be called Mender of Broken Walls and Restorer of Liveable Streets.”

Continuing in Isaiah 58 today, we find some conditional statements: “If you…” These are not givens. They are choices. These are choices that the people of God need to make every day. If you remove the yoke of oppression and injustice… If you stop the finger-pointing, the name-calling, the blame shifting, the spin cycling… If you “open your heart to the hungry,” to the naked, to the lonely, to the abused… If you “provide abundantly” for the afflicted, the abused, the imprisoned, the lonely… “If you…”

If you choose to do all of these things, then “your light will shine in the darkness.” If you choose to do all of these things, then God will “guide you continually and provide for you in parched places.” If you live as God calls you to live all of the time, then the world will change. We cannot live as we are called to live just some of the time. We cannot live as God calls us to live when it’s easy or convenient, when it is personal, when it’s affecting us. The tide of evil is too great for us to pick and choose when we’ll live as God’s people. With this in mind, notice the shift in verse 12. This too is conditional. If we today live as God calls us to live faithfully and steadfastly, then one day “they” will rebuild and restore. Our example of holy living has the power to change the world.

These words of healing and hope are so needed for our broken world. The establishment of a world without brokenness, of a world where peace and justice are the norm – this world will not come through violence or coercion or power over others. The hard work of restoration and repair, of rescue and redemption will come through small acts of love, lived out again and again. These small acts of love will, one by one, change people’s lives and hearts. Standing against an injustice done to a stranger, speaking words of peace on behalf of the threatened, telling truth amidst the spin and false narratives, owning our part when we are complicit, mending a relationship that is broken, sharing a meal with the poverty-stricken, caring for a sick neighbor… These small acts of love are how our light shines in the darkness. May your light shine today.

Prayer: Lord God, there are many broken walls and many unlivable streets in our world today. How these unjust systems and evil practices must grieve your heart! Lord, may they grieve our hearts too. And then, Lord, with compassion and righteousness, use us to be your love and your light in the world, bringing healing and wholeness and peace and justice to our world. Amen.


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Three-Fold Faith

Reading: Micah 6:8

Micah 6:8 – “…to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.”

In today’s verse from Micah 6, we find what many call the summary of the Torah or Law of Moses. Others say that this verse is a summary of the good news of Jesus Christ. These three actions seem so simple when taken as spiritual direction. It is when we begin applying this three-fold faith to our lives that we find out how challenging and difficult these three actions are to really live out day by day.

To “do justice” is to live in right relationship with God and with all people. To do so requires us to restore or redeem these relationships when they are damaged or broken. It is fairly easy to do these things with those we love dearly. But to practice justice with our “enemies?” Another prophet calls us to love even these. To “love faithfully” is to maintain and daily live out our commitment to fully love God and to fully love one another. This commitment transcends legal requirements and it goes beyond the place where we begin to experience a cost or to pay a price. A prophet once went to the cross to demonstrate faithful love – loving us to the full when we were yet lost in our sin.

The third part of this three-fold faith is the power that makes it possible to do justice and love faithfully. One must choose to walk humbly each day with God and with one another if one is to meet this challenge. When we place love of self behind love of God and love of neighbor, only then can we walk as Jesus walked. Our world today is so in need of justice, love, and humility. Each day may we strive to be these three actions before God and to the world. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, grant us the courage, the wisdom, and the strength to daily live out this three-fold challenge. Empower us through your Holy Spirit’s presence to live in these ways, bringing hope and peace, love and justice to a world in need. Amen.


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Engage Daily

Reading: Matthew 4:18-23

Matthew 4:23b – “He announced the good news of the kingdom and healed every disease and sickness among the people.”

Earlier this week we read and pondered Jesus’ move away from Nazareth, moving to Capernaum in Galilee. This move distanced himself from the threatening worldly powers but it was not an attempt to isolate. The first thing Jesus does in this new place is to call the first disciples: Simon, Andrew, James, and John. Jesus invites them to leave all that they know behind to “Come, follow me.” As these four fisherman respond to the call, Jesus is building a new kind of community, a fellowship of believers.

Today our charge is to alter this invitation slightly, calling to people, “Come, follow Jesus.” This too is an invitation into belonging, into community, into fellowship. In our modern world, one filled with loneliness and division and unease, people are longing for meaning and purpose and for a place to find worth and to be loved. As humans, we need connection. We need to be part of something that matters. So let’s invite others into our circles of faith, whenever and wherever we have the opportunity to engage today.

In verse 23 we gain a model for how to be invitational. Simply inviting others to church is good, but it is not enough. One can be just as lonely, just as lost, just as broken, in a room full of people. Jesus taught a new way of living and being in the world. We have his words. We can share them with others, teaching them and showing them the way of love. We also have the ability and gifts to “heal” others. Through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit we have all that we need to help free others from many forms of sickness and disease. This walking alongside others, sharing the good news, it helps them to strip away all that hinders them, opening the way to the new life that Jesus Christ offers to all people. To this end, may we engage today in this ministry of healing and wholeness.

Prayer: Lord God, open our eyes, free our tongues, guide our steps. As we encounter the hurting, the lost, the lonely, the broken today, empower us to make connections, to meet a need, to share the words of life, to offer words and acts that bring healing and wholesome to people’s lives. With Christ as our model and example, use us today to lift others up as we invite them into a relationship with Jesus and into our communities of faith. Amen.


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Point to Christ

Reading: John 1:35-42

John 1:41-42 – “He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah.’ He led him to Jesus.”

As we continue in John 1, John the Baptist continues to do what he has done since going out into the wilderness: he points people to Jesus. He declares to anyone who will listen: this is the “Lamb of God.” Two of John’s disciples listen and they follow along behind Jesus. He notices and asks them what they’re looking for. It’s a ‘who’ really. So Jesus invites them to “Come and see.” Spending some time with Jesus, they know that he is the one who has come to save Israel.

Andrew then goes and finds Simon, his brother. He proclaims Jesus as the Messiah to Simon and “He leads him to Jesus.” Andrew witnesses and then walks alongside, bringing Simon Peter to the Christ. From John the Baptist’s simple proclamation, three disciples are made, three souls start on the road to salvation. In these simple steps we have a model to follow. Following these steps we can accomplish the main task of our faith. We too are called to tell others about Jesus and to walk with them so that they can know the Messiah. In these ways, we too point others to Christ, Savior and Lord. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, put us to work today. In the encounters we have with others, may our words and actions reveal the Christ in us. Revealed, use our witness to draw others so they too may know the Savior. In all we do and say, may we bring you all the glory. Amen.


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In Partnership

Reading: 1st Corinthians 1:1-9

1st Corinthians 1:9 – “God is faithful, and you were called by him to partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The opening of 1st Corinthians reminds those in these churches of some important things. First, they have been made holy and are called as God’s people. Second, they are bound together with the church universal through their faith in Jesus Christ. These truths continue to hold fast today.

Paul then praises these early believers for God’s grace that is evident in their lives and for the knowledge that they’ve received from God. Paul tells them that all of the spiritual gifts necessary for the church to be the church are present in Corinth. I believe that the same can be said of our churches today. God equips us to do the work of God amongst one another and in the world around us. We are gifted to do this work.

When Paul was writing, it was not an easy time to be a follower of Jesus. The Jews and the Romans were both opposed to this new faith. Persecution was common. That is why Paul encourages them, assuring them that God will keep their testimony blameless. Their lives will match their words and vice versa. This is possible because “God is faithful, and you were called by him to partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” The partnership worked then and continues to work today because God is the foundation and is the source of our strength. In this partnership, may we ever be faithful to our call to witness to the good news of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord God, you alone have the power to defeat the things of this world. Some of these things are threatening and dangerous. Some are powerful and violent. Some are sneaky and deceitful. God, lead and guide us, strengthen and empower us, fill us with your Spirit and presence so that we may stand firm and can remain true to you alone, our God and King. Amen.


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Strength and Peace

Reading: Psalm 29:6-11

Psalm 29:11 – “Let the Lord give strength to his people! Let the Lord bless his people with peace!”

Verses 6-9 demonstrate the power of God’s voice. Nations and mountains “jump around” like young animals at play, going here and there with no reason. Fire and earthquakes rattle the land. The forests are stripped bare. These physical events happen in our created world, revealing the power of God. In our lives, times of suffering and loss and trial can make us feel like the created world must have felt. The loss of a loved one, the end of an important relationship, an unwanted change, a health crisis – these events can disorient us, can shake us, can make us feel bare and vulnerable. And events in our world – things that have nothing to do with us directly – can have the same impact, bringing hurt, lament, and even anger at times.

Verse 10 reminds us that God “sits enthroned over the flood waters.” In the wake of the disaster – physical or emotional or relational – God is present and in control. In the aftermath of loss, in the valley of grief, in the wilderness of despair, God is present and in control. God does not abandon us. God remains with us. God reigns over all of creation, including you and me. So let us declare verse 11 as our prayer and hope for today and every day: “Let the Lord give strength to his people! Let the Lord bless his people with peace!” May it be so for us all.

Prayer: Lord God, be with us. Be our strength. Be our peace. Lord God, be with our world. Bring strength to our world. Bring peace to our world. In a world with too much unjust violence, in a world with too many abuses of power, in a world with too little love for one another, be our strength and our peace. Lord, fill us with your strength and peace. When full, God, send us out into this broken and hurting world, bringing your strength and peace with us. Amen.


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Lord of All

Reading: Acts 10:34-43

Acts 10:36 – “This is the message of peace he sent to the Israelites by proclaiming the good news through Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all!”

As cultures and as individuals we are well-practiced at placing ourselves and others in categories, boxes, distinct groups, pecking orders… There are a variety of reasons that we tend to do this. It is easy. But easy is cheap. It discards our uniqueness. It makes us feel better about ourselves. But it is an artificial and temporary identity. It gives us places to fit in, to belong. “Fitting in” – it is shallow and limited. It is freeing. We don’t have to worry about, care for, or make space for “them.” This excludes and disrespects whole swaths of people and/or groups in one fell swoop.

In today’s Acts reading, Peter’s speech comes after Peter has been summoned by God to go to Cornelius’ home. This Roman centurion was about as far outside of any box that Peter thought was acceptable as one could get. Yet here Peter was, right where God wanted him to be. That’s the thing about the Holy Spirit – it will do the same with us if we hear, listen, and follow. When we go there, where the Spirit leads, we will come to truly know what Peter learned: God shows no partiality.

In his speech, Peter states that acceptance into God’s family comes through worshipping God and living a righteous life. Luke writes, “This is the message of peace he sent to the Israelites by proclaiming the good news through Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all!” To be this message of peace is to be a person who is open to include all people, who finds worth and value in all people, who seeks to find common ground with all people. This is the example set by the one who did good and healed, who died and rose again. This is the one who offers forgiveness of sins to all who believe in him as Lord and Savior. It is a wide-open invitation. The only qualifier, the only requirement, the only need is belief. Jesus can be Lord of all. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, in love you call all people to a saving faith. In grace you call us as we are: sinful, flawed, selfish. In mercy you show us who and what we can be for you when we walk faithfully and live righteously. With forgiveness, you restart our journey again and again. We thank you today for always being a God whose heart is bent on forming community and building relationships. Guide us, shape us, and form us to have your heart. Use us to share the goods news of Jesus Christ: he is Lord of all. Amen.


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The Lord’s Voice

Reading: Psalm 29:1-5

Psalm 29:4 – “The Lord’s voice is strong; the Lord’s voice is majestic.”

Photo credit: Rainier Ridao

Psalm 29 offers praise for God’s power and glory. It begins with a scene in heaven, where the divine beings worship God’s glory and “holy splendor.” In verse 3 the scene shifts to the earth. Here the Lord’s voice is over the waters. This image evokes many things. It first connects back to the Genesis 1 story, where God was the creator. God’s voice hovered over the waters and brought order and purpose. The voice of God swept out over the waters as a wind – the Holy Spirit. It was not booming and powerful, but was quiet and steady. This is how we most often experience the voice and Spirit in our lives.

The “waters” would evoke fear and awe in the original audience’s heart and mind. In that culture, the waters were an untamed place of chaos and raw power. The depths were unknown and unstable. Yet in this Psalm, readers then and now are reminded that God is in control of all things – even the chaotic and unknown. This is a good reminder for us in those times when our lives and world feels chaotic and unstable.

The Psalm then declares, “The Lord’s voice is strong; the Lord’s voice is majestic.” David uses an earthly example to demonstrate this. God’s powerful voice shatters cedar trees. Here where I live, we recently experienced this as 100+ mph winds shattered and toppled and uprooted many trees. Hearing the wind howl and then seeing the results, I was reminded of God’s power in and over the created world.

At times, God’s voice speaks this way into our hearts and lives too. A strong word of conviction humbles us. A powerful nudge shakes us out of our preferred complacency. A gust of love lifts us up and sets us on our feet once again. And then, at other times, God’s powerful and almighty voice becomes quiet and still, gently guiding us, meeting us right where we are at. For all of the ways that God speaks, in our world and in our hearts, we say, thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, we rejoice today for the many ways that we hear your voice. In the mighty and unmistakable, in the quiet and steady, in the word and in the world, you speak again and again. For the deep love that drives this constant connection with you, we offer our thanks and our praise. Amen.


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Seekers and Searchers

Reading: Matthew 2:1-12

Matthew 2:11 – “They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling on their knees, they honored him.”

Today is Epiphany, the day we celebrate the visit of the magi or wise men. Epiphany falls twelve days after Christmas every year. Yes, it is the reason for the song about a partridge in a pear tree. The magi were scholars who came from the east. They saw a new star in the sky and after studying various texts, decided that the star’s arrival was connected to ancient Hebrew stories about a coming Messiah. This led them to go on a journey, seeking and searching for this newborn king. The star guided their way.

I often wonder what first led these wise men to leave home and, second, to continue the journey for two years. While likely religious, the magi certainly were not Jewish. While likely naturally curious, as most scholars are, something must have kept them going. Jesus obviously had not yet performed any miracles or offered any amazing teachings. Yet something about the prophecies and the new star and the star guiding their way drew the magi day after day closer and closer to Jesus. Finally arriving, “They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling on their knees, they honored him.” Once there, the magi knew who they had found.

The story of the magi and the celebration of Epiphany is significant for Christians because it is the first instance of Jesus reaching out to the Gentiles, those outside of Judaism. Something about the story and/or something about the light and/or something about Jesus the Messiah drew them to Christ. The same is true for people today. Mingled together in people’s hearts as curiosity, a deep longing, a sense of the divine, whispers of good news, these things continue to draw people towards Jesus. As ones charged with making disciples of all nations, may we notice the seekers and the searchers and may we invest in their journeys to Jesus Christ, Savior of the world.

Prayer: Lord God, like the magi, many today seek and search for Jesus Christ. Some do not know what they are searching for, but they know that something is incomplete in their hearts. Some sense what is missing, but they don’t know how to find or get to Jesus. Use us as a light and as the presence of Christ in the world, helping the seeking and the searching to find connection and relationship with you. Amen.


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Steadfast Presence

Reading: Jeremiah 31:7-9

Jeremiah 31:9 – “With tears of joy they will come… I will lead them by quiet streams and on smooth paths so they don’t stumble.”

Photo credit: Lili Popper

Jeremiah proclaims a glorious future for the people of God in chapter 31. We pick up today in verse 7, where the prophet calls on the “remaining few” to sing with joy because God will save them. Speaking to those scattered during the time of exile, God declares that they will be brought back “from the ends of the earth.” For a nation living in exile, grieving all that has been lost, sorrowful over their present but seemingly unchangeable reality, the promise of God acting to redeem and restore them offered great hope.

Life will make us feel like the exiles felt. At times we will grieve – over the loss of a loved one or a career, over the ending of a relationship, over the changes caused by aging… We feel scattered and often all alone during these seasons. It is good to be reminded that God’s plan is to save us, to restore us, to redeem us, to bring healing and wholeness back to our lives.

Turning to verses 8b and 9, we see that God will bring back all of the people of God, including the blind, the disabled, the pregnant… By naming those on the margins and those who are most vulnerable, by including them specifically, God is emphasizing that “all” means ALL. This is good news for the “least of these” and it is for us when we feel this way too. Tears of joy and prayers of thanksgiving will both flow freely. God “will lead them by quiet streams and on smooth paths so they don’t stumble.” God will guide the way, making the return peaceful and safe, two essentials when healing from grief and loss. God will comfort Israel as a parent comforts a child. In our seasons of need, God will bring us peace and safety, comfort and healing too. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, we rejoice in your steadfast presence in the past, with us now, and in the future. Your love never fails. Your mercy and compassion always meet us in our times of need. Your grace brings us peace. Your strength lifts us up and guides our journey. Thank you for being with us always, especially in our times of grief and sorrow. Amen.