pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: relationship


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Fact or Opinion?

In today’s reading Paul is writing to a church that is in conflict.  The issue is to eat or not eat food sacrificed to idols.  Today we do not have this particular issue in our churches, but we have others.  Paul’s advice to the Corinthians still applies to our churches today, many years later.

In our churches we all have facts and opinions.  Facts are the basic tenets of our faith – one God, Jesus resurrected, forgiveness of sins, love one another – and rules or laws that govern our church or denomination.  The tenets of our faith are unchangeable, universally true throughout time.  The second set can be changed through whatever process the church has in place.  Some of the laws and rules of a church tend to change over time, to better reflect the society and times in which the church exists.

And there are opinions – those things not explicitly explained in the Bible (like how to perform baptism) or are not in the Bible at all (like when to hold worship).  In these things we find all sorts of ways to find differences.  But arguing amongst ourselves or causing another to sin because of our actions is not living as a Christian.

Paul reminds us to let love be our guide and to be open to others.  He reminds us to always be building relationships.  He reminds us to find unity in our common ground.  Paul also reminds us to be aware of how our behavior influences others so that we are not a stumbling block.  Paul was wise.

Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 8: 1-13


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Relationship Through Christ

God desires to be in a relationship with us.  God’s love should draw us to Him.  His free gift of salvation through Jesus is proof of that love.  A relationship with God should be the foundation of our life.

There are other faces that people see as God.  Some only know of God as vengeful and jealous, distant at best.  Some only know of a God ready to strike us down when we sin.  Some know God as one who expects perfection from us.  If one of these is the God we know, then entering into a relationship with Him is difficult.

God’s love is shown in Jesus.  Jesus was not vengeful or jealous but was willing to say what needed said, but always with love.  Jesus never struck anyone down but did cause them to look within and to see what needed cast out.  Jesus was perfection and calls us towards perfection.  Jesus experienced life as a human and can relate to our struggles.  His is the first hand there to lift us up after we have failed.

Relationship with God must come through His Son, Jesus Christ.  As we come to build this relationship, we are drawn to share it with others.  When others see love and nothing else as our motivation, they too are drawn towards faith.  Today may we be the light and love that our world needs.

Scripture reference: Psalm 62: 5-12


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Always Working

Does God change or does He always remain the same?  I think the answer is both.  The qualities of God do not change.  God always loves us, always longs for a relationship with us, and always works to bring us into or back to that relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, His Son.  God loves good, wants justice for all, and seeks for His people to love Him and to love neighbor.

The city of Nineveh was full of vice, sin, evil.  God wanted to restore them, to see them repent.  So He sent Jonah and he proclaimed God’s message to the people.  The people repented and God had compassion on them.  Their actions changed their outcome.  Some would say it all went according to God’s plan.  But if the Ninevites would’ve kept to their evil ways…

God acts much the same way in our lives.  In His many attempts to love on us and be in relationship with us, He sends us Jonahs to help us make good choices, to help us walk in His ways.  We hear this voice in the Bible, in sermons, in conversations with Christian friends.  God also speaks to us through the Holy Spirit.  When we fail to heed to these voices, God just finds another voice or another way to get our attention.  Some people spend a long time trying to ignore God and His messages.

In this we find another way that God never changes: He so wants all of us to enter into His eternal kingdom.  He spends our whole lifetime if necessary working towards that end.  Again, I say thank you God!

Scripture reference: Jonah 3: 1-5 and 10


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Growing Closer

There are times when we know we have been graced by God’s presence or when we can sense that the Spirit’s presence has been with us.  At other times we feel as if we were part of something that was led by God or was truly done in His name.  In these times, the existence of God is without question.  We have these moments to fall back on for strength – to remember when doubt begins to creep in or when fear rises up.

Our experiences with God also provide us with a filter or lens to look at future encounters with or through.  With each experience we come to know Him more.  With each encounter we come to recognize Him quicker.  All of this adds to the depth of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

The more God is revealed to us, the easier it is to hear His call.  As our experiences grow, we come to discern His will better.  We grow in our ability to separate His voice from all of the other voices that call out to us.  God’s promise to draw near to us as we draw near to Him is lived out as we choose to make time for Him and to walk daily with Him.  On this Sabbath day, may we draw very near to God.

Scripture reference: John 1: 47-51


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Baptism and the Holy Spirit

Baptism is both an individual and a communal experience.  Whether it is the parents during an infant baptism or the individual in a believer’s baptism, when on is baptized there is a claiming of the personal connection to God through His son Jesus.  At the same time, in both baptisms, there is a communal component as well.  With baptism one is welcomed into the community of faith.  As a community we love, care for, and encourage one another as well as guiding, correcting, teaching, and holding each other accountable.

In Acts 19, when Paul offered Christ’s baptism to some new believers, the Holy Spirit came upon them.  The Holy Spirit is also part of the communal and individual aspects of entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ through our baptism.  The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in each of us and begins to lead and guide us in many ways as we live out our day to day lives.  The Holy Spirit is also present in community as well.  The presence of the Holy Spirit can be felt in worship, in times of prayer, in the sharing of the message, and in the singing of songs.

Through our baptism we connect to Jesus and we become connected to our community of faith.  The Holy Spirit enters and works in our lives to develop and grow our faith and to deepen our relationships with Christ and with our fellow believers.  May we allow and seek the Spirit’s presence in our lives.  May we be sensitive to the presence of the Holy Spirit as it seeks to live in, to breathe through, and to gently guide us day by day.

Scripture reference: Acts 19: 1-7


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Allowed to Choose

In the beginning God pushed back the darkness and chaos to usher in the light.  He spoke the word and it was so.  Each day of creation that unfolded followed the same pattern of God speaking and it being so.
In the beginning of our lives we are all creations of God’s hand.  But for many of us, at some point we lose that connection and find ourselves separated from God.  This is through the choices we make.  It is not God’s doing.  For those who did not grow up in the faith, they feel that hole that cannot be filled on their own.  All feel a pull towards the divine.
So why doesn’t God simply speak and make each of us a faithful and constant follower of Christ?  Why doesn’t God speak and have it be so?  Life would be do much simpler!
Although we are created in the image of God and are all loved by God, He does not force himself upon us.  We are given a free will to make our own choices.  When we are allowed to choose for ourselves, we are so much more invested in the outcome.
A forced faith is not true faith.  We must each choose to enter into a relationship with Christ and then daily continue to walk in that relationship.  He loves us enough to let us choose.  This day may we choose the Lord.
Scripture reference: Genesis 1: 1-5


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Into Holy Relationship

Christ becoming flesh, the incarnation, changed everything.  His birth altered the order forever.  Christ came so that God could draw everyone into relationship with himself.  The barriers of who was in and who was out were shattered – all were now welcome in.

Psalm 148 speaks beautifully of how all of creation is woven together.  From the angels and heavenly hosts to the sun, moon, and stars to the creatures of land and sea to the snow and winds to mankind – all are bound together as God’s creation.  The psalm resonates with power, strength, and majesty.   It brings hope and optimism for our future and for our world.

The hope and optimism lies in God’s desire to be in relationship with all of creation.  He constantly seeks to enter into renewed relationships to restore all of the brokenness to wholeness.  We, as His children, are part of this seeking.  He longs to continue to guide us to be good stewards both to the earth and to each other.  As we live into this holy relationship that God constantly calls us to, may we also seek to include all of our fellow man in this relationship as well, so that they too may find healing, hope, and, most of all, God’s love.

Scripture reference: Psalm 148


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The Right Order

In this season it can be easy to get caught up in the volume of gifts or in spending a lot of time and energy trying to find just the right gift.  Yet for many the gift they most desire is one that is free and that is always available: time.

Our relationship with God can be similar.  We can get so busy doing things for God and we come to think that our works are what matter to God.  It’s easy to get caught up in what we do FOR God instead of focusing in on who we are TO God.  Maybe in Advent it is even easier to get caught up in this game because Christmas can be about giving.

Adding to the mix is the fact that when we do or accomplish things for God, it can make us feel important or special.  We must be careful here.  God cares about who we are much more than about what we do.  Our relationship to God is what matters most.  From this relationship, the ‘doing’ naturally flows.  When asked, Jesus listed loving God first.  He knew the right order.  If we first love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, then loving others naturally follows.

Scripture reference: 2 Samuel 7: 1-7


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There to be Found

At times we all enter into periods when it seems God is not around.  It can be for just a short time or it can be for a season.  About the time we start to question God’s whereabouts, we realize that it was us who was missing because God is always present.  Maybe it is our choices that have led us away.  Maybe it is because we have allowed ourselves to become too busy with life.

Sometimes it is a challenge to stay connected to God during a busy time like Advent.  Seems counterintuitive, but it happens.  A famous theologian once said, “Today looks like a very busy day.  I better pray for two hours instead of one.”  His attitude is so spot on.  Advent calls us into a deeper relationship and commitment despite the increased business of the season.

God desires to speak peace, comfort, love, and strength into our lives.  He desires a close daily relationship with us.  And what does it require of us?  Simply time, an ear turned toward heaven, and a faithful heart.  He is there to be found.  May we each connect with Him this Advent season!

Scripture reference: Isaiah 40: 1-5


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Make It Yours

Where are you God?!  That is the cry of Israel in Psalm 80.  Catastrophe has struck and, therefore, they question where God is.  Surely He is not present, or this would have never happened.  Been there before?

In the midst of tragedy the Israelites beg God to turn His face to them and to shine on them.  Once God looks on His people, He will see their hardship and He will restore them.  He will stop the suffering at the hands of their foe.  Ever sought this?

Verse 17 asks God to let His hand ‘rest upon the son of man’, the one He raised up.  If so, the promise is they will not turn away but will call on His name – after God revives them.  A familiar if-then bargain!  Sound familiar?

The relationship we are called to is 24-7-365.  It is the same in the good and in the bad and everything in between.  God is always present to us.  His love and mercy are always available.  Make it yours each day.

Scripture reference: Psalm 80: 1-7 and 17-19