pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Our King

Reading: Psalm 2

Psalm 2:10-11 – “So kings, wise up! Be warned, you rulers of the earth! Serve the Lord fervently.”

Psalm 2 contrasts the kings of this world with the true king of God. The powers of this world rant and rave “uselessly.” Many rulers yet today talk just to be heard. They bluster and they bully and they oppress. They say this one day and they walk it back the next day. They scheme against the ways of God, seeking personally fame, glory, and power instead.

God’s response is to send the “anointed one.” While many of us today read this as Jesus, the people of God outside of Christianity did and do think of David, Israel’s greatest king of all time. If one is looking for a king that can defeat the Philistines or Babylon or Aram or Edom or Rome or… then David is your guy. King David made the nations his possession. He ruled with an “iron rod.” He was also imperfect.

As followers of Jesus, we don’t see a lot of difference between the kings described in the two paragraphs above. Yes, some kings claim God and their god. But if they truly worshipped God and loved God with all of their heart, then they would not bully and oppress and shift with the winds of the day. That is simply not the heart of God. Yes, kings and rulers must “wise up” and hear the warning. So must we, the rulers of our own kingdoms. All must “serve the Lord fervently.” So with all that we are, may we serve, worship, and love the Lord our God.

Prayer: Lord God, reign in our hearts and in our world. Draw us to humbly walk with Jesus as our example. Lead us to love faithfully – from you on down to the least of these. Guide us to stand for justice and to work for peace in our world. In all ways may Jesus be our king and our example. Amen.


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Shine the Light

Reading: Isaiah 9:1-4

Isaiah 9:2 – “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.”

Once again we return to a text that we read earlier in the week – just two days ago. The passage begins with encouragement: “Those who were in distress won’t be exhausted.” God will be present. The community will be present to one another. Strength and hope will begin with God and will ripple down through the community, touching even those outside of the family of God. As human beings and as people called to follow Jesus Christ, we are called to care for and serve and love all of God’s creation.

The prophet writes these words in verse 2: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” Today the light is the light of Christ that burns within each of us. The light shines into darkness of all kinds. It shines into the darkness of violence and oppression. It shines into the darkness of injustice and marginalization. It shines into the darkness of prejudice and targeting. It shines into the darkness of grief and death. The light of Christ brings hope and comfort, guidance and direction, peace and presence, healing and new life.

The light of Christ also shines forward. In the midst of darkness, the light declares victory – in both the near and one-day future. The light shines beyond the present difficulties. It reveals the way to a better future. It points towards a place of glory and joy. May the light of Christ shine brightly in each of us. May it sustain and encourage us and those who see the light shining for all people.

Prayer: Lord God, our world needs the light of Christ to shine brightly. So stoke up the holy fire within each of your children. Together may we blaze forth into our broken and hurting world, bringing healing and wholeness, unity and justice, love and peace. Amen.


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A Spirit Within

Reading: 2nd Timothy 1:1-7

2nd Timothy 1:7 – “God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled.”

In the greeting of his second letter to Timothy, Paul drops in a reminder of one of the core teachings of the faith: “the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.” Paul subtly reminds Timothy of a truth that he knows and claims but maybe doesn’t live out all of the time. This can happen to us too. In the difficult times and even in times when the daily routine gets rut-like, we can temporarily lose or drift from our faith. This happens most often for me when I bypass God – when I don’t stop and pray about something and when I just try to do whatever on my own.

Timothy is a gifted young pastor who is also too timid and too easily intimidated. Paul spent time with him, modeling what it looked like to preach the gospel with power and authority. Paul expresses gratitude for this time. He also celebrates the family legacy of faith that Timothy received from Lois and Eunice. Paul is “sure that this faith lives in you [Timothy].” Timothy is also reminded that Paul prays “day and night” for him and that he and his ministry was blessed by Paul’s “laying in of my hands.” Timothy has all he needs to faithfully serve the Lord.

The same is true for us. While we might not have had a Paul or Lois or Eunice in our lives and while preaching might not be our gift, we all have what we need to faithfully serve God. Paul writes of it in verse 7: “God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled.” When we claim the love, power, and self-control available through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence in us, then we can serve God and neighbor faithfully. Doing so, we do “preach” the good news of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord God, fill us with the presence of the Holy Spirit. Through that presence make us aware of both the gifts that you’ve given us and of the call that you’ve placed on in our lives. With the Spirit’s presence, lead us out in bold service to your kingdom. Through this service and through the power of the Spirit at work in and through us, may others come to know, claim, and live into the promise of eternal life found in Jesus Christ. Amen.


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In the Small and in the All

Reading: Luke 16:10-13

Luke 16:10 – “Whoever is faithful with little is also faithful with much, and the one who is dishonest with little is also dishonest with much.”

As we wrap up our passage from Luke 16, Jesus focuses in on our honesty with God and with ourselves. In verse 10 Jesus says that it all matters – from the small decisions that no one else sees to the biggest decisions that can impact a lot of other people. If we are faithful to God in all of the little ways – in how we see others, in our thoughts, in the things that we do in private – then it will become second nature to be faithful in the bigger moments of life. But if we are sinful in our private moments then it will be much harder to suddenly be righteous in the times that really matter.

It can be said that as followers of Christ we are “in the world but not of the world.” We live in the world every day but we truly belong to God. As we live out our days, do we strive to remain faithful to God’s will and way or do we chase after wealth and other things that the world treasures? In this process we use the gifts and talents that God gave us either to build God’s kingdom or to accumulate and gather wealth, status, and accomplishments for ourselves. Where we invest our time, energy, gifts, and resources reveals which master we are serving – God or the world.

An honest assessment of how we invest these things quickly reveals if we are serving and loving God or if we are serving and loving the world. Jesus is blunt: “You cannot serve God and wealth.” One of these fills our hearts with light and love, with hope and grace. The other leaves us ultimately with empty hands and empty hearts. May we daily choose to serve and love the Lord our God, being faithful in the small and in the all.

Prayer: Lord God, we beg you to walk with us moment by moment, being present in the thousands and thousands of decisions that we make daily. Keep whispering your guidance and direction into our hearts, keep nudging us to walk your path in the world. Guard our hearts and minds against the great temptations of wealth and success and power and popularity. Help us to choose to be faithful to you alone again and again and again and… Amen.


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Know This for Certain

Reading: Daniel 3:13-18

Daniel 3:18 – “Know this for certain, your Majesty: we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you’ve set up.”

Photo credit: Ricardo Gomez Angel

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have long stood out because of their faith. Since arriving in Babylon as exiles (along with Daniel), their strong faith in God has set them apart from the native population. It began, you might recall, when they refused to defile themselves with the king’s royal food. From that point forward, these four have risen up the ranks of civil service, causing envy, jealousy, and dislike.

Leading into today’s reading, King Nebuchadnezzar builds a 90 foot tall golf statue of himself. He gives the order that at the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, lyre… all must bow down and worship the statue (and therefore the king.) Some fellow administrators are quick to point out that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego ignore the order. They refuse to bow down and worship. In verse 13 we see that this enrages King Nebuchadnezzar. Brought before the king, the three are given a chance to bow and worship. The other option is to be thrown into the fiery furnace.

For most of us, the fear of death would rise up. For some, we’d consider losing all that we’ve worked hard for. And some might even bow and pray to the true God while pretending to pray to the statue. King Nebuchadnezzar asks Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, “Then what god will rescue you from my power?” Their response? Well, maybe God will rescue, maybe not, but, “Know this for certain, your Majesty: we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you’ve set up.” Maybe God’s glory will be revealed through rescuing Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, maybe it will be revealed through their steadfast and complete faith in God. May this be the faith that we have in the Lord our God.

Prayer: Lord God, what a faithful and courageous path Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose to walk. What a witness to faith. Lord, fill us with a faith that will choose to stand for you. From the big tests to the decisions that no one even sees, may you alone be the one we serve, the one we worship. Amen.


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A Saving Faith

Reading: John 20:24-31

John 20:29 – “Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.”

On the first Sunday, when Jesus came to the disciples, Thomas was not with them. After the disciples tell Thomas about it, he declares, “Unless I see the nail marks…” Thomas wants physical proof. We’ve been there. We’ve heard something that was too amazing to believe. In response, we say or think, “When I see it with my own eyes…”

A week later the disciples are gathered , still hiding behind closed doors. It is again a Sunday. (At this point, in their culture, they counted that day too.) Jesus enters into their midst – a sign of Jesus’ divinity and his risen nature. After greeting the disciples, Jesus offers Thomas his hands and side. It is the physical proof that Thomas demanded. Jesus then says to Thomas, “No more disbelief. Believe!” Thomas responds with a confession of faith: “My Lord and my God!” Thomas connects to the human and divine natures of Jesus, recognizing both as worthy of following and worshipping, respectively.

Jesus, speaking to those present, to us today, and to all who will read this story, says, “Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.” Generation after generation will come to faith in one not physically seen. In summary, in what some scholars believe to be the original ending to John’s gospel, he writes, “These things are written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, and that believing, you will have life in his name.” May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, even though we do not physically see Jesus, his presence can be “seen” everywhere in our lives. As we love our neighbors, as we serve those in need, as we walk with one another through the valleys, evidence of your Son’s presence is manifested in and through us. Use our witness to draw others to a saving faith. Amen.


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More Is Better

Reading: John 13:1-9

John 13:7 – “Jesus replied, ‘You don’t understand what I’m doing now, but you will understand later.”

The scene today is the celebration of the Passover meal. Present are Jesus and the twelve disciples. This is the fourth time in four weeks that we’ve read about this night. In Matthew, Mark, and Luke the focus is on the sharing of the bread and the cup, on the establishment of the new covenant. In all three the story then moves to the garden and on to arrest. In John’s gospel there is no bread or cup. John places the meal about half way through his story. Much is spoken by Jesus before his arrest happens in John 19. This is but one example of John’s disregard for time and historical sequence.

As chapter 13 begins we see that Jesus’ knows that “his time had come to leave this world.” Ever the one to love and serve, Jesus leaves the disciples one more tangible example of both. The meal is under way. Jesus knows that Judas will betray him. Jesus gets up, takes off his robes, and begins washing and drying the disciples’ feet. There is great symbolism in Jesus’ act. Taking off his robes is symbolic of taking off divinity to dwell in the flesh. Kneeling and performing this lowly, menial task is symbolic of how we are to serve others. The washing itself is symbolic of baptism, where our sins are washed away.

When Jesus comes to Peter, he protests. Jesus replies, “You don’t understand what I’m doing now, but you will understand later.” We also experience this is our faith journeys. Only later, through prayer or study or through the Holy Spirit’s presence do we come to understand what Jesus did for us. After some back and forth, the all-in Peter asks Jesus to wash his hands and feet too. If a little Jesus is good, more is better. While this is true, often it is only later that we, like Peter, truly understand what it is that we are asking for.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you first for the call to love and serve. It is who and what we are called to be as followers of Jesus. Grant us the courage and the willingness to do even the lowest things in our efforts to love and serve the other. And, Lord, lead us to seek to be more and more like Jesus. Empower us to do whatever you place before us. Amen.


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Power Under, Not Over

Reading: Mark 10:32-45

Mark 10:45 – “The Human One didn’t come to be served but rather to serve and give his life to liberate many people.”

As Jesus makes his way towards Jerusalem, Mark makes an observation. The disciples are amazed with Jesus, but the others following him were afraid. The “insiders” – the disciples – have no clue what potentially lies ahead. For the third time in Mark’s gospel Jesus tells them that he will be handed over and condemned, will be killed by the Gentiles (Romans,) and will rise after three days. The “outsiders” following Jesus understand that going to Jerusalem is a risky and dangerous place for Jesus.

Continuing the journey, James and John demonstrate the blindness of the disciples. Jesus has just told them what’s about to happen. Instead of being sad or reflecting somberly on this news, these brothers ask to sit at Jesus’ right and left hand in glory. They envision Jesus “coming in glory” with a powerful army to defeat the Romans. They want to be #1 and #2 in Jesus’ chain of command. Jesus tells James and John that they will indeed “drink the cup” and will one day experience suffering. But right now they are blind. One day they will see and understand the words Jesus speaks. Their request maddens the other disciples. Are they made that they didn’t think to ask first? A patient and kind Jesus gathers them up for a lesson.

Jesus tells them that they will not be “power over” leaders. They will not be like the current rulers who dominate others with their power. No, that’s not God’s plan or way. True power comes from service. This is “power under” – power that lifts others up. It is so with Jesus: “The Human One didn’t come to be served but rather to serve and give his life to liberate many people.” May it be so with us too.

Prayer: Lord God, today we are reminder that although Jesus held all the power in his hands, he chose the path of humble servant. When we are tempted to grab for power or to use the powe that we do have to lord it over others, remind us of Jesus’ words and example. Lead and guide us to be “power under” people, lifting others up, bringing you the glory and praise. Amen.


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Stepping Beyond Easy Love

Reading: Romans 12:9-16

Romans 12:13 – “Contribute to the needs of God’s people, and welcome the strangers into your home.”

In Romans 12:9-16 Paul calls us to love. He emphasizes loving without pretending. Other translations say “love without hypocrisy.” Paul is calling for genuine, sincere love, not fake or false love. Some of the time we can be tempted to love in ways that are superficial. We might, for example, say that we’ll pray for someone but be unwilling to take the obvious step that would be the answer to the prayer.

Paul connects this “pretend” love to cursing those who harass us and to thinking we’re better than or smarter than others. Genuine love would work against us being two-faced and against being arrogant. We are called to “hate” these evils and to “hold on to what is good.” Paul also lays out what it looks like to hold onto the good.

We are to love and honor one another. We are to be enthusiastic as we serve one another. We are to meet each other’s needs. We are to welcome in the strangers. (What a call to be the church both inside and outside the walls of the building!) We are to rejoice with the joyful, and we are to cry with those in sorrow. We are to bless others. We are to consider everyone as equals. We are to associate with those “who have no status.”

Much of what Paul writes in today’s passage parallels Jesus’ challenging words from yesterday in Luke 6. In essence both tell us to love those who are hard to love. There is also the same counter-cultural element to Paul’s words today. Love the stranger, love those without status or voice. There is risk in this call. Genuine love often involves risk.

Prayer: Lord God, as we’ve been reminded, sometimes it is easy to love. It is good and right to genuinely love our family, our friends, our church. Yet you call us to so much more. Encourage us to step beyond these familiar and safe circles of love. Guide us out into the unknown waters of the stranger. Lead us to stand on the uneven and rocky ground of the marginalized. Remind us, Lord, that in these places, we stand with you. Amen.


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Sincere Love

Reading: 1st Peter 3-5

1st Peter 4:7-8 – “Be self-controlled and clearheaded so you can pray. Above all, show sincere love to each other, because love brings about the forgiveness of many sins.”

1st Peter 3-5 is mostly about the ways to conduct ourselves as followers of Jesus Christ. In chapter 3 Peter writes about having an inner beauty that can win over non-believers and also about honoring those who are weaker. He encourages all believers to be of one mind (Christ’s), to be compassionate, and to be modest. When someone asks about our hope, be ready to speak with “respectful humility.”

Peter also addresses suffering. He begins with a reminder that Jesus Christ “suffered on account of sins, once for all.” This was so a believer can enter into the presence of God. Peter encourages us to “arm yourself with his way of thinking.” He invites us to rejoice when we share in Christ’s suffering because then one day we will rejoice when his glory is revealed. If we suffer in Christ’s name, Peter declares we are blessed because “the Spirit of God rests on you.”

Christian behavior receives much attention in these chapters. Don’t pay back evil or insults with evil or insults – give blessings. Don’t waste time doing what unbelievers do. Instead, “Be self-controlled and clearheaded so you can pray. Above all, show sincere love to each other, because love brings about the forgiveness of many sins.” Open your homes and serve one another using the gifts God has given. Humble yourselves. Throw your anxiety on God. (He cares about you.) Keep alert – the devil is on the prowl. Resist and stand firm in the faith, knowing that others are also enduring suffering. And in the end, “the God of all grace will himself restore, empower, strengthen, and establish you.” Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, build up in each of us obedience, compassion, and a humble servant’s heart. Walk with us, bringing strength and encouragement during the trials and suffering. In those moments, remind us of the way of Christ, he who suffered for each and every one of us. Daily help us to model a genuine faith, standing firm in your love and grace. Thank you, Lord. Amen.