pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: sustenance


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Share the Gift of Life

Reading: John 6:25-35

John 6:35 – “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry… will never be thirsty.”

Leading into today’s reading, Jesus has just fed the 5,000 (a corporate miracle) and, after some time in personal prayer, has walked on the water to catch up to the disciples (a personal miracle.) The crowd follows Jesus to Capernaum, his home base for much of his public ministry. Jesus acknowledges that they are looking for him because they want more food. The crowd missed the miracle.

Jesus attempts to redirect the crowd’s focus. He points out that they are now chasing “food that doesn’t last.” Like most of the world most of the time, we can at time spend inordinate amounts of time and energy chasing after all kinds of “food” that doesn’t last: possessions, status, power, popularity. All of these things that feed our human ego and desire sadly leave our spiritual soul hungry and empty. Jesus encourages the crowd (and us) to seek “food that endures for eternal life.” In order to find this “food,” they (and we) must choose to “believe in him who God sent.” Belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior yields sustenance for our journey to eternal life.

Today is a day when many are thankful for the blessings in their lives – home, health, family, friends… Gathered around the table with family and friends, we who claim faith in Jesus also offer thanks to the Lord. We have found and believe in the one who proclaims, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry… will never be thirsty.” Just as we share food and drink around the table today, may we each day share the one who brings eternal life.

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you today for the abundant blessings in our lives, some temporal but many eternal. May we live each day as a celebration of the gift of life that you offer and give – here and now with you and one day in the age to come with you. Through our daily living may others come to know your Son, the gift of life. Amen.


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Praise – Our Response

Reading: Psalm 147:1-11

Psalm 147:11 – “The Lord treasures the people who honor him, the people who wait for his faithful love.”

Psalm 147 is a song of praise for God’s grace, care, sustenance, and love. In today’s reading, the first six verses focus on praising God for God’s gracious care for those in need. In verses 7-11 the praise shifts towards God’s care for all of creation.

Our reading opens with an invitation to sing to the Lord. The psalmist correctly identified why: it is good to do so and it brings pleasure – to God and to our spirits. The focus then shifts to God’s care for the people’s needs. It is post-exile. God is rebuilding Jerusalem and is bringing the exiles home. God heals their wounds, both physical and emotional/spiritual. This care and attention is just as careful and complete as God’s counting and naming all of the stars. So great and strong is God’s love and care, it cannot be truly grasped.

Verse 7 again invites us to praise God. Continuing we again receive why: for the rains and for the green grass that care for creation itself. God’s love extends to all of creation. There is no one excluded; there is no favoritism. Strength or speed (or anything else humankind may value) are not favored. No, God’s favor goes to those who walk with the Lord, to those who honor God by trusting in God’s faithful and steadfast love and care.

So here is our question: How will we praise God today for the love and care that we receive? What words – spoken, sung, prayed – will praise God today? What acts of heart and hands will honor the Lord today?

Prayer: Lord God, mighty are you and great is your love and care for us! From the smallest need to the greatest suffering, you are present to us and to our world. This day we ask that you would use us to minister to others, offering love and care in your name. Amen.


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Feeding the Hunger

Reading: Luke 24:28-35

Verse 32: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Photo credit: Lina Trochez

As our trio reaches Emmaus, Jesus acts like he is going on. Cleopas and friend invite Jesus to stay with them – the day is almost over. They have been intrigued by this stranger, drawn into the conversation. Jesus accepts their invitation to stay. Was this what he was looking for? Did they need to express a desire for more time, for more connection?

Jesus joins them at the table. Coming together around food was and is a gift of community, a sign of belonging. To welcome another is to offer invitation and to extend hospitality. It gives opportunity to engage in deeper conversation, to build community. The table is also a place where we are all the same – drawn by our need for both physical and relational sustenance.

At the table, together with friends, Jesus takes bread, gives thanks, and breaks the bread. As he gives it to these friends, their eyes are opened and they recognize him. Now the journey makes sense. They both ask each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Even though their eyes did not initially recognize Jesus, their spirits did. Jesus was feeding this hunger first.

It is this hunger that drives their response. After walking 7 miles, mostly in the heat of the day, they rise at once and return to Jerusalem. Finding their faith community, the place where they most belong, they share the story of the walk to Emmaus and of the breaking of the bread. Having tasted and seen, they witness to others, sharing the gift that they have received. May we do the same.

Prayer: Lord God, the more I digest and gain nutrition from, the more I am drawn to the spiritual food that you provide. It is a hunger that grows as it is fed. Use me as you will today, sharing the gift of life, awakening the hunger in others. Amen.


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Walking with Us

Reading: 1 Kings 19:1-6

Verse 4: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life.”

There are times in our lives when we come to a crossroads. The path that we have been walking feels like it has become more difficult than we can bear. We come to a point where we question if we can go on. In today’s passage, Elijah came to such a point.

He is coming off a pinnacle moment in his ministry. In miraculous fashion Elijah has just defeated the prophets of Baal – a foreign god. The people realized that God as “indeed God.” In response, they put all of the prophets of Baal to the sword. Next Elijah prays and a really long drought is ended. All is well!

But there is one problem. Jezebel, the king’s wife, is a follower of Baal. She sends word to Elijah: you’re next. Victory turns to fear and Elijah flees. This is a crossroads moment for Elijah. Fear takes over and he flees into the wilderness. After a day’s journey, he questions why he is running. Elijah says to God, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life.” He doesn’t want to fight anymore. He just wants it to be over.

Perhaps you’ve had similar moments. A few years ago I had one. A small segment of the church basically said they wanted a new pastor. My first thought was much like Elijah’s – “Fine, I’m out of here.’

In our passage Elijah is despondent. He lies down, hoping it will soon be over. An angel awakens him and gives him sustenance for the journey. God is not done with Elijah yet. In the days and weeks after that difficult and hurtful meeting, God sent me sustenance. Many people offered words of affirmation, support, encouragement. God wasn’t done with me either.

God has a way of coming alongside us, of walking with us. In the midst of trial or hardship God has our back. God calls us to walk faithfully, trusting in where God is leading us. May this be so for you.

Prayer: Lord God, you never give up on us. Your Spirit is a steady and sure guide, leading us to walk in faith no matter what may come. Thank you for this love that never fails, for this love that builds trust. Amen.


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God’s Gifts

Reading: Psalm 147: 12-20

Verse 12: “Extol the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion”.

Today’s Psalm reading is all about praising God for the gifts that he gives to his children. In the year we’ve had collectively, it is necessary to stop and to thank God for his gifts to us, even in 2020.

The first gift that we are to extol and praise God is for how he strengthens us and for how he gives us peace. God’s watch over us does not mean life will be free of pain or worry. We can face the sufferings and struggles of life with God’s presence, though. With God we have a companion for the journey, one to lean on at times, one to carry us in times when we cannot walk on our own.

The second gift to us that we are to extol and praise God for is our sustenance – the “finest wheat” and a whole variety of other foods and drinks. The third gift is the earth and ecosystem that God designed. The seasons along with their accompanying snow, hail, and rains… are all part of God sustaining us.

The last gift is his word. In the Jewish mindset this is the written word, the Torah. The law of Moses guides all of life. The holy scriptures are how they know God. This all is true for Christians as well. But we also have Jesus, the fuller revelation of God to humanity. Just as the Jews were God’s chosen people – blessed like “no other nation” – Christians are also blessed and set apart from the world. We are “in the world but not of it”. Our true home is in heaven with the Lord.

As we turn the page from 2020 and step forward into 2021, may we take a moment to extol and praise God for his presence, for his provision, and for his Son whom he shares with us every day. Praise the Lord!

Prayer: Lord, I thank and praise you for your presence in my life – in the highs, in the lows, and in everything in between. You are always there. I thank you for the many ways that you provide and care for me and my family. You are so loving and generous. And I thank you most of all for the gift of your living word, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.


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Seeds and Yeast

Reading: Matthew 13: 31-33

Verse 33: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast… worked all through the dough”.

As we consider these two teachings about what the kingdom of God is like we get the sense that it is growing and active and alive. These words should describe our journey of faith as well.

In the mustard seed teaching Jesus compares our faith beginnings to a small seed being placed into the ground. The reality for most of us is that our faith is the result of many seeds being planted in us – some by parents and grandparents, some by Sunday teachers and pastors, some by friends… Once the seed of faith begins to grow in us Jesus begins to take root in our heart. As our faith grows and becomes active and alive, it branches out and provided places for others to come and find rest, sustenance, support…

In the second teaching, Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast… worked all through the dough”. Like the slow and steady growth of the seed, the yeast works inside the dough in a similar manner. As the yeast begins to work it isn’t really noticable. This is like the initial stages of our faith too. God is at work in us in ways that are not noticable to the outside world and sometimes not even to us. Yet God is at work. Over time we can see the dough rise as the yeast works throughout the dough. Like most of our faith journeys the process is slow and steady. And like the yeast in the dough our faith is intended to affect all parts of our lives. As we mature and our faith spreads it should come to influence all areas of our lives – family, friends, work, social activities, personal disciplines… Just as the seed grows into a tree and as the yeast spreads throughout, may our faith continue to be alive and active, always growing, ever maturing. May each day bring us one step closer to the example of our faith, Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord God, looking back I can see those seed planters. I am thankful for my parents, for those who taught and mentored me in youth group and on Sunday mornings, and for my many brothers and sisters in Christ who have journeyed with me. Thank you for the rich and powerful community of faith. Amen.


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Hard Teaching

Reading: John 6: 56-60

Verse 60: “On hearing it, many of His disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching, who can accept it'”?

The miracles and the healings attracted people to Jesus. The thought of being able to see or to walk brought many. The idea of being freed of a disease or illness or of the demons inside brought others. Jesus’ touch offered wholeness and welcome back into community. The latest miracle involved food and the crowd returns the next day looking for more bread. But this day Jesus offers a different kind of bread.

Jesus reminded them of the manna – the bread that God had sent down from heaven to feed His chosen people in the desert. It offered the people sustenance, but it was just food. Jesus tells them that He too was sent down from heaven by God to feed the people. Jesus parallels himself to the manna in the sense that it must be eaten to receive life. To “eat” Jesus is to take in His teachings, to follow His way of love, to absorb who and what Jesus is so that one receives spiritual life, eternal life.

Many in the crowd struggled with this. Today we read, “On hearing it, many of His disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching, who can accept it'”? Many had just come for some more bread. Some probably just came in search of healing. But this? And this certainly is not the first or last hard teaching that Jesus will give. He speaks the truth and sometimes the truth is hard to hear.

Today some people are just like these in the crowd. They just come when there is a need. They cruise through life until a crisis arises and then Jesus is their best friend. Until the crisis passes. Others discover Jesus and dive into the relationship. But they come to a point where the teaching is hard. They love that thing more than they love Jesus and they walk away.

As followers we too know these struggles. Staying true in our walk with Jesus has its hard moments, when that “hard teaching” hits home and requires something inside to die to self. In those difficult moments may we remember the promise: “he who feeds on this bread will live forever”. May we ever feed on the Word made flesh, ever drawing strength for the journey. Amen.