pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Our Chosen Walk

Reading: Genesis 37:1-4

Genesis 37:4 – “When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of his brothers, they hated him and couldn’t even talk nicely to him.”

Returning to the opening verses of our Genesis 37 passage, we focus today on the larger picture. Overall, the Old Testament is the story of God’s chosen people – the descendants of Abraham, the Israelites, the Jews. Within this story, Joseph is like many others: the chosen among the chosen. Others also suffered at times because of their chosen status: Moses, David, Elijah… Whether an individual or the nation, at times each could relate to verse 4: “When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of his brothers, they hated him and couldn’t even talk nicely to him.” When the people grumbled against Moses, when Saul hunted David like an animal, when Elijah fled into the wilderness, when Edom attacked Israel, when Joseph was sold into slavery or was thrown into prison – the chosen suffered on God’s behalf.

This story line continued into the New Testament. The Christians were singled out, harassed, stoned, beheaded, crucified. It begins in the story with John the Baptist losing his life. Then Jesus suffers the cross. Stephen was the first of many followers to die for their faith in Jesus. This story line has continued down through the ages. The chosen people of God, whether Jew or Christian, are still persecuted, targeted, and even killed for their faith. To be the Father’s favorite can be a hard path to walk – individually and as a nation.

We are invited to walk this path. We’ve chosen to be called a Christian, to live a life of following Jesus’ words and example, picking up a cross at times. Now and then, we will be hated by the world and by people living in the ways of the world. In these moments, may the Holy Spirit give us the strength, faith, and hope to walk in Jesus’ footsteps.

Prayer: Lord God, “chosen” has always carried a weight with it – whether in faith or in athletics or politics or family. In our chosen walk of faith, O Lord, be close to us in the difficult moments, when that weight becomes a cost. And when we need it, please shoulder some of that weight. Amen.


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Live “Out Loud”

Reading: Matthew 5:13-16

Matthew 5:13 and 14 – “You are the salt of the earth….You are the light of the world.”

Following the Beatitudes, Jesus turns to this metaphor about living as salt and light. This call to stand out from the world, to live faith in ways that are fully present in the world – they read very differently according to time and context. These words of encouragement, for example, would have been received differently in real time versus in the days right after Jesus’ death or centuries later when the Roman persecution of Christians was really ramping up.

Jesus first declares to all disciples, “You are the salt of the earth.” Salt was essential to life in Jesus’ day. Salt was used to cleanse, to preserve, to seal covenants, to flavor food. A Christian’s faith can function in all of these ways. Faith cleanses away the sin of this world. Faith preserves what really matters: the way of God. It makes our relationships steadfast and unconditional. Faith flavors all areas and aspects of our lives.

Next Jesus declares: “You are the light of the world.” Faith is not to be hidden, but is to be used to light our way and to show others the life that brings glory and honor to God, not to self. As light, faith calls us to illuminate the evils of our world. Our faith is not to be private or secret, but is to “shine before people” and is to “shine on all who are in the house.” The world is our house.

Disciples today are still called to be salt and light. We are still called to live our faith “out loud.” Today that perhaps feels a bit more like it must’ve felt under Roman persecution. It feels like speaking against evil and against the powers of this world might be costly. Yet this personal cost pales in comparison to the social cost of silence in the face of injustice and other evils, both to our faith and to the lives of those being targeted. With this in mind, may we be salt and light to our world in need.

Prayer: Lord God, fill us with your love and mercy, with your grace and strength. Filled, empower us to stand for the marginalized and for those without voice, without power, without place. Build up in each of us a will to love and live as Jesus loved and lived. And, Lord, may it begin with me. Amen.