pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Work to Be Done

Reading: 2nd Peter 3:8-12

Verses 11-12: “What sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God.”

Photo credit: Clay Banks

As Peter closes his second letter, he addresses their concerns about the delay of Jesus’ return. He first reminds them of the difference between God’s time and their time. It has been about 30 years since Jesus was raised from the tomb. In the present moment, 30 years of waiting does feel like a really long time for us. Yet from God’s perspective, 30 years isn’t even a miniscule blip on the eternal timeline. Yet Peter does understand the believers desire for Jesus to return. I love Peter’s words and thoughts that address this longing: “God is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

I love the fact that Peter sees beyond just the believers. It’s not all about them (or us in today’s context.) It is partly about the other. As the day will come “like a thief’s – unexpected and suddenly – the followers of Jesus need to always “live holy and godly lives.” Day by day they must live always ready for Christ to come. Peter is echoing Jesus’ words from last week: stay alert, be ready, keep awake. The second emphasis in this part of the passage is on the other. They are why God is patient. They are why the second coming has not yet occurred. God wants “everyone to come to repentance.” Everyone.

Peter’s encouragement to live holy and godly lives is both for their own salvation and for the non-believers salvation. The believers must live this way to be able to witness to the other. Always loving and caring for others reveals Jesus’ love and care for the other. This is how they and we work “to speed its coming.” Yes, there is still work to be done. Let’s get busy!

Prayer: Lord God, what great love you have for all of humanity. Your patience is waiting on us to make disciples of all peoples. This feels like an “all” – not just some, not just most. This requires us to have a love as deep and wide as your love. Make it so within us, O God. Amen.


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God at Work

Reading: Psalm 105:1-6 and 37-45

Verses 5 and 45: “Remember the wonders God has done… that they might keep God’s precepts and observe God’s laws.”

Our passage from Psalm 105 can be quickly summed up in these words from verses 5 and 45. It is about remembering and praising God for all that God has done. In turn, this leads us and strengthens us in our walk of faith. In the Psalm are examples of all that God has done. We too could and should make such a list that details our faith journey.

The psalmist fills the opening verses with responses to God’s work in the lives of the Israelites: “give thanks… make known… sing… tell… glory… rejoice… look… seek.” Each is done or offered with an attitude of gratitude and with thanksgiving filling the heart. These are all ways that we too can offer our praise and thanksgiving to God.

Verses 37-45 (and the rest of the Psalm) are all about remembering the specific actions of God on behalf of the people of God. In our verses today the psalmist celebrates the actions of God during the exodus from slavery. God showed up and showed out again and again. The challenge today is to reflect on your faith life and then to write down a handful of times that God showed up and showed out in your life. It can be a simple list that you write down and then lift up in prayer. It can be on a timeline that you praise your way through. It can be a poem or a song that you put together, read or sung as an act of prayer and praise. Taking the time to be intentional about remembering and thanking God reinforces our faith and it strengthens us to “keep God’s precepts and observe God’s laws.” May it be so!

Prayer: Lord God, fill my heart with gratitude as I remember all that you have done in my life. Each step, each stage – a drawing in deeper into our relationship. Each moment, each season – a place of learning and growth in my faith. Please continue to work in my life, O Lord. And in turn may I serve you in this world. Amen.


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Strong, Loving

Reading: Psalm 62: 9-12

Verse 12: “You, O God, are strong… You, O Lord, are loving”.

In our reading today David begins by acknowledging that all of us are “nothing”, “only a breath”. We are each but a blip on God’s timeline. Therefore, David advises us not to trust in the things of this world, saying, “Do not set your hearts on them”. These are sobering thoughts. Yet they do not need to be frightening or to make us anxious. Our passage concludes with these words concerning God: “Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done”. We each have control over this reality. We are who controls and has influence over how God rewards us.

We are God’s creation, made in his image, born with the spark of the divine within us. We are also flesh and bone, drawn to the things of this world. David has experienced both sides of this, just as we have. As he writes from a place of maturity in his life and in his faith, he states, “You, O God, are strong… You, O Lord, are loving”. These two characteristics of God are what allow us the opportunity to receive an eternal reward that continues our relationship with the Lord. God’s strength is what guides us and empowers us to withstand the temptations of this world most of the time. God’s love is what forgives and redeems us when we fail to withstand. Thanks be to God for both his love and his strength!

Prayer: Lord God, as strong as you are, you understand my weakness. As loving as you are, you understand my selfishness. You understand both because in Jesus you walked both out in the world. So your love is always stronger than my weakness against the powers of the world. Guide me as I go out into the world; use me to help others know of your love and strength. Amen.