pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: witness


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“Preach” Always

Reading: 2nd Timothy 3:14-4:5

2nd Timothy 4:2 – “Preach the word. Be ready to do it whether convenient or inconvenient. Correct, confront, and encourage with patience and instruction.”

Paul’s encouragement to Timothy begins with an invitation to stay focused on the word of God. Timothy began learning the word as a young child and has grown in his understanding of the scriptures. Paul reminds him that all scripture is useful – sometimes for teaching, other times for correcting, sometimes for training, other times for showing mistakes. As our guide to faith, scripture will equip the faithful “to do everything that is good.”

Shifting to chapter 4, Paul commissions Timothy “in the presence of God and if Jesus Christ.” The heart of his commission falls mostly in verse 3, where we read, “Preach the word. Be ready to do it whether convenient or inconvenient. Correct, confront, and encourage with patience and instruction.” While the formal preaching most often happens on Sunday morning, the most impactful sharing of the good news occurs outside of that 15-20 minutes. The bold and powerful witness, the sure and steady faith – this is how we “preach” our faith. Putting heart, voice, hands, and feet to service in the kingdom of God is the best possible way to preach the good news.

Paul warns Timothy that there will be challenges and suffering. He speaks of a time when people will “collect teachers who say what they want to hear.” Truth will be sacrificed for personal comfort and personal gain. In the midst of this, Paul emphasizes the importance of Timothy’s choices, advising him to “keep control of yourself in all circumstances.” Don’t engage in the ugly, don’t get caught up in the division. Prudent advice for our day too!

The apostle’s closing advice to Timothy is complete: endure suffering, do the work of sharing the good news, serve fully. Give God all that you are and all that you have. May this be our daily goal.

Prayer: Lord God, you ask for all of us – our energy, our resources, our time, our gifts and talents, our prayers, our love – given in witness to the good news of salvation found in Jesus Christ. Guide us, Lord, to preach always. Strengthen us when we’re weak. Encourage us when we’re challenged. Comfort us when we’re suffering. In all ways and at all times, use us to build the kingdom of God. Amen.


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Rooted in Belief

Reading: John 6:25-35

John 6:29 – “Jesus replied, ‘This is what God requires, that you believe in him who God sent.'”

Photo credit: Marek Piwnicki

In today’s gospel reading Jesus redirects the peoples’ focus. The day before, this crowd had been part of the miracle known as “the feeding of the 5,000.” They have followed the disciples to Capernaum, hoping to find Jesus there, hoping for more bread. He quickly points out that they missed the work of the divine within the feeding miracle. All they “saw” was the food. Jesus tells them to quit working for that temporal “food” and instead to seek “the food that endures for eternal life.”

We too need to hear these words of Jesus because we often strive after temporal things. Even in our lives of faith, our striving can become like checking boxes. Yup, went to church on Sunday. Read my Bible this week. Check. Prayed for my neighbor in need. Check that one too! Hearing the call to the eternal, the crowd asks Jesus what we can ask: “What must we do?” Jesus’ response is a redirect. It’s not about doing at all. Jesus says to the crowd and to us: “This is what God requires, that you believe in him who God sent.” Faith starts with belief in Jesus and it grows from this foundational place.

Even though Jesus’ direction seems clear to us, the crowd again asks, “What sign will you do…” A million miracles in themselves will not lead to faith. The choice for faith, again, begins with belief in Jesus as the one who is “the bread of life,” the one who satisfies our eternal hungers and thirsts. In time, yes, faith through belief will lead to experiencing God’s power and presence in ways that feel miraculous and will lead to service in the kingdom of God. But faith must always be rooted in our belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, we can do easily get caught up in striving after things, in checking boxes to assure ourselves of our progress. Help us to understand that it is not in the doing that “things” happen. Instead, lead us to trust that you alone are the one “doing” the work, even when we are serving you and others. Grounded in our belief in you alone, may our faith in you witness to your powerful presence in our lives and in the world. Amen.


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All of the Glory

Reading: 1st Timothy 1:12-17

1st Timothy 1:13 – “I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and without faith.”

Photo credit: Matt Botsford

Paul, as Saul, was one of those anti-Christian people. As he recollects in the first part of verse 13, he used to speak against Jesus and used to attack Jesus’ “people.” Saul was proud of his religion – Judaism. Connecting to yesterday’s idea of “practical atheists,” this is how the early Christians would have seen Saul. He did not understand or even accept Jesus. Saul’s actions and words strongly opposed Christ and his disciples.

Then Saul had his “come to Jesus” moment. In his words, “I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and without faith.” Christ changed his heart. Looking back on his past life as a Pharisee, Paul now sees himself then as “the biggest sinner of all.” This view is from Paul’s new understanding of what faithful living is. He recognized how Jesus came, lived, and died both to set and example of how to live a faithful and righteous life and to save people from their sins. Christ’s “endless patience” was demonstrated in Paul’s life and conversion. Now he lives to be an example of Christ so that others will come to believe in Jesus.

Paul is very grateful that Jesus saved him. This is what leads Paul to offer these words of praise: “honor and glory to him forever.” The gift of relationship that Paul now knows, the gift that that leads to eternal life, is offered to all people. To the Saul’s of the world and to the practical atheists – even those inside of us at times – Jesus Christ still offers new life. As disciples of Jesus Christ, may we bear witness as Paul did, bringing the Lord our God all of the glory.

Prayer: Lord God, as we seek to walk in relationship with you, work in our hearts so that we live in ways that bring you glory and honor. Use us as conduits of grace and mercy, opening others to the possibility of new and eternal life. Amen.


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The Church As Love

Reading: Acts 2:42-47

Acts 2:44 – “All the believers were united and shared everything.”

In today’s passage, Luke describes the early community of faith. The community acts this way because of and through God’s presence with them. Verse 42 lists four practices of the early church. They were devoted to learning about Jesus. They were committed to one another. The community shared meals together. And they prayed together. The level of connection to and care for one another, both empowered by God’s Spirit, brought a “sense of awe” to this community of believers.

God’s power was also evident in other ways. The apostles “performed many wonders and signs,” doing as Jesus had taught them to do. In verse 44 we read, “All the believers were united and shared everything.” There was a deep feeling of connection, rooted in love. This led to compassion and generosity being evident in the community. Those in the community were willing to sell their things to have the means to provide for other’s needs. All of this was guided by their faith in Jesus.

Daily worship reinforced and strengthened their connection to the Lord. Daily meals did the same for their connections to one another. Outside of the community, the believers “demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone.” Outside the “walls,” the church was Jesus’ hands and feet and heart.

Because of their faith and the ways they lived together and out in the world, “the Lord added daily” to their community. People were coming to a saving faith in Jesus each day. The love of God was transforming lives. May this be the kind of faith that we live out and practice daily.

Prayer: Lord God, what a beautiful picture of what it means to be the community of faith. As we live out our faith daily, O God, empower us to witness to the world this kind of love. Inside and outside the church, may we be living witnesses to your love for all of humanity. Amen.


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Raining Down Love

Reading: Colossians 3:12-17

Colossians 3:14 – “And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

Credit: Rebecca Gelaney

Today’s reading is a call to authentic holy living. Paul begins by inviting the Colossians to being “clothed” in the practices and attitudes of Jesus. The Colossians are encouraged to put on “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” These five characteristics, when lived out fully each day, would reflect Christ to each other and to the world.

The focus then shifts to the other side of the equation: how to act and be with one another when the other isn’t practicing these Christlike traits. Paul exhorts the believers to be “tolerant with each other” and to regularly practice forgiveness. They are to do these things because God regularly does this with them.

Paul then turns to what John Wesley said “contains the whole of Christian holiness.” This one characteristic connects and undergirds all the others. In verse 14 Paul writes, “And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” In all you do and say and think, lead with love. Doing so we will find that the peace of Christ does control our hearts. Leading in love we will express gratitude to God and for one another. Because of our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will teach and warn each other, helping all to walk in faith.

In all things, in all ways, in all places and times, may we “do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” This witness of love holds the power to transform hearts, systems, cultures, and nations. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, you call us to be love in the world, to bring light into the darkness. Use us as a witness that stands out from the ways of the world. Use us to rain down love into all of our relationships, into all of the brokenness, into the lives of all that we interact with. Fill us to overflowing with the spirit and heart of Christ, pouring these things back out into the world all around us. Amen.


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Focus on the Good

Reading: Romans 16:17-20

Romans 16:19 – “But I want you to be wise about what’s good, and innocent about what’s evil.”

As Paul closes his letter to the Romans, he returns to a familiar topic: Christian unity. On one level, in our age where the church has split into literally 100’s of denominations, this passage applies to individual churches. Yet on the larger level I can’t help but think that all these divisions grieves the heart of God. At what point do genuine theological differences divide and at what point is it personal preference or opinion that leads to division?

Taking broad strokes today, Paul warns us to “watch out for people who create division and problems against the teaching you heard.” Paul is talking about a core set of theological understandings about Jesus and what it means to truly follow him. My mind goes to the WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) bracelets… that we used to wear. This question still makes a great filter for Paul’s warning. Paul continues to advice concerning these folks, writing, “Keep away from them. They are serving their own feelings.”

We all know and see people and leaders who regularly choose selfish ambition over humble service to the common good. We see people in positions of power using “smooth talk” to justify the things they are doing and saying that would make Jesus cry and weep if he were present today. In the midst of all this Paul turns to the individuals that make up the church, saying, But I want you to be wise about what’s good, and innocent about what’s evil.” In the midst of a world focused on self, you focus on the good. Love God and love neighbor. Let that be your guide. Be well aware of the evils and stay innocent of these things. And trust. Yes, trust that “the God of peace will soon crush Satan.” Lord Jesus, come soon. Come soon.

Prayer: Lord God, as churches and as believers, we have so much in common in our theologies and understandings. Use these primary matters to create more unity in the family of God. Help us to understand that secondary and tertiary matters do not have to divide us. Lead us to make better choices, to model Jesus’ love better. Gather your church to be the witness that you desire us to be. Amen.


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Ingredients for Transformation

Reading: Acts 26:15-18

Acts 26;17-18 – “I am sending you to open their eyes. Then they can turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.”

Photo credit: Shane Rounce

In today’s reading Paul is telling his conversion and call story before King Agrippa. This is his last stop before being sent to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. As Paul is presenting his case, he starts at the beginning, on the day that he was traveling to Damascus to pursue and arrest more Christians. Blinded by a light from heaven, Paul encounters the risen Jesus. Gathering his bearings, Saul asks, “Who are you, Lord?”

Jesus identifies himself as “the one whom you are harassing.” The degree of connection that Jesus claims here is interesting. These words echo his words about “whenever you do this to one of the least of these…” (Matthew 25:40.) Jesus calls Saul, stating the he is here now “to appoint you as my servant and witness.” All the power and emotion of rage and hatred will be redirected as compassion and love. Further describing his new role, Jesus tells him, “I am sending you to open their eyes. Then they can turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.” Through Paul many will receive salvation, forgiveness of sin, and inclusion in the family of God.

Through this experience and others that will follow, Paul is made fully Jesus’. His whole life and being will focus on making Jesus known, on bringing others to a saving faith in Christ. In neither this account or the original telling (Acts 9) do we hear Paul apologizing to Jesus or repenting of his sinful actions against Jesus and his church. But the evidence bears witness to a complete 180, to a total change of heart. Making amends, admitting fault, seeking forgiveness are all necessary ingredients for transformation. Often these happen first in the heart, opening the way to bring made new.

Prayer: Lord God, speak into our hearts, open our eyes, reveal to us the ways that we are less than you call us to be in our witness to you and to our faith. Call us forward into the plans that you have for us, strengthening and encouraging us for the journey. Amen.


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Diligent and Intentional

Reading: 1st Timothy 4:7b-12

1st Timothy 4:10 – “We work and struggle for this: our hope is set on the living God, who is the savior of all people.”

Today’s reading comes from a section where Paul is instructing Timothy about spiritual leadership. In today’s verses and throughout this section Paul consistently connects the message and the messenger. For Paul, this life of faith was 24/7. The character of the message and of the messenger were integrally connected. This is why Paul exhorted Timothy to “Train yourself for a holy life.” To ‘train’ is to give focus and attention, to be diligent and Intentional about the condition of one’s soul.

Paul then focuses in on the mission: “We work and struggle for this: our hope is set on the living God, who is the savior of all people.” The work, the mission, the example Paul and Timothy set – it is to reveal their own hope and faith AND it is to help others to come to know Jesus Christ, the Savior, the source of our living hope. Paul encourages Timothy to “Command these things. Teach them.” This happens two ways. First, in his role as church leader. Second, in his daily living of a holy life. Again, these two sides of Timothy are inseparable. It is the same for you and me.

The apostle then addresses Timothy’s age. Paul reminds him and is that it is not about how old or how young you are. It is not about how much or how little religious education you have. It is not about your wealth or your poverty, you family history or lack thereof… To witness to our living hope, it is simply about your faith and living a holy life. For each of us, we know that God has chosen us and equipped us to share Jesus, our hope and our salvation. Knowing this, may we be diligent and intentional about sharing our faith with others.

Prayer: Lord God, please lead and guide us, strengthen and encourage us today to live a holy life, bearing witness always to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In all we do and in all we say, may our lives draw others towards the hope and saving grace that we find in you, our living God. Amen.


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Standing on Promises

Reading: Acts 28:1-10

Acts 28:5 – “Paul shook the snake into the fire and suffered no harm.”

Photo credit: Markus Spiske

Entering Paul’s story at the end of Acts, he is on his way to Rome. This will be his last physical missionary workplace. Over the next two years, as he awaits trial before Caesar, Paul will write letters, have faith conversations, and witness to God’s power and love. On the way to Rome, Paul is shipwrecked, along with 275 others. Today’s passage picks up this story.

The rain from the storm continues. The inhabitants of the island of Malta welcome them and build a fire. Paul, in typical fashion, joins in the work, gathering dry sticks for the fire. As he puts them in the fire, a poisonous snake bites him. The locals assume he’ll die but Paul isn’t bothered at all, just as he wasn’t when the ship was falling apart. Why?! An angel of the Lord has assured Paul, saying, “You must stand before Caesar” (Acts 27:24.) Trusting God’s word, Paul does not fear shipwreck or venom. He’s standing on this promise.

As the story continues, a wealthy man provides lodging. Once there, Paul heals Publius’ sick father. Word gets out and, soon enough, Paul heals all the sick people on the island. Here too Paul is standing on God’s promises. In Acts 9:15 Paul is identified as the one “chosen to carry my name to Gentiles, kings…” Paul heals these Gentiles in Jesus’ name, bringing glory to God, carrying the name and power of Jesus to the island of Malta.

God will call and equip each of us too, just as God did with Paul. The call is a promise; equipping is the proof. As we are given opportunities to share our faith and Jesus with others, may we too claim our call as we stand on God’s promises to us.

Prayer: Lord God, as you call into our hearts, inviting us to witness to our faith, encourage and empower us to stand in your promises and our call to share you with the world. Go with us in the Spirit, giving us the holy confidence to draw others into your love. Amen.


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What God Has Done

Reading: Psalm 22:19-31

Psalm 22:22 – “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; I will praise you in the very center of the congregation.”

Photo credit: Robert Linder

Returning to Psalm 22 today we pick up on the desperate tone that dominated yesterday’s verses. David invites God, his strength, to come quickly and to help and deliver him. He pleas for rescue from the dogs, lion, and wild oxen that surrounded and threatened him. At the end of verse 21, though, there is a shift: “you have answered me!”

In verses 22-31 David offers a hymn of praise. In verse 22 David writes, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; I will praise you in the very center of the congregation.” God’s rescue and restoration are worthy of his praise and worship. In the New Testament, in Hebrews 2:12, the author claims these words for Jesus. Jesus’ life and ministry declared who and what God was and is. His “work” was done in Israel, then center of God’s people.

David also sees a widening of the circle in verse 29. Here he declares that both the rich and powerful and the lowly and downtrodden will worship and kneel together before God. The inclusion of all peoples is a theme begun by Jesus and expands as the church moves out into the world. As the Psalm concludes, David looks to the future. He foresees a time when future generations will learn of the Lord. From Jesus’ life and example people will declare God’s righteousness, “telling them what God has done.” This is the sharing of the good news. As it was for the disciples and apostles, may it be for you and for me as we share our faith.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the rescue from those things that surround and assail us too. Thank you for your answers to our pleas. Lead us to declare what you have done. Guide us to speak of the rescues and transformations that you have worked in our lives again and again. Each day use us to witness to your love and grace. Amen.