pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: word


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Faithful Activity

Reading: James 1-2

James 2:14 – “My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it?”

Today we begin the book of James. James advocates an active, world-engaging, lived out faith. To live this way, while “scattered” to the world, is indeed a great challenge. These words from James that we read today and tomorrow very much apply to our lives and world right now. As “resident aliens” it is easier to write a check than it is to show up. It eases one’s conscience to say, “It’s the pastor’s job.” Yes, a time comes in life when it is not possible to physically show up. And, yes, some “jobs” are the pastor’s. But to shelter one’s faith from the world and vice versa, well, better read and study James.

Chapter 1 from James deals with standing firm in our faith. James begins by encouraging us to think of moments of testing as “occasions for joy.” These moments produce endurance, which yields a mature faith. In times of trial, we are invited to turn to God for wisdom. Trusting in God, we will receive. This is because God is good and faithful. Such a God will not tempt us. No, James says, that comes from within ourselves. God only gives good things. The pinnacle of this is the word of God. The word has the power to make us slow to anger, slow to speak, and quick to listen. It gives us power over our tongues. (More on that in chapter 3.)

In chapter 2 James encourages us to show faith, not favoritism. Favoritism is “evil-minded.” It is judgmental. It denies mercy. Instead, James advises, put your faith into action, like Abraham and Rahab. James asks, “My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it?” That is a great question. Yes, belief in God is good. But, we are reminded, “Even the demons believe this.” To wish well for a brother or sister who is naked or hungry without actually meeting their needs? James: “Faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity.”

Prayer: Lord God, it is so much easier to just fly under the radar, to just think someone else will do it. It is so much harder to stand firm, to stand up, to show up. Faith isn’t supposed to be easy or convenient, is it God? Empower, equip, and encourage us, O Lord, to be doers of the word and not merely hearers. Amen.


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One in Christ

Reading: Philippians 1-2

Philippians 2:3 – “Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves.”

Photo credit: Clay Banks

As is his custom, Paul begins his letter to the Philippians with thanksgiving and prayer. He is “full of joy” because of the ministry in Philippi. Paul is sure that God will complete the work begun by these “partners in God’s grace.” Paul prays for their love and for their knowledge of Christ to grow. Then they will truly “filled with the fruit of righteousness.”

Paul then acknowledges that his hardships and imprisonment have actually advanced the gospel. Those in Rome are learning about Christ and others have become bolder in their proclamation of the gospel. Paul then expressed a longing to be with Christ. Yet, for their sake, he recognizes that it is more important for him to “stay in the world.” He can help them to joyfully grow in the faith. He challenges those in the church in Philippi to “live together in a manner worthy of Christ’s gospel.” This will require them to stand firm, both in the face of hardship and suffering.

In chapter 2 Paul invites the church to imitate Christ. He invites them to be unified with Christ and with one another. He encourages them, saying, “Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves.” Paul then unpacks what this all looks like. Jesus “emptied himself” and he humbled himself by “becoming obedient to death.” Because of Jesus’ living faith, at his name one day all will bow and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. Therefore, Paul says, be blameless and pure, trusting in God’s power to live out their own faith, shining “like stars” in this “crooked and corrupt” world. All of this is possible when they “hold onto the word of life,” Jesus Christ. May it be so for us this day and every day.

Prayer: Lord God, encourage our walk of faith and fill us with all joy. Lead and guide us to yield the fruit of righteousness as we share the good news of Jesus Christ through word and deed. Make us one in Christ, one body created to humbly serve in love. Amen.


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For the Good of All

Reading: Galatians 5-6

Galatians 5:24 – “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the self with its passions and its desires.”

Photo credit: Nathan Lemon

Chapter 5 begins with a call to “stand firm” in the freedom found in Christ. As the chapter unfolds, it is standing firm in the law of love, not in circumcision or in the Law of Moses. Paul declares that the last two do not matter. What matters is “faith working through love.” Later, in verse 13, Paul encourages the Galatians to “serve each other through love.”

In verses 16-26 Paul unpacks “two different ways of living.” The first is living for self. This is the opposite of loving and serving one another. Paul provides a very lengthy list of selfish behaviors – yet we could each add to the list. Paul follows this with a list of the “fruit of the Spirit” – what John Wesley called “the essence of embodied Christianity.” A life lived for God and for neighbor would evidence “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” May this list typify us and our lives lived out in the world!

Chapter 6 opens with encouragement to hold one another accountable, to help one another, and to do a good job ourselves. Paul then reminds the church that we harvest what we plant. Plant selfishly, harvest devastation. Plant for the benefit of the Spirit, harvest eternal life. The body of the letter closes with the charge to “work for the good of all whenever we have the opportunity.” May it be so!

Prayer: Lord God, fill us with your presence and your love. Allow these to be what guides our thoughts, words, and actions. In this way, use us to reflect you into the world. Plant your words and your love in our hearts, using us to reap a harvest for your kingdom. Fill us, Lord, and lead us to be good in the world. Amen.


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All for the Gospel

Reading: 1st Corinthians 7-9

1st Corinthians 9:22 – “I have become all things to all people, so that I could save some by all means possible.”

Beginning in chapter 7, Paul begins to address some of the questions and concerns sent to him in a letter. The first question has to do with sex. Paul declares that a married couple should meet one another’s sexual needs. This reduces the temptation towards immoral sexuality. Paul also adds a caveat about divorce: if an unbelieving spouse chooses to leave the marriage, let them go. Paul then lifts up – but does not command – celibacy. Paul feels that marriage divides a person’s attention. For Paul, celibacy “promotes effective and consistent service to the Lord without distraction.”

In the next chapter Paul addresses eating food sacrificed to idols. For the mature believer, they know idols are not real so the food is fine to eat. But the weak or new to faith might not know this. Paul recommends living in ways that don’t potentially weaken or destroy another’s faith. He notes that one sins against Christ when one sins against a brother or sister. Today one might, for example, invite one who struggles with alcohol to a meeting at a bar. That would fall under Paul’s prohibition.

In chapter 9 Paul writes about being an apostle. There must’ve been a question about paying the preacher’s salary. Paul reminds them that both the Old Testament and Jesus himself taught that the prophet or priest or preacher should get their living from sharing God’s word. Paul chooses to wave this right. Chapter 9 closes with a call to share the gospel with all people and to “run to win.” Paul notes that he has “become all things to all people, so that I could save some by all means possible.” All is done with a focus on sharing the gospel. Paul encourages self-discipline as the means of attaining “the crown that never dies” – eternal life.

Prayer: Lord God, guide us to run the race, eye ever on the prize of eternal life. Lead us to also recognize the breadth of the mission field. Walking faithfully with you as our priority, also open our eyes to the ways that we can engage and draw in the lost. May we meet others where they are at, witnessing to your saving power and love. Amen.


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Why Jesus Came

Reading: Acts 13:1-15:21

Acts 15:10 – “Why then are you now challenging God by placing a burden on the shoulders of these disciples that neither we or our ancestors could bear?”

Photo credit: Frank McKenna

Beginning in chapter 13 we see the spread of the church past the first Gentile city out into the Gentile world. Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark are sent out from Antioch as missionaries. There is great success overall but the growth of the church is not without persecution and controversy.

The missionaries begin in Cyprus, proclaiming the word of God. Paul confronts a false prophet, demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit. Moving on to Pisidian Antioch, John Mark deserts Paul and Barnabas, returning to Jerusalem. Paul accepts the invitation to preach on the Sabbath. His powerful sermon on Jewish history and Jesus’ ministry yields an invitation to preach again. A large crowd gathers on the next Sabbath, stirring up jealousy amongst the Jews. Their rejection of the message leads Paul and Barnabas to focus on the Gentiles. Moving on to Iconium, Luke reports that “the same thing happened” – some believe but others are opposed to their message.

Paul and Barnabas move on to Lystra. Here Paul heals a man who believed that he could be healed. The locals mistake Paul and Barnabas for Greek gods. They head off the sacrifice of bulls to them, but Jews arrive from Antioch and Iconium, stirring up the crowd. Paul is stoned and left for dead. He gets up and they travel to Derbe the next day. After making disciples there, Paul and Barnabas work their way back to Antioch. Along the way they encourage the believers and they appoint elders to lead these new churches.

Jews from Jerusalem arrive in Antioch and stir up some tension. They tell the Gentile believers that they must first be circumcised in order to be saved. The idea of “you’ve got to be just like us” is not an invention of the modern church. Paul, Barnabas, Peter, and James all argue against placing Jewish requirements on Gentile believers. Peter asks the pertinent question: “Why then are you now challenging God by placing a burden on the shoulders of these disciples that neither we or our ancestors could bear?” No one has been able to keep the Law. This is why Jesus came – to do for us what we could not do on our own. By his life, he gave us what we cannot earn and what we do not deserve: the forgiveness of sins that leads to life eternal. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, how wide and deep is your love. It flows from your heart, out in all directions. It does not avoid certain places or people. It carries the power to wash away sins, barriers, and presumptions. May your love wash over us, filling us to overflowing with your love. Amen.


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Day by Day

Reading: John 7:10-8:59

John 8:19 – “You don’t know me and you don’t know my Father. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.”

Much of today’s reading centers around this key verse. In many ways Jesus asserts that he is “I AM” – knowing Jesus is knowing God and vice versa. Some people recognize this truth. Others struggle to see it or to believe in Jesus. Such is the case to this very day.

Almost all of today’s reading is set in the temple. Jesus’ teaching astonishes the Jewish leaders, the people, and even the temple guards sent to arrest him. But the impact of Jesus’ teaching does not travel to everyone’s heart. Some want to arrest him and others believe Jesus is the Christ, God’s son.

Jesus’ authority is questioned again and again by the leaders and the people. Jesus points to the Law and to Abraham’s example, asserting that they don’t keep true to Moses’ words and that they don’t follow Abraham’s actions. Jesus tells them that the devil is their father because they listen to Satan’s lies. As proof, Jesus says, “You don’t know me and you don’t know my Father. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” They won’t accept God’s words that Jesus speaks, the words that are the light of life and that will set them free from their sin.

At the start of chapter 8 we find the story of the woman caught in adultery. This story generates many questions for me. Where is the man? What did Jesus write on the ground? Did the woman go and sin no more? This story also offers specific truths. We’re all sinners. None of us has right standing to judge or condemn others. Jesus offers us all grace and mercy. We are all called by Jesus to go and sin no more. Day by day may we grow in our capacity to live out these truths and this call.

Prayer: Lord God, like many in today’s text we struggle and we walk in belief some days, in doubt other days. We allow other voices, sometimes our own, to distract us from our walk with you. Lord, ground us in the truth of your word and in the guidance of your Spirit. Lead us to live daily as a repentant sinner saved by grace and as an unconditionally loved child of the one true God. Amen.


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“Water” to “Wine”

Reading: John 1:1-2:12

John 1:5 – “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.”

Today we begin the Gospel of John, written about 30 years after Matthew, Mark, and Luke. John tells the story of Jesus, Son of God, dwelling among human beings, giving life and the Spirit to those who receive and believe in him as the Son of God, as Lord and Savior.

The Gospel begins connecting Jesus to eternity. Channeling the words and feel of Genesis, John establishes Jesus as the “Word” who was with and is God. In Jesus is light and life. John declares that Jesus is “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.” Even though the light shone on all people, Jesus’ own people didn’t recognize or welcome him. Even so, “the Word became flesh” and dwelled among humanity, revealing grace and truth, making God known.

The religious leaders sent representatives to ask John, “Who are you?” He tells them he’s not the one, not Elijah, not a prophet. Pushed further, John says he is the one “crying out in the wilderness” preparing people to receive Jesus. The next day (very Genesis-like) John sees and names Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Baptizing Jesus, John sees the Spirit descending and resting upon Jesus, “the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”

The next day the first disciples are called – some by Jesus and some by one another. On the third day, Jesus is at a wedding in Cana. Here we find a great mother-son exchange. The wedding hosts have run out of wine and Mary brings it to Jesus’ attention. He replies, “My time hasn’t come yet.” Likely looking straight at Jesus, Mary tells the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” The water jugs are filled and it turns into wine – the best wine. Jesus’ glory is revealed. The disciples believe in him.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for taking on flesh, for stepping down out of heaven’s glory to bring it to earth. Your light continues to shine into the darkness of our world and our lives. You continue to turn the “water” of our lives into the best possible “wine.” Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.


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Hearts on Fire

Reading: Luke 24

Luke 24:33 – “Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for us?”

In all four Gospels it is the women who go to the tomb on the third day. In Luke’s Gospel the “men” in “gleaming bright clothes” ask the women why they’re looking for the living (Christ) among the dead (tomb.) The angels remind the women of Jesus’ own words about all these things. On the road to Emmaus and during his appearance to the disciples Jesus does this too. As the women share their story, their words are “nonsense” to the disciples. Sometimes a story is just too wild or too crazy or too unbelievable for us to wrap our heads around it right then and there.

The risen Jesus, unbeknownst to the two disciples, comes and walks with them. Jesus unpacks all the scriptures written about him as they walk along. Urged to stay with them, likely eager to continue this conversation, Jesus is revealed as he breaks the bread. Cleopas and friend return right then to Jerusalem to share their story with the rest of the disciples.

Mid-story Jesus appears. The gathering of disciples is “terrified and afraid,” thinking Jesus a ghost. He shows them his hands and feet – the scars from the nails – and he eats a piece of fish. Grounding them in these realities, Jesus then opens their minds to understand all that had been written about him in the Law, the prophets, and the Psalms. Jesus then commissions them to preach about the forgiveness of sins that leads to “changed hearts and lives” – the message preached since John the Baptist first appeared on the scene.

Before ascending into heaven, Jesus repeats God’s promise to send “heavenly power” – the Holy Spirit. The Spirit has the power to do for us as it did for the first disciples. This is summed up in the Emmaus disciples’ words: “Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for us?” May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, just as the risen Christ did for those first disciples, please continue to open our hearts to your words. Fill us with understanding and with a fire to share what we know and believe – that you still are the power to change hearts and lives. We are each example number one in the story that we have to tell. Amen.


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Stand on the Word

Reading: Luke 3-4:13

Luke 4:13 – “After finishing every temptation, the devil departed from him until the next opportunity.”

Photo credit: Aaron Burden

Luke begins the story of John the Baptist’s ministry by listing the political and religious leaders at the time John began to call people to a baptism of repentance. The baptism showed they were changing hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. This fulfills the words of Isaiah 40.

John’s ministry is not without confrontation. In addition to being arrested by Herod, John harshly addresses the crowd, declaring that they must produce fruit that reflects their changed hearts and lives. (In Matthew’s gospel these words are addressed to the Pharisees and Sadducees.) This fruit would be sharing one’s extra clothes and food with those in need. It would include being ethical and moral in how you do your job. John warns that being a child of Abraham won’t save them. The ax is already at the roots of that tree. This exchange makes me wonder, what hollow faith claims do we try to stand upon?

Because of John’s words, people begin to wonder if he is the Christ. He quickly dispels that, reminding them that he is preparing the way for the one who will baptize with “the Holy Spirit and fire.” John continues to proclaim the coming kingdom of God.

This is revealed as Jesus comes to be baptized. After praying, the Holy Spirit descends and God says, “You are my son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.” Luke then gives Jesus’ genealogy, connecting Jesus back to Adam, the one who walked and talked with God. This is Luke’s way of showing that Jesus came to save all of humanity.

Our reading today closes with the temptation of Jesus. Led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, Jesus fasts and prays for forty days. Satan comes and tempts Jesus with food, power, and testing God. Each time Jesus stood upon the word of God. We closed with, “After finishing every temptation, the devil departed from him until the next opportunity.” Satan tests us in this way too, waiting until we are weak or tired or stressed or vulnerable… In those moments of temptation, may we too stand upon the word of God!

Prayer: Lord God, when we get too comfy, thinking church attendance and/or Bible study is sufficient, remind us that you expect us to produce fruit as a sign of a changed heart and life. Yet, may that church attendance and Bible study serve to protect us when Satan comes knocking. Amen.


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Worthy of the Kingdom

Reading: Matthew 9-10

Matthew 10:22 – “Everyone will hate you on account of my name. But whoever stands firm until the end will be saved.”

Photo credit: Shane Rounce

Chapter 9 is mostly about the healings that Jesus brought to people. There is the calling of Matthew too and the questioning of why Jesus ate with “tax collectors and sinners.” Chapter 10 shifts first to the calling and sending of the 12. The chapter ends with the realities of the cost of discipleship. This was and still is a reality for the followers of Jesus.

Chapter 9 begins with the healing of a paralyzed man. Jesus begins by forgiving his sins. This is just a means to draw in the “legal experts,” to prove that Jesus has the power to forgive sins and to heal sicknesses. Jesus then calls Matthew, saying, “Follow me.” Later, at dinner, the Pharisees question Jesus’ choice of table mates. He declares, “I didn’t come to call righteous people, but sinners.” As the chapter continues, Jesus heals five more people and Matthew closes with a summary of Jesus’ early ministry. Jesus taught and healed, announcing the good news of the kingdom. The chapter closes with a lament: the harvest is huge but the workers are few. Jesus encourages his disciples to “plead” with God for workers.

Chapter 10 begins with God’s response. The 12 are called and given authority to cast out demons and to heal diseases. They are then sent out to “the lost sheep… of Israel.” The disciples are to go without anything, relying on worthy people to take them in. They will bless these homes. If no one is found worthy in a place, the disciples will move on.

Starting in verse 16, Jesus begins to detail the cost of discipleship. The 12 go out as “sheep among wolves.” They will be arrested and beaten. But the Spirit will be with them and in their words. Jesus says, “Everyone will hate you on account of my name. But whoever stands firm until the end will be saved.” Families will come apart and turn on one another because Jesus did not “come to bring peace but sword.” The disciples are encouraged to “pick up their cross” as they follow Jesus. Doing so, they will be counted as worthy in the kingdom of God. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, send us out as workers, fully cognizant of the cost of discipleship and fully aware of your Spirit’s presence with us. Lord, use us to bring healing and wholeness to others, encouraging them with the good news of your kingdom through us and our ministries. Strengthen and empower us as we too seek to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Amen.