pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Praise the Lord!

Reading: Psalm 149

Psalm 149:6 – “Let the high praises of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands.”

Photo credit: Fuu J

Psalm 149 begins with words and images of praising God. Sing a new song! Celebrate with drum and lyre! Dance! Sing praises because “God is pleased with his people.” And then, in verse 6, the Psalm takes what feels like a hard right: “Let the high praises of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands.” At first reading, one wonders what happened. Calls for revenge, punishment, binding chains, and justice follow. These actions will be an “honor” for God’s people? And then the Psalm ends with, “Praise the Lord!”

Well then. Verses 1-5 are great. But what are we to do with verses 6-9? A little context will help. Overall, the Psalm is about praising God for the deliverance and rescue that God has brought – past, present, and future. Scholars believe that the Psalm was written after the exiles returned from Babylon. They were rebuilding Jerusalem, the wall, and the temple. God has delivered them from exile. The images of battles won and enemies defeated is an extension of the rebuilding. The land is filled with pagans that also must be dealt with. Some of these nations helped with the destruction and death primarily brought on by Babylon. To rebuild and reclaim the land would not be possible without God’s power and presence. The psalmist is counting on God’s help.

How does our reading change, though, if we read verses 6-9 from a figurative viewpoint? We can be defeated and/or held captive by many things that can only be redeemed through God’s power and presence. We can find ourselves in need of a rebuilding that only God can accomplish. And by “we,” I mean all of us. So in a fight against injustice or oppression, maybe our words are like a sword that cuts through evil. Maybe our actions lead to justice and a binding up of unjust systems. Maybe we are shackled by anger or fear or addiction or… Maybe we need God to break these chains and to set us free. When we’ve experienced or are a part of God’s deliverance for others, we too shout out, “Praise the Lord!”

Prayer: Lord God, there are many things to praise you for and there are many ways to offer our praise. Thank you for the times that you have rescued and delivered us. Praise be to God! From a place of faith and wholeness, use us to help free others from all that binds so that they too can praise you. Amen.


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Choose Good

Reading: Romans 12:14-21

Romans 12:18 – “If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people.”

Wrapping up our Epistle reading for this week, Paul has some tough words for us. He first asks us to bless those who harass us, to laugh with those who are laughing, and to cry with those who are crying. The invitation is to be present to one another in all of life. The “all” idea continues: “consider everyone as equals” and hang out with people “who have no status.” Don’t just try and see people as all the same. Demonstrate it with your daily life. While these actions are challenging, they are all choices that we can make.

Verses 17 and 18 up the degree of difficulty. In verse 17 Paul proclaims, “Don’t pay anyone back for their evil actions.” It can be so tempting to try and get even. If we manage to not do this, we can be tempted to hold a grudge, nursing that hurt. You know, the lesser of two evils kind of thing, we can tell ourselves. But even holding a grudge is an evil action. It lessens a relationship. It places someone outside of “all.” In a world that certainly champions “justice” – as long as it is our understanding of justice – we have to work hard at following Paul’s proclamation.

In verse 18 we read, “If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people.” We might read those first eight words as an out. Until we remember that in Paul’s world, all things are possible with God. And, we are not called to rely on our own ability but upon God’s power and presence. So we are left with this: “live at peace with all people.” Paul is back to that inclusive thing: all people. Not just those who are like us or who love us. Also those who harass us, those who take evil actions against us, and those who need a good dose of justice. When we live at peace with all people, then we “defeat evil with good.” May it be so day by day.

Prayer: Lord God, it can be easy to get lost in the weeds of revenge and anger, to get caught up in the ways of the world. There we lose sight of unconditional love and the beauty of grace. We lose sight of those bright “flowers” that are right there and life becomes hard and filled with discontent. When our vision lessens, and all we see are the weeds, Lord raise our eyes up to you. Fill us up with your love, mercy, and grace. Be ever present to us, O God. Amen.


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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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The First of Many

Reading: Romans 8:26-30

Romans 8:29b – “That way his Son would be the first of many brothers and sisters.”

Photo credit: Hans Heiner Buhr

As we begin the Romans 8 reading for this week, Paul offers this: “the Spirit comes to help our weakness.” This help comes in many forms, but today Paul is talking about intercession. The Spirit prays for us when our words don’t come or when they fall short or when they are misguided. At times our situation is so overwhelming or so distressing, we cannot form the words to pray. And some of the time we pray greedy or selfish or spiteful prayers. In all cases the Spirit steps in and prays for us “consistent with God’s will.” Through groans and pleadings, the Spirit intercedes for us, always seeking to conform us to the Son.

These Holy Spirit prayers help us to live as God calls us to live. When we do so, loving God and neighbor, then God “works all things together for good.” This is always God’s intended outcome simply because God is good. Yes, we can foil God’s plans and we can even work against them at times. Yet God is faithful. The Spirit keeps praying for us. And we’re drawn again and again to become who and what God created us to be: a child of God.

To be confirmed to the Son, to be a child of God, this is God’s good plan for us all. This plan was decided before we breathed our first breath. Created in God’s image with the spark of the divine within us, we are invited to step into God’s will for our lives. Doing so, we fulfill God’s purpose: “That way his Son would be the first of many brothers and sisters.” As a brother or sister in Christ, we strive to be righteous in our daily living. In the end, we will be glorified as Christ was glorified. But in the here and now, we also bring glory to God when we reveal Christ to the world. My friends, may it be so!

Prayer: Lord God, we rejoice that you are on our side in so many ways. Attune us to the Spirit’s presence, guiding us to pray as we should pray, to do as we should do, to be as we should be. In all ways, draw us closer and closer to conformity with Christ. And in all things, may we be Christ to the world. Amen.


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Jehovah Jireh

Reading: Genesis 22:9-14

Genesis 22:9b – “Abraham built an altar… arranged the wood… tied up his son Isaac… laid him on the altar…”

Abraham, Isaac, the wood, the knife, and the fire arrive atop the mountain as we continue in Genesis 22. In the rest of verse 9 we read of Abraham’s resolute faith and steadfast obedience: “Abraham built an altar… arranged the wood… tied up his son Isaac… laid him on the altar…” I wonder, was he so faithful and so resolute that all of his emotions were on mute? How else could Abraham will himself through these steps of readying the sacrifice?

As Abraham raises the knife to shed blood and take life, a messenger calls out to him, “Abraham? Abraham?” Was the messenger pulling Abraham back into the reality of this scene? Pausing the action, the messenger acknowledges Abraham’s reverence for God, demonstrated through his willingness to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Looking up, Abraham sees a ram, ready to be taken and offered as the sacrifice. Jehovah Jireh – the God who provides – “sees to it,” as Abraham told Isaac earlier.

Flashing forward in Israel’s history, to a moment when the plagues have reached their climax in Egypt, again God provided a way. This time the blood of the lamb marked their houses. And, again, the hand of death passed over the firstborn. The Israelites were faithful and obedient to God and God provided. In our walks of faith, the God who provides will be with us as well. Jehovah Jireh will give us the words to say, the actions to take, the resources to meet needs, the strength to stand… Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for these reminders of your faithfulness to us, your children. As we walk with you, you show us the way, you lead and guide, you equip and resource us – all to bear your light and love, your hope and peace to a world in need. Thank you, God. Amen.


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Love Revealed

Reading: John 14:8-14

John 14:9 – “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”

Photo credit: Milo Weiler

Moving to the second half of our John 14 reading, Jesus responds to Philip’s request to be shown God with this truth: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” Jesus reminds Philip, the other disciples, and us that all the words he spoke came from God. All the miracles or works that Jesus has offered – they are done through God who dwells in Jesus. In Jesus, we see and hear our best example of God. Yes, God is fully present in the Old Testament and in the rest of the New Testament, but the person of Jesus found in the gospels is our fullest and clearest revelation of God. In Christ we see the heart of God – the love – lived out here on earth.

Jesus then explains that those who believe in him will have more than an example to follow. Jesus tells the disciples then and now that believers “will do the works I do.” Through these works, God will be glorified through the name of Jesus. As we care for others, as we provide for those in need, as we comfort the ill and the grieving, as we speak words that heal broken relationships, as we extend a hand of welcome and belonging to all people, we model Jesus’ and God’s love for all of creation. As we bring peace to a storm, as we give voice to the powerless and marginalized, as we stand against injustice, as we free the prisoners, we model to others the love of God in Christ. In these ways and more, we reveal the love of God that dwells in us. This day, may the love of God in us reveal the Father’s love to all that we meet.

Prayer: Lord God, in Jesus you showed yourself to us. In his words and works we get a glimpse into who and what you are. At the core of it all is love. So, God, this day, use us as love lived out in the world. Amen.


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Encounters

Reading: Luke 24:13-29

Luke 24:25 – “Then Jesus said to them, ‘You foolish people! Your dull minds keep you from believing all that the prophets talked about.'”

Photo credit: Josh Calabrese

Today and tomorrow we walk with the Emmaus road disciples. This story is found only in Luke’s gospel. This encounter takes place on that first Sunday, on the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Two of Jesus’ disciples are walking to Emmaus. It might be “home.” They were talking about recent events: Jesus’ arrest and all that followed. They share all of this with Jesus as he joins them, noting that they had hoped that this Jesus was the one to redeem Israel. They do not recognize this stranger that they walk with as Jesus.

Jesus admonishes them, saying, “You foolish people! Your dull minds keep you from believing all that the prophets talked about.” He reminds them that these recent events were necessary. Jesus then unpacks the scriptures for them, starting with Moses, working his way through the prophets. What a Bible lesson this must have been! Today’s reading ends with the disciples inviting Jesus to stay the night with them.

We might wonder how the disciples could walk with Jesus and not recognize him. Yet, how many times did I encounter Jesus yesterday and fail to recognize him? Was it in the words of that tour guide? Was it in the smile of that older woman? Was it in the welcome clearly present in that gathering spot? Jesus is present to us in so many ways. Where did you encounter Jesus yesterday?

Prayer: Lord God, first, thank you for the many ways that you are present to us. You come alive in the red letters. Your Spirit moves us and speaks into our hearts and minds. But we also miss you here and there, sometimes everywhere. So, Lord, open our eyes and hearts to see you in the world around us – in the people, in the signs, in the encounters. Eyes and hearts open, touch our lives. Amen.


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Holding Fast

Reading: Luke 21:12-19

Luke 21:19 – “By holding fast, you will gain your lives.”

Photo credit: Shane Rounce

Shifting to the second half of this week’s gospel reading, Jesus gets real with the disciples. While these words still have meaning for us today, imagine how differently these words would be heard by readers meeting in secret, praying to avoid these things yet reassured by their Jesus’ words of hope and promise. Think about how these words would be heard in the Sudan, where a small group of Christians were recently arrested during a funeral.

As our passage begins, Jesus declares that “they” will arrest and harass believers, imprisoning some so that they can stand trial. “They” will be the Romans and the Jewish religious leaders. While chances of arrest are low in our nation, harassment and even mild persecution can come our way if we speak up for the vulnerable and the marginalized. People find themselves in these positions because of unjust systems that were created and are perpetuated by those who benefit from them: those in power and those with wealth.

In our time, Jesus’ advice about how to handle oneself if harassed, persecuted, arrested… feels counterintuitive to us. He advises his disciples not to “prepare a defense.” Instead Jesus calls us to faith and trust. He will give us “words and wisdom” so that in this opportunity to witness, “they” will be speechless. God will be glorified. Jesus also shares that these opportunities will not be easy to endure. Some will lose physical life. Yet hear the promise: “By holding fast, you will gain your lives.” Those with the power and means to kill the body (or to abuse or persecute or harass or marginalize) cannot kill the soul. We are God’s and God is with us. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, give us the courage to stand tall and to be courageous in our faith. Grant us the assurance that you will give us the words to speak for and to defend the vulnerable and the marginalized and the powerless and the downtrodden. Placing self between such as these and those with power, we have an opportunity to transform the world and to change its unjust systems. Use us to shape a more just world. Make us willing to count and to pay the cost, all for your praise and glory. Amen.


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Red Flags

Reading: 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-5

2nd Thessalonians 2:3 – “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way.”

As we continue in 2nd Thessalonians this week, Paul addresses these churches first concern in today’s passage. There are false teachers in their community. They are teaching something that does not seem to align with who and what they know Jesus to be or with what Paul has taught them. This confusion has raised some red flags within these communities of faith.

Paul taught the churches that one day Jesus would return in glory to gather the faithful together to be with him in eternity. This was known as “the day of the Lord.” Some false teachers are telling the Thessalonian Christians that the day has already come. Paul first calls them away from these falsehoods, saying, “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way.” Next he invites them to remember. He reminds them, there will be signs and behaviors that will indicate evil and not good, that will point to Satan and not to God. Our passage today closes with Paul essentially asking, ‘Don’t you remember all that I taught you?’

We do not have to look very far today to see people who claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ that act and speak in ways that run against who and what Jesus said and did. Red flags should fly up when people who claim to be Christian speak and act in ways that are in direct conflict with the “red letters” of Jesus in our Bibles. When words and actions harm the most vulnerable among us, they are clearly not words and actions aligned with Jesus Christ. Care for “the least of these” and loving the outcasts and the marginalized were the focus of much of what Jesus taught and modeled. Christians follow and are obedient to Jesus’ teachings and example. My friends, don’t let anyone deceive you.

Prayer: Lord God, running throughout the scriptures we see your heart for the vulnerable in your commands to house the alien and foreigner, to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry, to protect and defend the immigrant. Jesus engaged the outsiders, drew in the excluded, spent time with the ignored, lifted up the downtrodden and lowly. Open our eyes, alert our hearts, Jesus, when people claim you as Lord yet ignore or even act counter to these commands and examples. Then move us, God, and use us to speak truth. Amen.


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Disciplined Faithfulness

Reading: 2nd Timothy 2:8-15

2nd Timothy 2:15 – “Present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker… one who interprets the message of truth correctly.”

Photo credit: Aaron Burden

In today’s reading Paul is encouraging Timothy to pass on the message of the good news faithfully and correctly. In verses 8-10 Paul reminds Timothy of the example that Paul has set. Paul’s focus is on Jesus. This focus has led to suffering (he is in prison) yet Paul endures so that others “may experience salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” Paul’s faithfulness has allowed others to know the good news of Jesus Christ.

Verses 11-13 present the reality of our faithfulness when held up against Christ’s. When we do live faithfully – dying to ourselves, enduring suffering – then we live and rule with Christ. When we deny these things, living for self, then Jesus denies us too. In sin, we create this separation. Hope comes in the last verse: even when we are disloyal, Christ is faithful – that’s just who Jesus is. This is why Jesus is always there, always present to us.

Verse 11 engages the fourth step of Ignatuis’ Examen: repentance. Paul appeals to Timothy and to readers of this text to “die together” with Jesus Christ. This involves making the choice to die to those sins, both words and actions, that deny the Christ within us. Confession and repentance naturally flow out of step three (review) and they bring forgiveness, which brings us back into living faithfully with Jesus. To this end, Paul encourages Timothy to “not engage in battles over words” that cause harm. Such good advice for today! Paul then says, “Present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker… one who interprets the message of truth correctly.” This connects back to Paul’s words in verses 1-7, where he offers examples of disciplined faithfulness. This faithful daily living allows us to not only interpret the message correctly, but it also helps us to live it correctly, bringing God the glory and honor and praise.

Prayer: Lord God, on the good days, we are able to live faithfully, witnessing to your love and grace. But when life gets hard or when we suffer, the walk is more difficult. In these times, make your power and presence known in our hearts. Empower us to the disciplined faithfulness that allowed Paul to endure all things. Amen.