pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Go, Disciple, Baptize, Teach

Reading: Matthew 28:18-20

Matthew 28:19-20 – “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… teaching them to obey.”

Yesterday we pondered doubt. But what if the doubt wasn’t about God or Jesus? What if the doubt was about themselves, about their ability to carry on the work of Jesus? Perhaps the disciples sensed that this was the last time they’d see the risen Christ. Like Joshua staring down the fears of what lay ahead in the Promised Land, maybe all of these disciples of Jesus were questioning their place in the building of a kingdom here on earth. This is a doubt that we frequently feel and face too.

In verse 18 Jesus declares, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth.” All things are under Jesus’ authority, power, and control. The fears of the authorities? The doubt within? The unsurety of what comes next? Surrender it all to Jesus’ authority. Trust it all to his power. And believe that his authority is your authority because he lives in you.

Next comes the Great Commission, the marching orders. Jesus says, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… teaching them to obey.” Go and disciple others, revealing Jesus’ light and love, using words when necessary (thanks St. Francis of Assisi.) As people come to know Jesus and to believe in him as Lord and Savior, baptize them “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Baptism is the entry point for the Spirit’s presence in the heart of a new believer. This presence brings with it Jesus’ authority. The last step is to teach them more and more about Jesus so that their obedience grows and grows. As we live out these steps, we too continue to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your constant presence and your unconditional love. Reassure us when we doubt ourselves, reminding us of your power and presence within us. By that same Holy Spirit within, lead us and guide us to disciple others, growing ourselves in the process. Empower us with the authority of Jesus, trusting that nothing in this world can ever defeat the power of your love. Amen.


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What if?

Reading: Psalm 8:5-9

Psalm 8:5 – “You’ve made them [humanity] only slightly less than divine, crowning them with glory and grandeur.”

Yesterday as we read the first verses of Psalm 8, we were reminded of humanity’s smallness relative to God’s power and majesty. This realization is humbling, maybe even sobering. Then, in verse 5 we read, “You’ve made them only slightly less than divine, crowning them with glory and grandeur.” Reading these words can shatter that humility. In our competitive world, nobody really likes to be #2. Our fleshy part can take the reality that God is indeed almighty and all-powerful and… then say to ourselves, ‘Well, no one can be like God, so it’s almost like we’re #1!’ From that perspective, we’ll be utter failures with the role God gives us in the next verses in Psalm 8.

David writes of one of God’s biggest expectations of humanity in verses 6-8. Created in God’s image, “slightly” less than God, we’ve been tasked to “rule over your [God’s] handiwork” – that which was “very good.” Other translations use words like ‘dominion’ and ‘in charge of.’ In newer translations we begin to read words like ‘steward’ and ‘care for.’ These words better reflect the “created in God’s image” part of our story.

A few years ago, the WWJD bracelets… drew our minds and hearts to make Jesus’ life and example more a part of our daily life and decisions and actions. Those little “What Would Jesus Do?” silicone bands… caused us to pause before speaking, acting, or doing. What if we wrapped our care of creation – both the natural world and all of humanity – in WWGD thinking? What if?

Prayer: Lord God, yes, what if we treated the world and one another as you do? What if we loved it all as you love it all? The earth would not cry out. People would not be oppressed nor suffer violence. Nations would not wage war and quarrel. What if we ruled over this world as you would, O God? It is a beautiful and glorious thought. So Lord, use us, your children, to live and be in the world as you call us to live and be in the world. Amen.


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Spirit Empowered

Reading: Acts 2:1-12

Acts 2:4 – “They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.”

Next Sunday is Pentecost Sunday! On this Sunday we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. In a way, this is like a second coming of Jesus. As we begin the week in Acts 2 today and tomorrow, we see how the Spirit empowers believers as they and we seek to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world.

Pentecost began on Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks. This Jewish celebration that was 50 days after Passover started as a harvest festival then morphed into a time to remember the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. The Law was what guided a devout Jew’s life. The Holy Spirit functions much in the same way for the followers of Jesus.

On the first Pentecost a mighty wind announced the coming of the Holy Spirit. This noise drew a crowd, through which the power of the Spirit was demonstrated. As “flames of fire” alit on the believers that were gathered together, “They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.” For the disciples, this indwelling Spirit gave them the authority of Jesus Christ. Empowered, they soon became apostles – “sent ones.”

For some of those who heard the good news in their native tongues, the Spirit began to woo many, to draw them towards Jesus Christ. Later in Acts 2, many respond to this call. They are like us. We one day heard the call of God upon our hearts. Opening our hearts, we received Jesus as Lord. Receiving Jesus, we then received the Holy Spirit into our hearts too. Like those first disciples, we are empowered to tell the story of our faith in Jesus Christ. Each in our own way, may we share our good news stories with others.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit! Your Spirit gives us so much: guidance, direction, courage, comfort, conviction, hope, power… Fill our hearts today with a desire to share our faith with others, so that they too may receive Jesus into their hearts, opening the door for the Holy Spirit to dwell in them. Amen.


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One

Reading: John 17:6-11

John 17:11 – “Holy Father, watch over them in your name… that they will be one just as we are one.”

Photo credit: Wylly Suhendra

Returning to John 17 today, Jesus’ prayer continues. The focus shifts to those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus refers to all believers as “the people you gave me from this world.” Those who “belong” to Jesus – and this includes you and me – are those who keep God’s word as the rule of life. We have received God’s words, some of them from Jesus, and we understand that Jesus was sent by God. Sent as God incarnate (in the flesh) we understand Jesus as the revelation of God on earth.

In verse 9 Jesus states, “I’m praying for them.” We are part of “them.” Jesus prayed then for all who believed in him as Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit continues to pray for all believers. Your name and my name are lifted into God’s presence. As this prayer of Jesus continues, he prays, “Holy Father, watch over them in your name… that they will be one just as we are one.” Because we are not of this world once we become a new creation in Christ, we need watching over. We become targets of Satan once we declare belief in Jesus. The spiritual battle amps up once we declare that we belong to Jesus. This is our reality. This is why Jesus prays for unity.

As the body of Christ we are called to mirror the unity that we see between Jesus Christ and God. This unity, this intimate connection, is grounded in and empowered by love. The love of Christ in our hearts guides us to also pray for one another and at times to be the answer to those prayers. This love leads us to keep one another safe, cared for, provided for, comforted, encouraged, connected… Walking together with Jesus Christ, may we be one as Jesus and God are one.

Prayer: Lord God, unity is often hard. This world and its ruler are constantly seeking to pull us away from you and back into our old selfish ways. Christ in Spirit seeks to counter this, building our connection with you. Open our hearts to continue to receive your word, your love, your presence. And receiving, may we in turn live out these gifts in our faith communities, bring you the glory. Amen.


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Overwhelming Power

Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23

Ephesians 1:18 – “I pray that the eyes of your heart will have enough light to see… the overwhelming greatness that is working among us believers.”

Today is known as “Ascension Day” in the church world. It is the day the Lord ascended back into heaven. Forty days after Easter, the risen Christ returned to the Father. In ten days we will celebrate Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the first believers. Our passage today reflects the effects of this outpouring upon the believers in Ephesus. Paul begins his prayer by thanking God for their faith in the Lord and for how their love of Christ is being lived out in the world. Paul then asks for a spirit of wisdom and revelation to be given so that these believers can know God even more. This would empower the church to live as an even more powerful witness to God’s love.

Then, in verse 18, we find an encompassing prayer. It is both request and reminder: “I pray that the eyes of your heart will have enough light to see…” To first see the hope that comes through God’s calling upon their lives. This hope rests in who and whose they are in Christ. Second, to see and know the “richness” of their place in God’s calling on their lives – an inheritance that is both now and eternal. This is to know love, yes, but also grace, mercy, salvation, peace… And third, to see “the overwhelming greatness that is working among us believers.” The power of God is in the love that overwhelms hate, division, oppression… The power is alive and moving in and through the followers of Christ. This power enables all believers to continue the mission of Jesus.

We have this Holy Spirit power in our hearts too. Therefore we can tap into this same overwhelming power. Our question is this: Are we willing to “see” the hope… the inheritance… the love of God so that we can channel these gifts out into the world? Believing in the power of God’s Spirit, we can unleash it in our lives. This is our call and our mission. May the eyes of our hearts be opened!

Prayer: Lord God, we pray for the same spirit of wisdom and revelation to be poured out upon us. Through this outpouring, transform us more and more into the image of Christ. May your presence fill us with the overwhelming power of your love. With this power within us, use us to transform the world, changing it to better reflect your kingdom of love here on earth. Amen.


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Changed

Reading: 1st Peter 4:12-14

1st Peter 4:14 – “If you are mocked because of Christ’s name, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory… rests on you.”

Photo credit: Robert Linder

In 1st Peter 4 we are encouraged to stand firm in our faith. Today we look at “why” this is necessary. The “how” and the “what” will come on Friday as we turn to 1st Peter 5. In our first Epistle reading, Peter focuses on the reality of suffering for one’s faith. For Peter and the early Christians, suffering included verbal abuse, social exclusion, physical threats, and, for some, beatings and even death. In these ways, the earliest believers faces what Christ himself has faced. The world remained hostile to this new faith. But it is this connection to Jesus that leads Peter to write, “rejoice as you share in Christ’s suffering.” It was a sign of genuine faith.

Suffering in any form is not easy to endure. But it must’ve caught some in the early church off guard. Peter reminds them of the reality of suffering, saying, “don’t be surprised by the fiery trials.” I love how Peter states that these trial are not “strange happenings.” He’s almost implying that they are or should be the norm. What would it take for that to be the norm for you and for me?!

Peter also reminds his readers that the suffering is not the end of the story. “Overwhelming joy” awaits those who remain faithful until Christ is revealed again. Lastly we turn to a verse that feels more like our time and place. In verse 14 we read, “If you are mocked because of Christ’s name, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory… rests on you.” Mockery can certainly be a form of suffering. Sadly, the mockery today comes not just from non-Christians.

When the “spirit of glory” rests upon us, we have been changed. We are a new creation in Christ. As Abby K. Norman pointed out in today’s Disciplines reading, “so maybe the world has changed because I am in it.” Yes, the world has changed and is changing because we are in it. May it increasingly be so day by day!

Prayer: Lord God, while we wouldn’t pray for suffering, persecution, and the like, we do pray for a bold faith. While we wouldn’t pray for a pedestal, we do pray for ways to influence and change our world, shining light and love into the darkness and hate. Pour out your Spirit upon us, O Lord. Then use us to build your kingdom here, making the world better in all ways. Amen.


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Be My Witness

Reading: Acts 1:6-14

Acts 1:8b – “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

As we pick up today’s passage, the risen Jesus has been with the disciples for forty days. He has offered “many convincing proofs” that he has risen and is alive. Jesus has promised the coming “baptism” of the Holy Spirit. In response, the disciples ask Jesus if it us now time for him to “restore the kingdom of Israel.” Not exactly. Remember, nothing remotely like this has ever happened before. The disciples are learning on the fly. An ever patient Jesus replies, “Rather, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” The power is the Spirit of God within Jesus that gave him the words to say, that showed him the next steps to take, that guided all of his actions and decisions. That same power is about to fall upon these first disciples, empowering and equipping them in the same ways that the Spirit did with Jesus.

The Holy Spirit can work the same way in our lives. Once we surrender to Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of our hearts and lives, we too have this same power available to us. Jesus continues in verse 8, telling the disciples, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Note the expanding circles. The community of believers, the earliest “church,” will begin in Jerusalem. It will be tested by fire but will grow through the disciples’ witness. The disciples will go out into wider Israel, entering even Samaria, to witness to the good news. Eventually the apostles – Paul, Timothy, Silas… – will carry the good news of Jesus Christ to the ends of the known world. At each place, the power found in the story of Jesus will change hearts and lives. As the two men in white robes indicated, this work will continue until Jesus returns. We await that day. While we wait, we do so with the same charge as those first disciples: be my witness. So may we do as the first disciples did, sharing our stories of faith, building the kingdom of God here on earth. Lord, may it be so!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the gift of your power and presence that lives in our hearts. Continue to use that presence to refine and shape us, to deepen our faith, and to guide our unfolding stories of faith. Use us as you used the first disciples, taking our stories of faith out into the world, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with all that we meet. Enter their hearts too, O God, drawing them to you. Amen.


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Made Alive by the Spirit

Reading: 1st Peter 3:18-22

1st Peter 3:18c – “Christ was put to death as a human, but made alive by the Spirit.”

As we turn to the second part of our Epistle reading for this week, Peter focuses first on Christ’s suffering. At the start of verse 18 we are reminded that the “righteous one” suffered on behalf of the unrighteous – all who sin. This includes you and me. In the next part of this verse, we see the “why.” Christ suffered so that we could be in God’s presence. Without the atonement that Jesus paid with his body and blood, we would forever be tarnished by our sin. In such a state we could not be in God’s holy and perfect presence. Having paid the price for our salvation, Jesus made a way for us to be made new again and again, washed clean by his blood, standing for moments holy and perfect in God’s presence.

Jesus was also a first fruit in another way. At the end of verse 18 we read, “Christ was put to death as a human, but made alive by the Spirit.” Christ’s human body died but his spirit was made alive by God’s Spirit. Jesus then ascended into heaven and took his rightful place at God’s right hand. Through the Spirit, Jesus continued and continues to be present. Long ago, Jesus was present to the “spirits in prison” (in hell) – offering forgiveness even there. Today Jesus is present to all who call on him as Lord and Savior. Once we die a type of human death, surrendering self to Jesus, dying to the things of this world, we too are made alive by the Spirit. Made alive in and through Christ, we take our rightful place living as disciples of Jesus Christ. In this role we live out our salvation here on earth, sharing our faith with others, both in word and in deed. As we share our faith, we share our Jesus, the one with the power to save and redeem, to open the way to abundant life now and into forever. Doing so, we help others to be “made alive by the Spirit.” May it be so!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the gift of Jesus, he who died our death so that we could be alive in you. There is no better place to be – filled by your presence now so that one day we can dwell eternally in your presence. Equip and empower us to fully live into our call as disciples, sharing the good news, opening eyes and hearts to your love, salvation, and redemption. Amen.


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We Must Choose

Reading: Psalm 66:18-20

Psalm 66:18 – “If I had cherished evil in my heart, my Lord would not have listened.”

Photo credit: Nadine Shaabana

Continuing in Psalm 66 today, the psalmist hits on a reality. We can easily fool ourselves into thinking all is okay with God. We can rationalize unkind thoughts, harsh words, and even unethical behavior. We can pretend that maybe God didn’t notice. We can tell ourselves that if it’s just once in a great while, it’s probably fine. But the psalmist reminds us of this reality: “If I had cherished evil in my heart, my Lord would not have listened.” In all of these cases of maybe’s and what-if’s, we are cherishing the world.

With God, there is no gray area. The psalmist, the prophets, Jesus, Paul, and the other apostles all painted the black and white reality. Love God or love the world. Walk in the light or dwell in the dark. Choose life or death. Even the ancients understood this clear choice. Framed long ago as good versus evil, for the faithful it still comes down to living by God’s will and way or living by the ways of the world.

Day by day and moment by moment, this is the choice: Will we live for God or for the world? Will we do what is good and just and loving? Or will we do what is selfish, greedy, and evil? When we choose God, we walk in relationship with the Lord. We hear God’s voice and God hears our voice. When we choose the world, self becomes the sole focus. Walking with God, in right relationship, we daily experience God’s faithful love for us. Day by day, moment by moment, may we choose love.

Prayer: Lord God, so often we must choose. You or the world? One way is filled with pleasures and all we could ever want. Or so it is said. The other way is filled with peace, joy, love – all we really need. It is true. You are true. Lord, guide us to choose your will and way. There we find life to the full. Amen.


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Following Jesus

Reading: John 14:1-7

John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Credit: Rebecca Gelaney

As we close this week, we turn to John 14. In verses 1-7, Jesus again speaks of his upcoming death. This is not the first time the disciples have heard Jesus speak of his death and resurrection. Yet it is a subject that disturbs and worries them each time. I think we’d feel the same way. Death is a difficult and uncomfortable subject.

In verses 1-4 Jesus offers the disciples and us some comfort and hope. He begins with a reminder to trust in God and in Jesus himself. This will help with the worry and other troubles. Jesus then speaks of heaven as a place with “many rooms” and of returning so that “where I am you will be too.” In this hard and broken world, it is good to know that we have a wonderful place prepared for us. It is a place that we get to know a bit as we live out our faith here on earth.

Thomas wants more information. They don’t fully understand what Jesus is talking about. Sure, they understand death, but this “in three days” stuff? Into his questioning, Jesus tells them and us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus is the way to build the kingdom here on earth so that we will one day be welcomed into the kingdom of heaven. He is the truth that leads us as we discern the path to walk in this broken and hurting world. And Jesus is life – full and abundant now, glorious and eternal one day. Knowing Jesus, we know God. Following Jesus’ example, we draw closer and closer to God. Day by day, may this ever be so.

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you for sending Jesus, our example of your love and grace fully lived out. Although we often fall short, continue to call us to more. Redeem us and draw us closer and closer to your heart. And use us, O Lord. Use us to build your kingdom of love here on earth. Amen.