pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Choices

Reading: Isaiah 1:15-20

Isaiah 1:19… 20… – “If you agree and obey… But if you refuse and rebel…”

Isaiah was a prophet called by God to speak God’s word to Judah, the southern kingdom. Isaiah called Judah, particularly its leaders, to a radical trust and faith in God and away from their sinful behaviors. Judah is characterized at the start of Isaiah 1 as children who have turned away from God. The nation outside of Jerusalem is ravaged and the cities burn as Assyria wages war against Israel and Judah. But still Judah refuses to turn towards God. Yes, they are going through the motions of worship but their hearts are far from God. In fact, God calls all of their offerings “worthless.”

Because their worship is full of hypocrisy, God’s eyes refuse to see their extended hands. God’s ears are closed to their lengthy prayers. All because Judah’s hands are “stained with blood.” God even implores them, “Wash! Be clean!” Yet it is not the blood of warfare that stains their hands. The blood comes from within Judah. God instructs them, “Put an end to evil; learn to do good.” What good? To champion justice and to care for the oppressed, the orphan, the widow.

As if in a courtroom setting, God says to Judah, “Come now and let’s settle this.” With promises of their scarlet sins being made white as snow, God tells Judah, “If you agree and obey you will eat the best food of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Choose God or idols. Choose good or evil. Choose life or death. The same choices lie ever before you and before me.

Prayer: Lord God, since the beginning of creation these have been our choices. Until Jesus comes in final victory these will be our choices. Just as Isaiah spoke words of warning and words of life, may your Word and your Spirit guide us to faithful obedience. Lead us to walk your path in faith and trust, O Lord. Amen.


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Know This for Certain

Reading: Daniel 3:13-18

Daniel 3:18 – “Know this for certain, your Majesty: we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you’ve set up.”

Photo credit: Ricardo Gomez Angel

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have long stood out because of their faith. Since arriving in Babylon as exiles (along with Daniel), their strong faith in God has set them apart from the native population. It began, you might recall, when they refused to defile themselves with the king’s royal food. From that point forward, these four have risen up the ranks of civil service, causing envy, jealousy, and dislike.

Leading into today’s reading, King Nebuchadnezzar builds a 90 foot tall golf statue of himself. He gives the order that at the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, lyre… all must bow down and worship the statue (and therefore the king.) Some fellow administrators are quick to point out that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego ignore the order. They refuse to bow down and worship. In verse 13 we see that this enrages King Nebuchadnezzar. Brought before the king, the three are given a chance to bow and worship. The other option is to be thrown into the fiery furnace.

For most of us, the fear of death would rise up. For some, we’d consider losing all that we’ve worked hard for. And some might even bow and pray to the true God while pretending to pray to the statue. King Nebuchadnezzar asks Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, “Then what god will rescue you from my power?” Their response? Well, maybe God will rescue, maybe not, but, “Know this for certain, your Majesty: we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you’ve set up.” Maybe God’s glory will be revealed through rescuing Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, maybe it will be revealed through their steadfast and complete faith in God. May this be the faith that we have in the Lord our God.

Prayer: Lord God, what a faithful and courageous path Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose to walk. What a witness to faith. Lord, fill us with a faith that will choose to stand for you. From the big tests to the decisions that no one even sees, may you alone be the one we serve, the one we worship. Amen.


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Good, Holy, and Just

Reading: Revelation 22:1-5

Revelation 22:2 – “On each side of the river is the tree of life.”

Photo credit: Marek Piwnicki

As John’s vision continues the angel shows him “the river of life-giving water.” This river flows out from the throne of God and the Lamb, its life-giving power drawn directly from the Lord our God. The river flows down the middle of the main street and “On each side of the river is the tree of life.” The water and the tree – accessible to all people, just as God and Jesus are accessible to all people.

The tree of life, once in the Garden of Eden, now in the holy city, the new Jerusalem. The tree now provides food for all people as well as healing for all of the nations. The provision is in abundance and the healing is complete. There will be no hunger, want, or need. There will be no sin, no disease, no evil. All of this and more is implied as John writes, “There will no longer be any curse.” All pain, sorrow, envy, pride… gone!

In the new heaven and earth all will worship the Lord our God. All people will “see his face” and will be identified as belonging to the family of God. This too will be a return to the days in Eden when humanity walked and talked with God. God’s face will shine upon all people and together “they will rule forever and always.” The stewardship of creation, begun in Genesis, will be made complete and perfect in the new creation. All will be good and holy and just. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, it is beautiful to see how your intent for the world will come to fruition. All that has been in decay and in states of separation will be made new again and will be united fully with you. Worshipping you alone, all people will be filled with your light and love. As we await this glorious day, O God, remind us to pray and work here and now, daily seeking to build this beautiful kingdom here on earth. Amen.


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Faithful Actions

Reading: James 2:14-24

James 2:24 – “So you see that a person is shown to be righteous through faithful actions and not through faith alone.”

As we come to a close reading scripture and applying is to John Wesley’s “Three Simple Rules,” we turn to James 2. This short passage works well to illustrate how doing no harm, doing good, and staying in love with God should work together in the life of a believer.

Our passage begins with a question: What good is it to say you’re a Christian if you don’t act like one? To claim to have faith does nothing. James points to wishing well someone in need without meeting those needs. You are, then, in fact, doing harm to the image of Christ.

As he continues, James argues that one cannot separate faith from your actions. Yes, he says, to believe is good. But our faith cannot stop there. It must flavor or impact all areas of our lives. James cites Abraham as an example of one whose faith was “made complete” by his actions. Nearly sacrificing his only son Isaac, Abraham’s obedience to God through faithful actions brought him to the place of righteousness. To faithfully follow God’s word, nudges, whispers… leads us to do good for the image of Christ.

Woven into Abraham’s example is one who stays in love with God. Abraham listened to the voice of God. He chose to worship God alone – elevating his love of God over his love for his own son. In summary, James writes, “So you see that a person is shown to be righteous through faithful actions and not through faith alone.” May this be what the world sees through our faith as well.

Prayer: Lord God, interweave into our lives these three practical pieces of faith. Guard us against doing harm and lead us to do good. Fuel both of these practices through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. May our love for you arch over all we say, do, and think, drawing others into the great love that you have for us all. Amen.


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Sure and Strong

Reading: Psalm 42:1-8

Psalm 42:8 – “By day the Lord commands his faithful love; by night his song is with me.”

Photo credit: Pablo Heimplatz

Psalm 42 is a song of lament. It is attributed to the Korahites, the clan from the tribe of Levi assigned to lead temple worship. As the song begins, the psalmist expresses a deep thirst for God. The thirst is so deep it has become a craving. A thirst this deep is expressed only here and one place in Joel. As tears have become his or her only food, there is a great longing to be in God’s presence once again.

In verses 4-6 there is a hope that flickers as the psalmist recalls times in God’s presence. Even as they “bare my soul” the writer recalls being in God’s temple, worshipping with joy and thanksgiving at one of the great festivals. Counting on experiencing this again, the psalmist declares, “Hope in God!… my saving presence.” In our moments of feeling separated from God may we too recall times when God was a sure and strong presence in our lives.

Verse 7 is an interesting verse. How we read it depends on perspective. If we read with the first few words of verse 6 then it feels Noah-like, as he sank into the depths of the sea. However, if we read it with the rest of verse 6 and with verse 8 then it feels like it is God’s faithful love washing over the psalmist, wave after wave. I choose the second reading. It then leads to the declaration: “By day the Lord commands his faithful love; by night his song is with me.” God is present even in the hard and difficult of life. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the reminder of your constant presence in our lives. In the moments when we feel like the psalmist – down, alone, anxious – bring to our minds those other moments, times when your presence and love were sure and strong in our lives. Lift our spirits up into your power, fill our hearts with your song. Amen.


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A Heart Tuned

Reading: Micah 6:6-8

Micah 6:7 – “Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with many torrents of oil?”

“What does the Lord require?” That is the title for the section of scripture that we read today. We learned yesterday, from Luke 10, that a good answer is to love your neighbor. It becomes a great answer when we understand that our “neighbor” is anyone in need. Loving God with all that we are was the other part of the legal expert’s “correct” answer to the same basic question. Today we read Micah’s thoughts on this question. The prophet focuses on both sides of the love God, love neighbor concept.

Micah begins with the “religiously correct” answer. Sacrificial offerings were the culturally acceptable response to your God/god, whether you were Hebrew or Moabite or Canaanite. Although Israel’s understanding was not quite as transactional as this process was with pagan gods, there was certainly an element of checking the box at this point in Israel’s history. Their going through the motions disgusted God. That is why Micah, tongue-in-cheek, asks, “Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with many torrents of oil?” Speaking to the pagan practices and to the point he is making, he next asks, “Well, then, how about my oldest child instead?”

The real answer to the title question comes in verse 8. It is a heart tuned fully to God. That is what is “good.” That is what God “requires.” This is because a heart tuned to God will naturally be a heart tuned to our neighbors. In the last part of verse 8 the prophet reveals what this heart looks like: “to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.” To work to make things right, to be faithful in our relationships with God and with one another, to humbly allow God to transform us, day by day, more fully into God’s image. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, we are much like the people of Micah’s day. Just tell me when I have to show up for church, just take my offering, just let me check the box. We want the easy. That leaves more for us. Yet you want so much more. Yes, worship and giving are important. But you want our heart, not our things. You want our unconditional love, not our passing attention. Lord, tune our hearts to yours. Lord, teach us what humility and justice and faithful love truly look like. Remind us of Jesus. Amen.


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Modeling Christ

Reading: Acts 10:34-38

Acts 10:34-35 – “God doesn’t show partiality… whoever worships him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”

Today’s scripture from Acts 10 serves as a bridge between the first two of John Wesley’s three simple rules. Peter first acknowledges that “God doesn’t show partiality.” He has come to understand that God accepts the Gentile Christians as they are. Peter now sees that their attempts to make these believers Jews first (then Christians) was wrong and was doing harm to these brothers and sisters in Christ. We too can do harm when we seek to elevate what we think is right over what God is doing at the time. We too can put up barriers to people coming to Christ. We do this when we say or imply that they must look or act or dress or… like us to attend church or to be baptized or…

Peter then recognizes that the Gentile Christians are worshipping God and are living out the example of Jesus. Getting past himself, he has come to understand that they are totally acceptable to God. Indeed, “He is Lord of all!” Reflecting back on his three years with Jesus, Peter can see how Jesus himself engaged one and all. Jesus did not show partiality. Instead he demonstrated welcome, acceptance, and love to all people.

Our passage closes with this observation about Jesus: “He traveled around doing good and healing everyone.” Jesus sought to do good to all. He didn’t first check to see if they really believed in him or belonged to a church. Sometimes faith or belief even came after the good act or after the healing. May we always be generous with our acts of kindness and love. Modeling Christ to others, we draw them towards Jesus and his love.

Prayer: Lord God, open our hearts wide too. Lead and guide us to see all people as Jests saw them. Each person was worthy of his time, his attention, his efforts, his love. Help us to engage our world this way too. Amen.


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Hell? Heaven?

Readings: Psalm 92:5-8, Malachi 4:1-3, Daniel 4:9-11, and 12:1-3

Malachi 4:2 – “The sun of righteousness will rise on those revering my name; healing will be in its wings.”

This week we wrestle with the question of heaven or hell. We begin today in the Old Testament. The rest of the week will be in the New Testament. This “imbalance” is because there is no direct mention of hell in the Hebrew scriptures. There are references to a place we would call “hell,” but this concept did not have a place in Hebrew thought prior to Jesus’ days.

Psalm 92:5-8 is representative of Hebrew thought in the Old Testament. God is awesome. The ignorant, the wicked, the evildoers – while they “seem to blossom,” in the end they will be destroyed. Running throughout the Old Testament is the idea that the good will be rewarded and the evil will be punished.

This idea is echoed in Malachi 4. The prophet writes that the day is coming when the arrogant and evildoers will burn like straw, consuming them. But for those doing good? “The sun of righteousness will rise on those revering my name; healing will be in its wings.” The wicked will be crushed like dust, but the righteous, the godly, they will be filled with joy.

Even foreign kings experience this cycle of punishment and redemption. In Daniel 4, Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar calls upon Daniel, the one who has “the breath of the holy gods” in him, to interpret his dream. Daniel, with God’s help, explains the dream. All unfolds exactly as Daniel foretold. In the end, redeemed by God, Nebuchadnezzar worships, magnifies, and glorifies the goodness of God.

Turning to Daniel 12 we find the Old Testament passage that best connects to our understanding of heaven and hell. Speaking of the end times, Daniel writes that those whose names are in the scroll (of life) will be rescued, entering “eternal life,” shining like stars forever. Others – those not in the scroll – they will go to “shame and eternal disgrace.” So it will be.

Prayer: Lord God, lead us today to be people who do good and who seek to live holy and righteous lives that bring you honor and glory. Guard us from the temptations of this world, keeping evil and arrogance far away. In all that we do and say and think may our lives magnify and glorify your name. Amen.


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Come, Lord Jesus!

Reading: Revelation 21-22

Revelation 21:5 – “Then the one seated on the throne said, ‘Look! I’m making all things new.'”

As we conclude our Bible Year reading plan with Revelation 21 and 22, it is a wonderful end to this project and to the words of scripture. These two chapters give us a sneak peak into eternity. God and Jesus Christ are victorious. All evil is no more. Everything focuses on worshipping God and the Lamb.

Chapter 21 begins with the new heaven and earth becoming one as the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven. In this heavenly city, God will once again dwell with “his people.” There will be no tears, no death, no mourning, no pain. The one in the throne declares, “Look! I’m making all things new.” In his fourth spirit-led trance John gets a tour of this new city of God. It is 1,500 miles on each side. It was twelve gates, each made out of a huge pearl, each gate with the name of one of Israel’s twelve tribes on it. The city has twelve foundations, each made of a different previous stone, each bearing the name of one of the twelve apostles. There is no sun or moon. God’s glory is the light and the Lamb is the lamp. The river of life flows from the throne of God. On each bank is a tree of life. The trees bear twelve fruits and the leaves bring healing. God’s servants gather around the throne, worshipping God and the Lamb.

The epilogue begins in 22:6. An angel declares these words “trustworthy and true.” John states that he heard and saw these things. He is told not to seal the scroll because “the time is near.” Jesus, the “root and descendant of David… the bright morning star,” is coming soon. Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Prayer: Lord God, we long for the day. We long to see the new heaven and earth. We long to dwell in your presence. Today we pray, come Lord Jesus. Amen.


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A Great Crowd

Reading: Revelation 6:1-8:5

Revelation 7:9 – “After this I looked, and there was a great crowd that no one could number… from every nation, tribe, people, and language.”

In chapter 6 the Lamb opens 6 of the 7 seals. The first four bring the four horses and their riders. Death, war, violence, famine, and disease sweep across the earth. One-fourth of humanity dies. The fifth seal is broken and those who have been martyred for their faith cry out, “How long…?” Given white robes, they’re told to wait just a little longer. The sixth seal is broken, first bringing a great earthquake. Then the sun turns black and the moon red. The stars fall from the sky. All the people of the earth try to hide. They beg the mountains, “Fall on us!” They know that the great day of wrath has come upon them.

The seal of God is then placed upon the foreheads of the 144,000 – 12,000 from each remaining tribe of Israel. John looks back to heaven and sees a great multitude. In 7:9 we read, “After this I looked, and there was a great crowd that no one could number… from every nation, tribe, people, and language.” Wearing robes that have been washed white in the blood of the Lamb, holding palm branches, they worship God. They’ve gone through hardship. Now they will not hunger or thirst. God has wiped away every tear. The Lamb guides them to the life-giving waters. The seventh seal is broken and there is silence in heaven for half an hour.

Seven angels with seven trumpets take their places. Another angel holds a bowl with incense. The prayers of the saints rise in the smoke up to God. The bowl is then filled with fire from the altar. It is thrown down upon the earth. The angels are about to blow their trumpets.

Prayer: Lord God, over and over, Old Testament and New, we hear the calls to change hearts and lives. Today in our reading the outcomes of our choices become clearer and clearer. As we rejoice today in the coming of our Savior, remind us of his ultimate purpose at the end of this age. Lead and guide us, O God, to live lives worthy of our calling. Amen.