pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: worth


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Our One Foundation

Reading: 1st Corinthians 3:10-17

1st Corinthians 3:11 – “No one can lay any other foundation besides the one that is already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

During his missionary journeys, Paul planted many churches. As he moved on to other communities others took over the leadership of these new churches. In our passage today, Paul speaks into this transition. Paul reminds these new leaders that at the start of each church he “laid a foundation like a wise builder.” A wise builder would lay a foundation that was true and square. A good foundation is essential – it provides a stable and solid base for the next phases of building.

Paul then speaks to the continuing work of building the churches in Corinth. First, he writes, pay attention to what you are doing. Keep the focus. In verse 11 he writes, “No one can lay any other foundation besides the one that is already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Jesus is the true foundation, the truth that anchors the church. Keep the focus on Jesus.

Next Paul speaks to the quality of the building of the church. He makes a distinction here. Some apparently are teaching things equivalent to “wood, grass, or hay” – things that will not sustain the church and people’s faith, things that aren’t eternal truths, things that will “go up in flames.” Instead, teach those truths which are eternal, things of spiritual worth. Paul speaks of this kind of teaching akin to “gold, silver, precious stones” for the soul.

Our passage closes as Paul addresses the church – both corporately and individually. Those who seek to destroy the church, Paul says, will themselves be destroyed. To counter these efforts, Paul reminds them that each member of the church is holy, as are we. The Spirit will guide those in the church to remain holy as God is holy. Living this way, the church will be supported and sustained. May this be true for you, for me, and for the church.

Prayer: Lord God, walk with us daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. Keep our eyes and hearts focused on Jesus Christ, our one foundation, the source of life and love and faith. Fill us with the teachings, truths, and promises that sustain and build our faith. Guard our hearts and minds against the things that lead us away from you. Thank you, God. Amen.


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No One Sees

Reading: 1st Samuel 1:3-8

1st Samuel 1:8 – “Why won’t you eat? Why are you so sad? Aren’t I worth more than ten sons to you?”

This week we delve into our call to see the small, the overlooked, the marginalized. We will wrestle with how we respond to their cries. This often puts us at odds with those in power and with our culture.

All of these topics are present in our 1st Samuel 1 reading. In the text, Hannah is the central figure. She is the one who only receives one part of the offering “because the Lord had kept her from conceiving.” In this agricultural society, children were necessary for a family’s survival. This also factored in later in life. Without children in old age, one would potentially not have anyone to care or provide for them. To be unable to bear children was a cultural shame and a great risk.

Hannah is frequently reminded of all of this by Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, the one with many children. This cruelty was especially unavoidable at the festival in Shiloh. All were together in limited space. Elkanah sees Hannah crying and says to her, “Why won’t you eat? Why are you so sad? Aren’t I worth more than ten sons to you?” The focus of his questions are really on himself and his self-worth, not on Hannah. He sees her but doesn’t really see her. No one really sees Hannah. Who do you know that is like this?

Prayer: Lord God, we too can look past the one hurting right in front of us. We too can make it about how their pain or suffering is effecting us or our lives. In these times, Lord, slow us down, divest us of self, guide us to be present to the person and make us responsive to their needs. Amen.


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May the God of…

Reading: 1st Samuel 1:9-17

1st Samuel 1:16b – “This whole time I’ve been praying out of my great worry and trouble.”

Photo credit: Rainier Ridao

Today’s scene is located in a place of worship in Shiloh. Elkanah, the husband of Hannah and Peninnah, takes his family here once a year to worship and sacrifice to the Lord. Hannah’s life is very hard emotionally. Peninnah would “make fun of her mercilessly” because Hannah was unable to conceive children. Children, especially male children, were highly valued in that culture. If Elkanah died, for example, Hannah’s survival would depend on her offspring. Bearing and raising children was Hannah’s main responsibility in life and she was unable to meet this expectation.

It is with heaviness of heart and soul that Hannah goes to the place of worship. She is “very upset” and she “couldn’t stop crying.” She pours our her heart to God, begging for a son, promising to “give him to the Lord for his entire life.” This willingness to give up a son reveals the depth of her pain and shame over being childless. While our society today doesn’t place the same premium on bearing children, what does bring shame in our culture? If you are without ____, what marginalizes people today?

Eli sees Hannah praying. The priest assumes that she is drunk. She is not. She says to Eli, “This whole time I’ve been praying out of my great worry and trouble.” She has almost assuredly prayer for a child ever since marrying Elkanah. The desperation has risen with each child Peninnah bore to him. Understanding the depth of her pain, sorrow, and shame, Eli blesses her, saying, “May the God of Israel give you what you’ve asked from him.” In our moments of great need, may it be so for us as well.

Prayer: Lord God, sometimes we feel like Hannah. Sometimes we feel marginalized and less than. For some folks, though, that is their “normal.” Lord, open our eyes and awaken our hearts to those who exist on the edges today. With your love and compassion, guide us to draw them into community, into a place where they can find meaning and worth. Through the sharing of our blessings, use us to meet their needs. Amen.


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Trust, Faith… Each Day

Reading: Matthew 6

Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters.”

Photo credit: Wesual Click

As Jesus continues the Sermon on the Mount he addresses showy religion, prayer, and fasting. To give to the poor or to pray or to fast in ways to be noticed by others – then that recognition will be our only reward. Jesus advises us to do these things in private or in secret. Then our reward will come from God. When we pray, Jesus cautions against “a flow of empty words.” He gives us a simple and humble prayer, one grounded in loving God and neighbor. We know this prayer as “The Lord’s Prayer.”

Jesus then addresses our tendency towards our “treasures.” Today he’d caution us against collecting homes, cars, the latest gadgets, bigger bank accounts… Instead he encourages us to collect treasures in heaven. Some examples of how to do this were given in verses 1-18. In verses 22-24 Jesus connects this struggle into the common Old Testament, Jewish understanding about good/evil, light/dark. In first century Palestine the eye was seen as the window or door to the heart (or soul for us). Jesus clearly believes the best choice is light. He then states, “No one can serve two masters.” God and wealth is the example Jesus gives. While probably the biggest struggle for most of us, there are many other things that we can prioritize over our relationship with God.

Chapter 6 closes with perhaps one of our greatest adversaries in our battle to trust God: worry. We can worry about so many things, big and small. Jesus points to the birds and lilies – examples of parts of creation that God cares wonderfully for. He points out that we are worth much more than these to God. We are told to “desire first and foremost God’s kingdom.” Keep God #1 in your life, Jesus says, and “all these things” will be given to you by God as well. Jesus concludes, “Stop worrying about tomorrow… Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Trust God each day, believing that our “daily bread” will come from our God who loves us.

Prayer: Lord God, you call us to a simple faith, to a day by day walk with you. To focus on the day, to live each moment, we have a chance to notice the opportunities and ways you call us to love completely. To stay in the moment, it focuses our heart on you and in your presence in our lives each day. Help us to live a simple and honest faith today, O God. Amen.


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Jesus Is Alive!

Reading: John 20:1-18

Verse 18: “Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’”

John’s Easter Sunday account begins just as Matthew’s did in yesterday’s reading. Mary Magdalene goes early in the morning to the burial place of Jesus. In Mark’s gospel it is Magdalene and another woman who go to the tomb. In Luke’s gospel “the women” are heading there to care for the body when they find the tomb empty. Then the angels tell them that Jesus is alive. Notice the common theme here is all the gospels.

It is the women who were regularly part of Jesus’ ministry that are the first ones to hear the good news. This feels appropriate. Jesus clearly saw women differently than society and the religious leaders saw women. Jesus sees them as equals, as people of sacred worth. It feels right that these women who were such an integral part of Jesus’ ministry are the first ones to hear and share the wonderful news that Jesus is alive.

It is these same women, Mary Magdalene most notedly, that go and tell the disciples the news. They have to be the ones – the disciples are scared and are in hiding. Peter and John are moved to action only with Mary’s news that someone stole the body. Even though they were at the tomb, Jesus does not appear until just Mary remains, weeping once again. After this encounter, “Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’” Knowing the truth of the resurrection, Mary Magdalene goes to share it with others. As we too know this good news, today and every day may we too declare: Jesus is alive!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for totally flipping the script – for delivering the greatest news after the deepest tragedy. With the joy and faith of Mary Magdalene, may I too proclaim that Jesus is alive! Amen.


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Mary or Judas?

Reading: John 12:1-11

Verse 3: “She poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.”

As we begin Holy Week we encounter two very different characters. First we meet Mary. During a dinner to honor Jesus, she does just that. Mary takes some very expensive perfume and “she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.” What an extravagant gift of love from Mary to Jesus. What a beautiful scene. Then we meet Judas. He crashes this beautiful scene by objecting to what he calls a waste. He cannot see the beauty because he is blinded by his greed.

As followers of Jesus Christ we are called to be like Mary. We are to look for opportunities to serve one another. We are to be generous with both our resources and with ourselves. We might not be able to offer gifts worth a year’s wages, but we might. But we can bring a meal to a neighbor or maybe we can volunteer to do something at the church or at another local organization. We might not wash another’s feet with our hair, but we can offer an uplifting word in a time of need or we can bring unexpected joy to someone with a small, thoughtful gift or with a note that recognizes their worth.

The truth of the matter, though, is that we all have some Judas in us. I do. You do. We all do. We can easily fall into looking out for self. As our best Judas we can see the potential to do something beautiful for another yet choose not to do it because of what it might cost us. At our worst, we can become outright greedy with the blessings that God has given us, wanting just a bit more for ourselves.

In our passage Jesus defends Mary. She has done the right thing. She has cared for another in her presence. May we do the same.

Prayer: Lord God, when my inner Judas rises up, remind me of all the times that a Mary has ministered to me. And, Lord, may these reminders lead to grateful responses that lead me to pour out your love for the other. Use me this week, O God. Amen.


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How far…?

Reading: Philippians 2:5-11

Verse 5: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”

Before we delve into today’s writing from Paul, sit with the opening verse for just a minute. How far can that go? How far should it go?

To me there are four key phrases in verses 6-8 that we are called to emulate as followers of Jesus Christ. First, “he made himself nothing.” This is not to think that we are worthless. Instead it is to see the worth in others, to think of self last, to consider others in depth before taking into account our wants and needs. Second, “taking the very nature of a servant.” This is putting these first thoughts into real action. It is responding to the need you see, it is stepping into the opportunity to help and serve the church, your family, the community. Third, “he humbled himself.” This is the dual action of surrender and then looking to God alone from this place of humility. And, fourth, Jesus “became obedient to death.” Jesus’ cross was literal. Ours could be but is much more likely to be figurative. Our greatest death is to self. That’s really what the first three are about. It is a hard death and one that comes daily. The swath of evil and destruction that self cuts is broad: pride, ego, lust, envy, greed, jealousy, hate, judgmentalism…

So why should we have the attitude of Christ? Why should our heart and mind be conformed to Christ’s? To me there are three basic reasons. First and perhaps least important: our life is better. Focusing not on self but on God and others brings a joy, a peace, a contentment that the world cannot bring. Second, it helps our relationships flourish both with God and with the community of faith. It leads to collaboration and generosity, to cooperation and genuine love. And third and most importantly, it leads others to “confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” Living with the heart and mind of Christ draws others into this relationship and into new life through our Lord and Savior.

Rethink the opening questions for just a moment: How far can that go? How far should it go?

Prayer: Lord God, I believe you told us how far: “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” May it be so in my life, O God. Amen.


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At Least as Much?

Reading: Luke 15:1-10

Verse 7: “There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

Photo credit: Stormseeker

Several weeks ago I got home from running errands and couldn’t find my cell phone. Instant panic. Now, if I was missing my shopping list – no worries. If I was missing my water bottle, then I’d probably check at ‘lost and found’ next time I was in those stores. But my cell phone?! I mentally retraced my steps and knew I had used my phone at our last stop – Sam’s Club. Our shopping list was on my phone. My wife called and there was a phone with a description that matched mine at the customer service counter. Huge sigh of relief. Yet I had to go right away to retrieve that which I had lost. Any similar experiences?

In our verses today Jesus tells two parables about things that were lost: a sheep and a coin. These stories are told in response to the religious leaders grumbling about the crowd that Jesus is hanging with. To them, the sinners weren’t worth anything. Yes, maybe they could come to the temple – once they cleaned themselves up and were following the Law. But to go out and engage them, to actually search for them while still in their sin, well, no way. To the religious leaders, these sinners were about as valuable as a used shopping list on a piece of scrap paper.

In these 2 parables, Jesus tells of a shepherd who leaves the 99 in an open field to go off and find one lost sheep and of a woman who hyper-cleans her home to find the one coun she’s lost from her pile of 10 that she had just counted. In both cases the lost are found and a celebration commences. Jesus declares, “There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

It’s awesome that 99 are in church, but what about the 1 who isn’t? Do we search for them at least as much as you or I would search for our lost cell phone?

Prayer: Lord God, I rejoice again and again when you search for me and find me after I’ve wandered. Help me, in turn, to search for those who are lost and need to be found. Guide me to shepherd them home to you. Amen.


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On Earth as It Is…

Reading: Philippians 3:17-4:1

Verse 20: “Our citizenship is in heaven.”

As followers of Jesus Christ we all have an eternal inheritance. In today’s passage Paul puts it this way: “Our citizenship is in heaven.” Paul is speaking to a time yet to come for us. Many have experienced what he is speaking of. We are told in scripture that heaven will be a kaleidoscope of people from every race, tongue, and nation. The great multitude will reflect our world in all its diversity. This is great news, isn’t it? Hallelujah and amen!!

While the promise of eternity in God’s presence is indeed wonderful and glorious, don’t we pray ‘on earth as it is in heaven’ at least each Sunday? Didn’t Jesus come not just to open the way to heaven but also to bring the kingdom of God here to the earth? In light of the honest answers to these questions, we can see that while we believe these things to be true, we don’t necessarily seek to live them out.

Paul’s initial audience was the church in Philippi. It was a city in the Roman empire so the average person in Philippi enjoyed the rights and privileges of Roman citizenship, much as you and I enjoy the rights and privileges of American citizenship. Much of the early church, though, was made up of slaves and others from the lower rungs of society. They did not enjoy the rights and privileges of membership in the earthly kingdom. News of citizenship – of belonging, of being equals, of having worth – this news would bring great hope to those largely without. Imagine hearing these words from their perspective. Great news, huh?! Hallelujah and amen!!

And while this is indeed wonderful and glorious news for many, there are people who truly love Jesus that at least feel outside of or excluded from our communities of faith. And there are people who don’t yet know Jesus but do need his love and grace and transforming power. Many of these also feel outside or excluded. So, the question is: how do you and I better reflect ‘on earth as it is in heaven?’ How do you and I live and act and think and speak in ways that offer belonging, equity, and worth to all people, flinging wide open the doors to the kingdom of heaven here on this earth?

Prayer: Lord God, may your love and justice roll down like a mighty river. May your love for all people, all created by you in your image, be manifest in our churches and in our lives. Amen.


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The Path of Humility

Reading: Exodus 34:33-35

Verse 35: “Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.”

Moses is radiant because of his time spent in God’s presence. In today’s verses from Exodus 34 we see that Moses was permanently changed. Because of his time in God’s presence, Moses became filled with God’s radiance, with God’s light. Moses isn’t the old Moses. He has been forever changed by his time with God.

When Moses returns to the people, they notice the radiance. It scares them at first. Moses notices their hesitation. Recognizing this, Moses begins to wear a veil when with the people. Returning to God’s presence, Moses would lift the veil. Moses is demonstrating both a compassion for the people and a humility towards the people. Even though Moses is the one most connected to God, he recognizes where the people are and he honors that by his actions. At times we too are called to do likewise.

Humility and compassion go a long way in ministry and in building the faith community. In a time of prayer, instead of jumping in and leading, we can ask another to pray, lifting and giving space to use and develop their gifts. In a class or small group time, instead of giving the answer, we can draw others into the conversation or discussion, creating space for their thoughts and insights. Doing so gives worth to others and says we value them as fellow believers. It also builds community and connections.

May we make it a regular practice to choose the path of humility, intentionally creating space for others to explore, express, and grow in their faith.

Prayer: Lord God, help me to recognize the times and places to create space and opportunity for others to lead and contribute. Bring to my lips words that draw others in, that invite sharing and build community. Amen.