David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

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In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

If God really is in control…

If I were Emperor of the World, then…” How do you finish that sentence? Be careful! We’re likely to make things worse and even more likely to miss the work of God.

Pacific Ocean Coast
Pacific Ocean Coast

Matthew 13:53-58

And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54 and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” 58And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

The people of Jesus’ day (at least those in his own town) took offense at Jesus. They knew who he was, who his family was, and what his limits were. They weren’t about to give him credit or acknowledge him to be a prophet of God. Set aside the fact that Jesus is God in the flesh and consider this: God can do anything he determines to do. He tumbles down walls with a marching band. He slays giants with a shepherd’s sling. He turns water into wine. So why could these people not receive God’s blessings through their home town boy?

Man proposes. God disposes. We have our plans, dreams, ideas, and expectations. We think we know what can and cannot happen. But we’re sadly mistaken if we leave God out of the equation, or if we relegate God’s activity to our preconceived notions. So who have we written off? Who have we assumed (dangerous!), or presumed (even more dangerous) cannot be God’s instrument of grace or truth in our lives? Remember this: when write people off we are not just writing off people we are factoring God out of the equation.

If ever we believe that we have God figured out, we’re in for a rude awakening. Worse yet we are in danger of missing the signs of his grace, and the manifestations of his glory and power.

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One response to “If God really is in control…”

  1. Karen LiBassi Avatar
    Karen LiBassi

    Really like this – timely & rings true to me.

    Reply

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