David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

recent posts

about

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.”

The Currency of the Kingdom

Matthew 6:9-12

9  Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Jesus calls his followers to store up treasure in heaven, which most obviously refers to a disavowal of worldly wealth. Here, however, Jesus speaks of forgiveness of debts which we take to refer to sins. It is clear by means of Jesus’ own explanation:

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15  but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:14-15).

Forgiveness is the means by which we relate to God, and to one another within his kingdom. God forgives our sins so that we may have a relationship with him. We forgive one another’s sins so that we may relate to God and each other. Forgiveness is foundational.

Yesterday’s newspaper had a front-page article about a 36-year-old man who was shot and killed in front of his wife and fourteen-year-old daughter. The news this morning was of a mother who was run over by her own van as it was stolen when she went to pick up her child at school. Women who have been abused by their fathers carry emotional scars that are daily reminders of the trauma they have endured. The difficulty of forgiveness is heightened by the severity of the offense. And Jesus says we must forgive one another of our sins.

Forgiveness is the means of exchange in the Kingdom of God. Grace and truth is the currency. God supplies abundant and bountiful stores of grace and truth – an inexhaustible supply – which he lavishes on us through Jesus Christ. Bathed in that grace and truth, we pour out that which we have received.

Forgiveness is not a matter of winking at sin; the cost of our forgiveness was the life, blood, and sacrifice of God’s Son. That’s the truth of the matter: forgiveness of our sins cost God dearly. But it was a cost he paid because of his love for us. We who have received this gracious gift must take from the treasure of God’s grace and give to others as we have received. That is the currency of the Kingdom, and we represent God well as we forgive others in the same way God forgives us all.

Discover more from David Bahn – Reflections

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Posted in

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.