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.”

Strength to the End

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. Psalm 121:5–6

He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:8

20181130-DSC00286

I listened today to a podcast from a pastor who made the point that Jesus didn’t come only to forgive our sins. He came to set us free. I think I know what that means, and I hope my understanding is correct. But I wonder. Do we realize just how vitally important it is that our sins are forgiven.

Life on this earth is not to be despised or belittled. The challenges of living the victorious Christian life are bold and daunting. Our witness to the world is certainly stymied if we are in bondage to anything other than the love and grace of God.

Nor do I want to point people to the idea that in the end, the end is all that matters. Our calling to live under Christ in his kingdom and serve him is a daily calling; not something we simply put off until the end and then ask for forgiveness for all those times we failed to honor Christ or take advantage of the freedom we have in him.

That’s why it is truly good news that God is our keeper, our shade and protector. That’s a daily reality, and we honor him when we take that on fully and live in hopeful faith each moment of our lives.

The strength that Jesus gives “to the end” is not to be a cause for giving up or letting go of the challenges before us. The strength to the end is for the cause of Jesus’ rule and reign in our hearts and the hearts of others. O Lord God, I need that strength!

Discover more from David Bahn – Reflections

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Posted in

One response to “Strength to the End”

  1. Quilting Crosses with Threads of Hope Avatar
    Quilting Crosses with Threads of Hope

    This statement struck me:
    “Our witness to the world is certainly stymied if we are in bondage to anything other than the love and grace of God.”

    I began to think of what it means to be “in bondage to.” Words (not an actual definition) began to come to mind like; connected to, affected by, motivated by, held back by, held down by, honor more highly than, devoted to, enjoy better than, giving best merit to, desiring of, bound to … I could go on and on. I tried-out these phrases, inserting them in place of “in bondage to.” I began to see strings (if you will), as I went through this exercise of insertions. I quickly saw that the strings need cutting. If not, our witness is “stymied;” presents an obstacle; stands in the way (Merriam Webster) of presenting the love and grace of God to others. Some of my strings are already frayed by the faith and submission to Jesus’ rule and reign at work in me (maybe in you, too) but are not completely loosed. It seems that these unsevered connections may be what the world sees when Christ-believers become referred to as hypocrites. We appear to be firmly connected to the wrong things and likely for the wrong reasons.

    So yes(!), I too need strength now, tomorrow and for certain, to the end. I’ll pray it along with you, ” O Lord God, I need that strength!” Strings cut, obstacles removed. Boundless love and grace outpouring. It does sound like freedom! 🙂

    Thank you for this post and the exercise of faith and reflection it has produced this morning.

    By the way, Merriam Webster gives this definition of “bondage;” the state of being a slave.

    Reply

Leave a comment

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