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.”
49 Week Bible Challenge Day 229 – When Christ Shapes Our Love

49 Week Bible Challenge Day 229 – When Christ Shapes Our Love

Today’s readings are Romans 13; 2 Samuel 21; Daniel 2;4; Proverbs 24. I’ll be away for the next few weeks. I will, however, attempt to post a link to the readings for the 49 Week Bible Challenge so you can follow the plan easily. During this time there will be no audio versions of these blog posts.

Romans 13:8-12

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

One Bird X 3 | Uruguay, South America | December 2025

A church member years ago said that this verse – among others – effectively forbade Christians from going into any kind of debt whatsoever. He and his (large) family took that literally and did not even have a mortgage. They rented. Without debating the validity of the wisdom of not being in debt, there can be no doubt about the continuing debt we have to love one another.

Some will define love in terms of the so-called 5 love languages: Meaningful and Appropriate Touch, Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Gifts, and Acts of Service. Those are beautiful ways to express love, and each of us has a different love language.

But Paul shows that love is not simply a matter of meeting emotional needs; it is about living in the light of Christ’s coming. The motivating force behind Christian love is not personal style but the dawning of a new day – the nearness of salvation. This love is a reflection of Christ’s love for us. It shaped by urgency, hope, and holiness.

Furthermore, Romans 13 invites us to see every act of love – even the small, everyday expressions – as part of a much larger transformation. Loving our neighbor is part of putting on Christ Himself, a way of life shaped not merely by preference but by His redeeming presence at work in us.

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