David Bahn – Reflections

Lord, in your great mercies you did not make an end of your people or forsake them. Nehemiah 9:31

In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:3

My morning practice includes not only reading these verses from the Moravian Text email that I receive, but also reading a daily comics email to which I subscribe. In today’s comics Calvin, of Calvin and Hobbs fame, imagines himself as a giant destructive monster ready to squash a helpless colony of giant ants. At the last minute he has a change of heart, becomes a normal-sized boy, and decides not to squash an anthill on his next step. I wonder if we sometimes consider God to be nearly as capricious and unpredictable as a mischievous little boy.

We might think that he is unfair or fickle because bad things happen to good and bad people alike. Some success at whatever they put their hand on. Others struggle to make one good decision a year. An earthquake hits one place, a hurricane another, a volcano erupts in another part of the world, while weather, social condition, and general wellbeing flourishes in yet another place.

Truth is, we lose sight of our fallen condition and the just deserts of our sin. The world is in the strains of birth pains according to Romans 8. Things are not as God had created them to be. If God were to give us all our just deserts, we would be forever doomed and our world would have fallen apart long ago.

But God in his mercy does not put us to an end. He has not forsaken us. Rather, he put his Son to and end, and forsook him so that we might be saved. Now, in his fatherly divine goodness and mercy, God preserves us and provides for all our needs. For all this it is our duty to thank, praise, serve, and obey him. Today would be a good day to put that into practice. This is most certainly true.

The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our ancestors; may he not leave us or abandon us. – 1 Kings 8:57

The disciples went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it. – Mark 16:20

I’ve noticed that some pastors pronounce the benediction by including the word, “May,” before each part: “May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord make his face shine upon you; May the Lord…give you peace.” I’m thinking about this as I read these words.

The Moravian Text email that I receive each day – and which I’m currently using as launch points for these daily blog posts – has it, “The Lord may not leave us or abandon us.” That caught my eye because I read that as though we’re not giving God permission to leave us, as though we’re saying, “You may not go from us.” I looked at various other translations of this verse and believe that it is in fact a faulty rendering. We simply do not give or withhold permission to or from God!

To express an urgent desire is totally appropriate. As we express the benediction as a blessing: “The Lord bless you and keep you…” we are not ordering God to be present or demanding his blessing. It is, however, more than an earnest wish. We who speak these words speak a blessing in God’s behalf. When we call out to God and pray, “May God not forsake us,” we are praying a worthy prayer.

The Lord had made them joyful. – Ezra 6:22

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart. – Acts 2:46 (NASB)

“Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens…” You might recognize those words from the musical, The Sound of Music. Maria sings it to the children when they’re sad and times are difficult. Schmaltzy? Yes. A bit too long on optimism and short on dealing with the difficulties of life? Indeed. But there is a thread of truth that runs through the song: there are good things for which we can be thankful – even when the dog bites, the bee stings, or we’re feeling sad.

True joy, however, comes not only from “brown paper packages tied up in string,” but in the wrapping of God’s love shown in Jesus Christ. Having said that, how is your joy quotient these days? Is there some place in your heart that is light and cheerful? When the Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10), do you believe it? Is there a sense of the goodness, faithfulness, love, and mercy of God that colors over your blue mood?

God is a realist. He does not flinch from acknowledging evil, pain, disappointment, and failure. Read the Psalms if you want to see also how God’s people handle the times of sadness and distress they face. They’re not above expressing their lament and crying out to God for help in times of trouble. But those same Psalms which begin with a cry of distress almost always end with a proclamation of God’s goodness, love, favor, and blessing.

Psalm 22 is a great example. It begins with the excruciating cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” It ends by proclaiming:

Posterity shall serve him;
    it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;
³¹ they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,
    that he has done it.

God invites us to lay our burdens on him. He welcomes us when we cry out in distress. “A broken and contrite heart he does not despise” (Psalm 51:17). But in the end he delights to fill us with joy. We can say, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation,” (Psalm 51:12), and he will do it.

The Lord has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners. – Isaiah 61:1

Paul wrote: We are workers with you for your joy. – 2 Corinthians 1:24

My first real job was as a busboy and dishwasher at Wayne’s Grill – a learning experience in so many ways. I remember being told to come to work wearing a white shirt and dark slacks. I dressed in a light blue shirt and dark pants. Fortunately, however, my parents intervened:

“Didn’t he tell you to wear a white shirt?”
“Well,” I said, “this is probably close enough.”
“He did say white.”

I changed into a white shirt – a good move. At the end of my first eight hour shift, they paid me in cash; with tax deduction details on the outside of the brown pay envelope. It contained something around $4.62. My pay was 62.5 cents an hour. What a job! I still remember when I graduated to $1.00 per hour and even to $1.50 an hour – by means of two subsequent new jobs. I was working for the money.

Paul writes of his job – and the job of his fellow apostles: they were workers for the Corinthians’ joy. Although he was supported by various congregations and individuals in his work, he didn’t do it for pay. He did it because the love of Christ had captured his heart and he dedicated himself to bring good news to people who were oppressed by satan’s darkness, brokenhearted by the world’s abuses, and captive to their own sinful lusts and desires.

I am thankful to receive a salary as I serve as senior pastor of St. John Lutheran Church. But my great motivation is not the salary, but the same awareness of God’s mercy and love to me in Jesus Christ. There are many people who serve as ministry partners at St. John, and many more who serve in various ministries around the world for the cause of the Good News of Jesus. They do so because of a deep conviction that Jesus’ love and salvation is worthy of our greatest effort to share.

Our job as followers of Jesus is to bring good news; to bring healing and hope; to provide comfort and joy to our family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors near and far. We do so because we have received those same things by God’s grace.

I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go. – Isaiah 48:17

The Lord will give you understanding in all things. – 2 Timothy 2:7

I am one who really needs to see the big picture in order to navigate myself. Give me a set of directions, step by step, with all the details spelled out, and I may get there, but I am not at my best. Give me the big picture, help me orient myself, tell me where “generally west” is, and I’ll much more easily get there. That’s the way I’m wired. It may have much to do with not being able to process multiple pieces of information well. Give me a picture of what something is supposed to look like and I’ll have a good chance of making it so. And I’ll likely need to come back for some corrections and alterations for which I’ll consult the detailed instructions! But that’s how I roll.

God offers what we need to make our way through life. He tells us that he gives us understanding in all things. And while I’m certain that Paul didn’t have in mind putting together complex children’s toys on Christmas Eve, there is an element of God’s providential goodness and grace that reaches even to that place…if only we look to him and find our peace in him amid any turmoil swirling around us at any given moment.

Surely, however, the ultimate understanding that God provides is of his ways. Solomon commands us not to lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-8). Although God’s ways are mysterious and beyond finding out (cf. Romans 11:33), there is a basic understanding that comes from God and puts all of the universe into perspective.

To have the benefit of that orientation and understanding of life as it truly is, is truly for our own good. It does no good for God that we understand the essence of all things. But when we comprehend that all things are in him, from him, to him, and for him, and that his fame is centered in his grace to us, we are truly in a good place.

That Jesus Christ would be glorified, his name honored, God’s grace celebrated, and all that is truly good vindicated is our hope through faith in Jesus. That is the understanding that we need and which we ought to seek.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe. – Proverbs 18:10

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. – Revelation 1:8

A quick search of the Internet yields some interesting (if not incomplete) information about the names of God. One site promised to provide 10 powerful and important names for God. There were 10 names to be sure. But they were all Old Testament names: Yahweh Jireh: The Lord Will Provide; Yahweh Rapha: The Lord Who Heals, and the like. Good names. Interesting insights and implications.

I was surprised that the site listed no New Testament names for God. This is quite significant in that the New Testament provides some specific names of God by which he has expressly revealed himself. I had expected to see at least Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The name of Jesus, moreover, is the singularly most important name by which God has revealed himself. It is at the name of Jesus that every knee shall bow (Philippians 2:10-11). There is salvation found in no other name than Jesus (Acts 4:12). God’s final word to the world was spoken through his Son (Hebrews 1:1-3). The Word made flesh, full of grace and truth is the eternal reality of this mystery we know of as the Triune God.

The book of Revelation is the “revelation of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:1). And Jesus Christ now exalted, and having sat down at the right hand of God proclaims himself to be the Alpha (beginning) and Omega (ending) of all things. He is the One who was, who is, and who is to come–eternally present, and above all.

I hesitate to say too much about this, but for a period of time my left hip was racked with the pain of osteoarthritis. I would awaken in the middle of the night in excruciating pain. I would pray, asking God to relieve the pain. I never treated it as a magic formula or a neat little trick; but when I called on God “in the name of Jesus Christ,” I would experience relief within 10 minutes. It certainly left an impression on me.

If we call on God in the name of Jesus, we find a tower of strength, security, and safety. We need not learn any special names (however edifying that might be). The only name that really matters is Jesus.

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. – Psalm 62:1 (NIV)

Jesus said, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20

We enjoyed a family-connection vacation this summer, traveling to the west coast of the USA to spend time with our family there, and then from there to Germany to connect with our family who lives there. We had a great time with the four grandchildren and their parents on the west coast – including a two-vehicle road trip from San Diego, CA to Seattle, Washington (two kids with two adults in each car). We traded off who got to ride with Gram (not Granddad!), and had a great time all the way.

Then came our time with the family who lives in Germany. The two wonderful grandchildren who live there were a delight, and I was even able to take them to the local village park – just the three of us. Aside from one little girl’s meltdown that really went well.

Sometimes we come home from vacation needing to rest up from our vacation!

Jesus speaks of being with us as a means by which we are given rest. We know him as the source of God’s salvation. We realize that he has given us the Great Commission to tell others about God’s love, teaching them to obey all that he has commanded. But do we consider Jesus’ promise to be with us always to be a source of rest and rejuvenation? More often we think of it as a source of encouragement for times of fear or loneliness.

If Jesus is with us in every situation for all time, we can rest assured of God’s favor, care, and protection. He is a source of true refreshment, life, and salvation.

The Lord your God you shall follow, him alone you shall fear, his commandments you shall keep, his voice you shall obey, him you shall serve, and to him you shall hold fast. – Deuteronomy 13:4

Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” – John 15:12

There is much debate and no little amount of qualifying various arguments about the violent nature of Islam. Some will say categorically that Islam is a religion based on violence. Others will say Islam is a religion of peace. Few will argue – with any credibility at all – that suicide bombers and other terrorists invoke the Muslim faith in the moment of their extreme violence, terror, and destruction.

Fewer still would ever say that Jesus taught violence of any kind. Although he did resort to overturning the money changers in the temple on one occasion, he never instructed his followers to do the same. If, in fact, you were to summarize the teachings of Jesus – and quote his summary of the Old Testament Law, you would come to one word: Love.

Moses urges God’s people to follow, fear, obey, serve, and obey his commandments. Jesus summarizes those commandments by saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

This is truly the greatest commandment, and it is much more difficult to keep than any command to kill the infidel. It is far better than the command to wipe out the unbelievers, or purify the congregation. But it is far more difficult to do than those. For the commands to inflict punishment or annihilate the enemy appeal to our base instincts, our sinful and self-righteous. But the command to love our neighbor and love God requires the influence of the Holy Spirit and our willful effort to deny our own old sinful nature.

The command to love is far better than a command to subdue and conquer. It is more difficult to keep, but better by far.

The servant of God said, “I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.” – Isaiah 50:6

Jesus also suffered outside the city gate. Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. – Hebrews 13:12–13

I had the opportunity to share the essence of the gospel on Saturday with the students and their families who participated in our Operation Backpack event. We prepared 340 backpacks to give to students who registered for the event. Part of the process allowed me to use the EvangeCube to tell the story of God’s redemption by means of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

It occurred to me that the suffering and death of Jesus as the means of our salvation means vey little if there is no concept of our sinfulness and God’s justice. In other words, the death of Jesus is more than a martyr’s execution. Jesus didn’t die just because he refused to give in to the religious leaders of his day.

This was the plan and offering of God for the sins of the world. We need a redeemer who is willing to suffer and die to rescue us from our sins. We need someone to balance the scales of justice that are tilted dramatically away from our acceptance by God. That would require that Jesus would give his back to those who would flail him and inflict untold suffering on him. But this was nothing compared to God’s justice being brought to bear on Jesus. This is the price Jesus is willing to pay is beyond our comprehension.

Going to Jesus “outside the camp” means that we accept his suffering for us, and are willing to acknowledge our need for such a savior and salvation. The abuse we endure is not necessarily physical, but it is real nonetheless. To admit that we are sinners, and that we need a Suffering Servant Savior requires humility and faith. It requires that we acknowledge the justice of God and rejoice in his mercy and grace. It means that we will not be left outside the realm of his grace and salvation when we face eternity.

You must follow exactly the path that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live. – Deuteronomy 5:33

Jesus said to the lawyer, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” – Luke 10:26–28

We are in the process of some major renovations at St. John. This involves work on three different buildings and a parking lot. It also involves a large number of specifications, plans, construction documents, and decisions relating to electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, finishes, equipment, and scheduling. All this subject to very strict county code requirements and permitting processes. If the “T’s” aren’t crossed appropriately or the “I’s” not dotted properly things can come to a complete standstill.

In Deuteronomy Moses tells the people of Israel that they must “follow exactly the path that the Lord” has laid out for them to follow. Exactly. Is that I not dotted properly? Stop. Is that T not crossed correctly? Go no further.

In Jesus’ day the Jewish lawyers had this down to a science in the extreme. In addition to all the laws of Moses they had constructed an extra set of rules which were designed to prevent people from breaking the other laws. Jesus, however, challenged them in this regard saying that they were all too prone to follow the minutia of these extra laws while ignoring the weightier matters of the law (cf. Matthew 23:23).

Those weightier matters had to do with loving one’s neighbor, which flows out of our love for God. In these verses above Moses’ command to follow God’s commands exactly is clarified by Jesus’ commendation to the lawyer,“You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

The lawyer had recited the Great Commandment: Love God. Love your neighbor. These two commands summarize the 10 Commandments. Do this and you will life we are told.

If we rely on our own righteousness in keeping the commands of God we have little hope – unless God forgives us when we fail. By faith we claim the perfect righteousness and obedience of Christ. Having been forgiven and redeemed from the curse of the Law, we are called to follow the way of life by obeying the commands of God. We may never do this perfectly, but we must not neglect God’s commands, for that is the way of life.