David Bahn – Reflections

Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in his commandments. – Psalm 112: 1 

Continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. – 2 Timothy 3: 14–15

Perhaps you know someone who is always on course. He never misses a payment. She meets every deadline. She never fails to keep a promise. He is the one everyone looks to with confidence and hope. He will pull his load and more. She will do what she promises. 

Much of what lies behind such a person is a commitment to follow God’s commandments. They honor God first and most. They do not steal. They do not bear false witness. They honor those who have authority over them. As a result they tend to do well in life. It’s not a promise. And sometimes those who really do honor God’s commandments are treated shamefully. Sometimes they outright fail to advance. Still most of the time a decent godly morality brings with it some sense of the good life. 

The key, however, to delighting in God’s commandments, and being faithful has to do with the times when things do not go well with us. When evildoers do evil against us, and sin intrudes, Satan attacks, and our own sinful flesh deceives us, where do we go? 

We go to God, to Jesus’ promises, and to the vindication Jesus received in the resurrection, and the promise he gives to those who believe in him. We will be saved – eternally. And in the mean time we will also find peace and comfort in God’s word, commandments, and promises. These are found in God’s word – the only place where unremitting acted truth is found. 

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! – Psalm 107:1

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the one who takes refuge in him! – Psalm 34:8

As I look out my window this morning, I am thankful for the beautiful colors of creation – especially as they appear at sunrise. I am thankful for plants and flowers that beautify the earth. I am thankful for friends and family, for my wife, and home, and photography gear, and opportunities to enjoy all these blessings of life. I am thankful for my church family, for the staff team that God has brought together, and for opportunities I have to serve here, as well as throughout the United States, and even around the world. 

I am thankful to God for these things. In fact, I have even replaced the comment, “I’m blessed” (which I am, by the way – richly!), by saying, “I’m thankful,” or “I’m grateful.” For we are all blessed to one degree or another. That is true no matter how many or few things we can list for which we are thankful. Whether or not we have family around the table today, or we can list many many items of worldly goods, or whether we are celebrating Thanksgiving in Hospice Care or a rehab center there is something for which we can all be thankful. 

The great equalizer in all this is the goodness of God. That is unchanging. His goodness and steadfast love  endures forever. He never wavers in his kindness, mercy, grace, and love for us. Seen in Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and reign, God’s goodness is something for which we can all give thanks. It is reason enough to thank him today and every day. 

Martin Luther’s expression of this truth has to do with recognizing God’s “fatherly divine goodness and mercy” as the motive and source of all good things we have on this earth. For all of God’s provisions it is our duty to “thank, praise, serve, and obey him. This is most certainly true!”

Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him. – Genesis 6:22

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. – Hebrews 11:7

Noah is told to build a boat. He is instructed to gather food. He is directed to gather animals. He is commanded to get in the boat and shut up its door. And all these things he does! He apparently didn’t see rain clouds in the sky. He didn’t have anything to go on except God’s command. He charted a totally new course of action by faith. And he became an heir of righteousness that comes by faith.

Where I can get on board (sorry for the silly pun!) with Noah has to do with faith in the righteousness of God – at least most of the time. Sadly, however, my faith is a fickle thing. It’s one time fiery hot and the next moment cool and ready to go out. I do not believe as fully as I ought in the goodness of God, the blessedness of his ways, or the certainty of his promises. I am too often the bruised reed or smoldering flax of which Isaiah speaks, and which God promises not to break our snuff out. 

That is the part of the righteousness of faith to which I cling. In the end, I’ll never have perfect faith (and I’m guessing even Noah had his moments – surely!). But God’s righteousness, grace, goodness, and love are so clearly shown in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. To those I cling, and in his faithfulness I put my true hope. 

Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever. – Psalm 125:2

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.
–Revelation 21:3

During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays family and friends will gather for food, conversation, football game watching, and walks in the neighborhood. I always enjoy those full-table times with family and friends. Being surrounded by people you love and who love you is such a great blessing; worthy of deep thankfulness to God.

But not every gathering will be pleasant or good. In fact some will be downright unpleasant, fraught with anxiety, anger, arguments, and discord. No fun! Some folks even have contingency escape plans if things begin to go south with the conversation around the table.

God’s people, however, rejoice in the presence of God, and he with them. He enfolds them with his gracious love and kindness. He makes his home with us. We are at home with him. This is a perfectly-wonderful mutually-delightful experience. Just as we enjoy God’s presence, so God enjoys our presence. Think of it: the best of family relations with no sin, no jealousy, no envy, no pettiness, no misunderstandings, no snide comments, no political or religious arguments! Must be heaven! Indeed.

Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. – Psalm 111:2

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. – Luke 12:27

This beautiful flower was growing in Anchorage, Alaska when we visited there in July 2016

This beautiful pink lily was one of many growing in a street-side flower garden in Anchorage, Alaska.

One of the several poppies growing in a street-side flower garden in Anchorage, Alaska

Another fireweed plant from Alaska

This beautiful hibiscus bloom was growing at Kleb woods. Photo taken in September 2016.

One of the beautiful large flowers we saw while in Anchorage, Alaska

A flower by God, taken in Livermore, CA

One of the beautiful flowers we saw in Alaska: this one was in Ketchikan, and we saw it and others while on a walk through the town.

Color Explosion!

White Blossom with Accents

“Calla Lily” © 2007 Flowers by God Photos by David http://www.fbgpbd.smugmug.com

A child is born and we marvel at the intricate elegance of a new-born life. A beautiful sunset can capture our attention for as long as it lasts. I love flowers. From calla lilies to hollyhocks, roses to bougainvillea bracts their shapes, colors, and textures intrigue me. Scripture points us to these things as a matter of study, attention, and focus.

The creations of God tells us something about him. St. Paul says that creation reveals God’s invisible attributes and divine power (Romans 1:20). Jesus tells us to consider the lilies, and to gain insight about God’s care, an provision. In other words, creation’s beauty and splendor are not intended just for our amusement, but for our edification. We are to learn some things about God by what we see in the world around us.

As we consider the beauty of creation it might be easy to be get stuck on the creation rather than the Creator. God’s desire is to be known, and creation offers a glimpse of his nature. The fullest expression of God’s character and nature is the Rose of Sharon, Jesus Christ. Consider him and his way of life, his example, his love, his sacrifice, and his promise and gift of eternal life. That’s worth considering, and learning, by that means, about God.

O Lord, I am oppressed; be my security! Isaiah 38:14

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. Romans 8:26

The LGBT movement is in full Chicken Little mode these days, protesting the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. They claim that he will crush their movement by his heavy-handed tactics, anti-gay policies, and hate-inspired rhetoric. The movement may fail, but it is likely not to be caused by the Trump presidency. It is more likely to fail because the LGBT agenda has succeeded in its efforts to such an extent that there will be nothing more to protest. Because the movement is a protest movement. There will likely be nothing to protest in the very near future – Trump or not.

Followers of Jesus, however, are decidedly not on the winning side of many of the culture wars today. Whether it is a baker in Northern Ireland who is fined the equivalent of $600 USD for refusing to bake a cake that included the words, “Support Gay Marriage”, to the ban on the display of manger scenes on public property, the cause of Christian morals and godliness is challenged regularly.

The Christian faith is not a protest movement – nor should it ever be one. Those who are followers of Jesus may take to the streets. But our agenda is to witness, bless, and serve. When we are oppressed, we may seek justice at the hands of human authorities, but we know our ultimate protection is from God. When we are persecuted, we may well sigh and groan. But these expressions of anguish are turned to prayers by the Holy Spirit, for our help, refuge, security, and hope is found in God.

I am not certain how to love our LGBT friends and neighbors. But I am certain we are to love them. I’m not clear on how to mend the ills of our culture, but I know we are to pray for the peace of the cities in which we live.I am not settled on my conclusions about a Trump presidency, but I am convinced that we are to pray for our leaders and those in authority. And if I am persecuted, oppressed, or challenged because of my faith and convictions, I know that I am to turn to God.

O God, help me to do so daily!

Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. – Deuteronomy 10:14

 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. – Romans 1:20

I grew up in a mom and pop motel, owned and operated by my mom and dad for nearly 30 years. It was a small independent enterprise, “perpetually new,” as my dad would advertise. I remember when we built a 75 foot TV tower antenna and put in a system of amplifiers so that all the rooms could get access to a good TV signal. I remember, also, when we replaced the black and white TVs with color TVs. It took several months to do so because we would buy a few at a time as we were able to save the money to do so. Money was tight. The business was challenging.

I’ll never forget, however, the day we went down to one of the rooms that had been rented the night before. The maid had called us urgently asking us to come down and see what the guests had done to that room.

Over the years we had experienced towels being stolen by our guests. We knew sometimes people would rent a room for one person and sneak a second person in. We knew that sometimes guests would party and trash the room, breaking furniture or bedding. But we were not prepared for what we discovered when we arrived at the room that day. The guest had stolen one of our new color TVs. We didn’t have margin to absorb such an impact.

You might rent a room, take the key and have exclusive access to that room for a period of several hours, or even several days. That doesn’t mean, however, that you own the things in that room. It’s not yours just because you’ve used it for any length of time.

How is it that we get the idea that we own the things of this world just because we use them for a period of years or even decades? This is not our world. The world’s very existence is testimony to God’s creative power and ultimate ownership. To him belongs all things. Because of his fatherly, divine goodness and mercy he has given us use of the world and everything in it. He provides for our wellbeing, protects us from harm and danger, and sustains us all by his loving grace.

For all this it is my duty to thank, praise, serve and obey God. This is most certainly true. (Luther’s Small Catechism, Explanation to the 1st Article of the Creed)

Psalm 5:11

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
    let them sing joyful praises forever.
Spread your protection over them,
    that all who love your name may be filled with joy.

1 Peter 1:8

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

What brings you joy? Is it your favorite football team winning the game? Is it your children being recognized for good grades? Is it making it to the end of the week and discovering that it’s a three-day weekend? Many things can bring us joy in the coolness of a beautiful fall day. Not every day is cool. Fall gives way to winter. Beautiful days are easily forgotten in the face of a hurricane.

Those who love and believe in Jesus look for better reasons to rejoice and praise God. While it’s great to win a football game, or discover an extra day off, it is far better to embrace the goodness, faithfulness, love, and grace of God in Jesus. Our joy flows from our awareness of God’s place in our hearts and lives. Our praise flows to God…to him, explicitly, intentionally, from a God-centered, faith-created world view.

I’ve had a great time following the Dallas Cowboys this year; their performance has been amazing and their record is the best since the 1970’s. We also rejoice when we hear of the amazing accomplishments of our grandchildren near and far. But take all these joys away, and you still have reason to rejoice. We believe in him. We rejoice in him. We take refuge in him. Jesus is the source of our joy and the focus of the praise of those who love him.

Psalm 119:6

I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.

John 4:31-34

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”³² But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” ³³ So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” ³⁴ Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

The church meeting was somewhat tense. I was serving in an advisory capacity for a church that was searching for a new senior pastor. During the process a group had sought to use some code language in order to turn certain people away from interest in the position. When I suggested that it wasn’t the best way to go about that process, I was asked what seemed to be a simple question. I provided the answer in a simple (and perhaps somewhat naive manner. When I did one of the persons in the meeting sprung the trap he had set, accusing me of being unfaithful and un-Lutheran. I hadn’t seen the trap.

Have you ever been taken for a ride? Not an auto ride, but a trip down deception lane? If so, it might be that these words from Psalm 119 are a welcome invitation: Fixing our eyes God’s commandments will sustain us in every situation. But there are times when we must look beyond the obvious to see the fullness of what God is calling us to do.

In the case of the situation I faced a few years ago and several counties away, my eyes were on God’s commandments. I was being as faithful as I could be, and as such, I need not have been shamed. In fact I wrote to the gentleman who sprang the trap on me and ended by telling him that I had hoped he would have been more gracious in his assessment of me.

If we are centered in God’s word and commandments, and seeking to do his will, we may still get taken for a ride. But God’s kingdom work will be done. Jesus has provided the way for this, the example of it, and the strength for us to serve him faithfully.