David Bahn – Reflections

Isaiah 60:16

I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the mighty One.

Mark 5:41–42

Jesus took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about.

The account of Jesus raising the little girl, with the Aramaic words, “Talitha  cum,” is a particularly touching story to me. It shows not only the power of God, but his compassion and tender love. This powerful God is no publicity hog, but neither does he wish to remain anonymous. A coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous – so the saying goes. But God does not wish to remain anonymous. He has shown that from the beginning of time, when the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the deep, and God spoke the world into creation. In Genesis God is called Yahweh. “The One Who Is” (usually rendered LORD). God revealed that name to Moses in Exodus 3:4. He was also known as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. David calls him King. Isaiah reveals him as Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Finally, in the New Testament God reveals himself in the name Jesus. Jesus means, “The Lord Saves,” and beautifully displays the reality of God’s character and being. When Jesus gives the Great Commission, instituting Baptism as the great seal-the-deal event of salvation for us, he makes it quite clear and specific: God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

God has revealed his name to us so that we may be saved (cf. Romans 10:13). If we are to call on the name of the Lord and be saved, we need not worry or struggle to find a way to call on God. Call on him as Father, in the name of the Son, through the power of the Holy Spirit. If we are to do so, we might also have the opportunity to allow God’s name to be embraced by others, and with us enjoy the riches of his grace, his gift of abundant eternal life, and salvation. He does great things for little girls, and big men, and everyone between.

Ezekiel 16:62

I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord.

Colossians 1:5–6

You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God. 

In the movie Martin Luther – Heretic, Luther is portrayed in his crisis of conscience with his father confessor, Johann von Staupitz, who advises him, “Eat more food. Get more sleep. Learn more about God.” Such was good advice for the young monk who threw himself into the study of God’s word, and learned things about God he had not encountered previously. It literally changed the world.

Sometimes we may underply the importance of knowing things about God. We put it off as mere head knowledge when people know about God, but don’t live out that knowledge in any meaningful way. We talk about people knowing but not doing good. Knowledge without wisdom or application is not worth much. Not knowing, however, is worse. And knowledge about God can expand the strength and impact of our faith – just is it did with Martin Luther some 500 years ago.

Such knowledge about God is powerful because it leads us to hope, and hope shapes the trajectory of one’s life and works its way out in ways that bless others and glorify God. So if you’re short on hope, struggling with guilt, stuck in a rut, anxious about tomorrow, discouraged or worried about anything, learn more about God. Study his word. Press in to the word of truth. Meditate on the Good News of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, ascension, and second coming.

Jeremiah 20:13 (NIV)

Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.

Romans 12:12 (NIV)

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

For the past few weeks I have been praying for Diane. She broke her ankle on a hike and is hobbling around on crutches or scooting around the house on a borrowed medical scooter. My prayers, however, have been a bit frustrating. To some extent I was nearly ready to give up; the answers seemed to be almost the opposite of what I was asking. Not only in relation to Diane’s health, but other issues as well I have not seen answers I was seeking.

These words, therefore, speak to me quite pointedly: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Joy, patience, and faithfulness are fruits of the Spirit which seem not to be exceedingly abundant in my life right now. But they conspire to bring me to a better place with God and with life itself.

Joy, patience, and faith go hand-in-hand. When I embrace God in faith, I focus on his favor, grace, love, and promises. That brings me joy, and a joyful heart is far more patient than a heart of unbelief and despair.

Just the other day I admitted to Diane that I was almost ready to stop praying for her to get better – it seemed the more I prayed the worse her condition was becoming. Saying that out loud, and hearing Diane’s answer helped me. She said, “Well then pray about something else.” I let go of my resentment, and discovered a peace I had not expected. The next day my prayer for her healing was answered; she showed me how she could walk a step or two even without crutches!

I know it doesn’t always work that way. I know that patience is sometimes synonymous with longsuffering. That would certainly be the case in regard to times of affliction. But I believe that God does rescue the lives of the needy. And I am delighted to sing his praise.

Proverbs 15:1

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 Timothy 2:24–25

The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. 

I have a personal list of three sermons I have heard over the past 40 years that have stayed with me. One day at Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, IL, the assigned preacher for daily chapel did not show up. After a rather long wait and an extra hymn verse or two, Dr. Henry Eggold strode in. His long legs propelling him to the chancel and then the pulpit. Without notes, and only a Bible, he preached on Romans 5, and reminded us that even in the midst of suffering we rejoice, because God is working good things in us: endurance, patience, and hope. God spoke to me that day, through a man who was humble, sincere, and prepared at a moment’s notice to share the gospel.

Another day in Kramer Chapel in Fort Wayne, Indiana, following a previous verbal missile launching between two professors, Dr. Gerhard Aho, preached on 1 Corinthians 12. His theme, “Every Christian Counts” still rings in my ears – oil on the waters of discord that said what we all need to hear.

At a national leadership conference in South Barrington, Illinois, Pastor John Ortberg had us all write words from Isaiah 43, “You are precious and honored in my sight, and I love you.” He then proceeded to help us apply these words from God to ourselves in his own understated, quiet, thoughtful, and kind way.

These were not loud and bombastic preachers or sermons. They were the kind, soft, gentle, and patient. The message of Jesus’ love is framed by loud shouts of, “Crucify!” It is celebrated in expressions of joy and victory: “Alleluia!” But the still small voice of the Holy Spirit takes residence in the quietness of our hearts and turns away God’s wrath and turns our bitterness to sweet love and graceful peace.

Psalm 46:1–2

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.

Matthew 28:18

Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Seldom do I want to accuse God of doing it all wrong, but there are times when his rule and reign are not aligned with my personal convenience. Whether it has to do with the challenges at church of flooded buildings, or the realities of health issues of one kind or another, not all situations I face are easy or pleasant. Add to that my earnest prayer for God’s mercy and help that seems to make things worse, and you might understand my discouragement.

But I digress. Just recently I was thinking of my own unworthiness and failures in regard to my now almost 93 year old mother. When we walked into her room at the Lutheran Home where she lives her immediate reaction was a tear or two. They were tears of joy, but I knew that they were tears of pain as well. She’s all alone in Cape. My sister lives 4 1/2 hours away. I live even farther away. Our sister who used to live in Cape died just over five years ago. She has friends there, and excellent care. But I know she’s lonely for her husband and our dad, Louis, and our sisters, Barbara and Kathy. I was very moved when I saw her tears that day, remembering how I added to her pain in my high school and college years. I was pretty self-centered.

That said, I’m wondering if I’ve got it all correct in my assessment of how things are going these days; my assessment of how God is doing running the universe.

I may not always experience pleasant things in life. And sometimes my prayers may be answered in ways other than I ask (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10). But God’s word instructs, confronts, comforts, and promises me that God is our refuge and strength. Jesus does have all authority in heaven and on earth. Whatever may happen, I want to rely on that with a good and pure heart. And in so relying, find true peace and courage.

Psalm 118:15–16

There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.”

Matthew 13:43

The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

There might be those who say that the songs of victory following the Indiana primary elections last night are in the tents of righteousness. There would be those who say those songs are decidedly not in the tents of the righteous. To put it clearly: some are celebrating the victory of Donald Trump in Indiana; others are certain that this was not a win for the righteous (the same might be said had the outcome been different, by the way).

There is a danger in tying the success of one political party or candidate to the triumph or doom of righteousness. Political victories tend to be short-lived. The rule and reign of God in the hearts of men and women is another thing altogether. We may claim that our cause is just and our purposes honorable; and indeed they ought to be. The final vindication, however, will be determined and announced by God on the Day of Judgment.

How will we be shown to be righteous in the end? How will we shine like the sun, and join the celebration of eternal victory in the kingdom of God? The only sure way, indeed the only way whatsoever is through our connection with the King of Righteousness, Jesus Christ. Whatever may be said about other human heros, their righteousness pales in comparison to the righteousness of Christ. Those who stand in faith with him will shine like him throughout eternity.

Whatever may have happened last night in Indiana will shape the future for a number of people for a while. But that which happened 2000 years ago when Jesus suffered, died, rose again shapes the future of multitudes of peoples from every tribe, language, nation, and people under the sun. Those who put their faith in Jesus will be forever glad when he comes on the Great Last Day.

Psalm 51:13

I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

Mark 1:15

Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

Martin Luther is famously to have said, “We live on earth only so that we should be a help to other people. Otherwise, it would be best if God would strangle us and let us die as soon as we were baptized and had begun to believe. For this reason, however, he lets us live: that we may bring other people to faith as he has done for us.”

We might point out that Martin Luther was a singularly-unique individual; that he would be much more likely able to evangelize someone than an ordinary you or me. We might point to Paul, the greatest missionary ever and rightly say, “I’m not like him!” The same would be true for David who was king of Israel, and who wrote these words of Psalm 51. And no one is as righteous, holy, or missional as our Lord himself.

What’s more, when we seek to bring another person to faith, we’re actually calling for a profound change to occur. Repenting and believing the Good News of Jesus is a radical reorientation of mind and heart; a totally different way of embracing life itself. And it’s not like we’re on the front lines of the mission field. We live in a Christian nation with Christian ethos. How can we possibly teach transgressors God’s ways? Who needs to repent?

Perhaps we do. Perhaps we need to think again about the mission field right in our own family: who needs to reorient his life toward God? Who needs to reset her agenda toward a godly outcome? Perhaps there is a coworker, fellow student, neighbor to pray for. It all starts, however, when we repent. David’s famous words, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me…” are his prayer of repentance after his sin with Bathsheba. He also prayed that the Holy Spirit would not be taken from him. Then he would teach transgressors God’s ways and sinners would return to God.

We who believe we’re not on the front lines of the mission of God need to repent – no matter what our vocation may be. Until we embrace our own need to repent, and believe the Good News of God’s love, forgiveness, redemption, and salvation, we will not be able to teach transgressors or bring sinners to God. But once we do repent, we will better see the people God puts into our path as gifts and opportunities to lavish God’s love, and speak God’s truth, and invite them to stand with us at the foot of the Cross.

Psalm 40:17

I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me.

Mark 6:41–42

Jesus blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled.

I’m not certain how anyone with a flatscreen TV, a house with more than three rooms, appliances, furniture, a car, and a computer would be considered poor and needy by the world’s standards. That was brought home to me when we visited Kenya and were invited to our driver’s home before heading back to the United States. The family of four lived in a rented mud hut with a kitchen (replete with charcoal-burning fire-pit “stove”) and a single room which served as eating area, sleeping quarters, and living area. They served us coffee with milk and sugar, and bread and butter. I’m not certain how they afforded the loaf of bread or the milk and butter they gave us.

Somehow, however, he realized that God had not disregarded him and his family. He is a believer, serving in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya, driving for the local bishop and guests the church hosts. Hence we were he charge for the afternoon. More important, he did not despair of God’s grace, nor even make much of his poverty: not one word of complaint. He had dreams of building his own tin-roof hut some day, but in the mean time he was serving God as a driver for the church.

Perhaps, however, the stark contrast between his life and ours belies a greater kinship than we might imagine. We can judge our poverty or wealth by the world’s standards. There are TV shows that showcase homes which would make all but 1 in 100,000,000 of ours look shabby. There are chauffeurs who earn more than a successful middle class businessman. And there are people living in cardboard boxes in the city dump in Nairobi who envy our driver.

But the One who owns “the cattle on a thousand hills,” who claims the gold and silver of the world as His own (cf. Hagai 2:8) is little impressed with our 55 inch flatscreen TVs. We may not think of ourselves as poor by the world’s standards. But by God’s standards we have nothing all that impressive. God gives grace to the humble – those who recognize their real poverty, and live in humility before him. When we receive his favor we are truly filled.

Ecclesiastes 5:7 (NASB)

For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.

Titus 3:9

But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

After worship children of staff (including my own grandchildren) may be seen running around the chancel area of the church building. Some number of years ago the mere idea of such carryings-on would be unthinkable. Today we half-heartedly shush our children, and then carry on with our conversations and activities. Some would worry that this is an abuse of holy space. Others would dismiss such worries as ill-advised at best.

I’m not advocating an abandonment of reverence in the house of the Lord. Neither, however, am I demanding that people keep their children out of the altar area. But lest we mistake a reverence for the house of God for a true fear of God in all of life, an observation seems appropriate. Fearing God has to do with not only the one to three hours we spend in a church building each week; it has to do with how we spend the other 165 +/- hours each week.

People can engage in words and dreams, or in stupid controversies, and quarrels about rubrics or liturgical etiquette without ever encountering God. Forms may help us express our reverence and worship of God, but they may also cover over unbelieving hearts, and prevent people from loving their neighbor. God desires mercy person to person, not just ritualistic sacrifice. In fact, Jesus says that if you’re bringing your offering to church and remember that you have a bone to pick with your brother, leave your offering and go first be reconciled to your brother then bring your offering!

Thank God that Jesus shows us what this looks like in real life – including things like healing on the Sabbath. He died for us who don’t get that right -despite our best efforts. And his Holy Spirit enables us to grow more Christ-like in our dealings with others; as more and more we fear and love God above all things.

Job 31:4

Does God not see my ways, and number all my steps?

Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

On a good day, it makes me happy. On a very bad day it brings me comfort. Most days, however, I don’t think of it all that much: God’s all-seeing eye upon the steps of my life. Once in a while we, like Jonah, might try to hide from God. Once in a while we might even cringe to think of God’s awareness, knowledge, watchfulness, and uncovering.

Those, however, who embrace the goodness of God, and see him as a loving and merciful Father in heaven, who sent his Son to die for us and our salvation, will delight in the omniscience of God. That God knows and sees all things is good because he is good. His steadfast love endures forever. Great is his faithfulness.

There is, however, an edge to God’s all-knowing and all-seeing nature. Because God is also just, there will be an accounting. Our actions matter to him. Our way of life for good or ill is weighed in the scales of his justice. We know and believe that Jesus balances those scales. We also know that God deeply desires that we act and live as though we are his children, and not children of wrath and rebellion.

How do you see God? Do you know and believe that he sees you with eyes of grace and love?