David Bahn – Reflections – Page 323 – Light from the Word and through the lens

It WAS Good

August 20, 2014

Genesis 1:14-31 (selected)

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens…to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

20 And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” 21 So God created… And God saw that it was good… 23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds…And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image…

27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

28 And God blessed them…31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Throughout the account of creation ring two refrains, “there was evening and there was morning,” and “God saw that It was good.” There are any number of arguments for or against a literal interpretation and understanding of the days of creation. Textually, however, the question is well settled, “evening and morning the [first, second, etc.] day,” offers us a framework of understanding clearly portraying these as what we understand to be 24 hour days.

The other and perhaps even more important phrase, “it was good,” with the encore, “it was very good,” alert us to the nature of primal creation as well as a view into the nature of good and evil. Creation must have had it’s cataclysmic moments – stars bursting into existence, mountains thrusting up into the sky, waters expanding and receding, valleys appearing: all these things must surely have been dramatic and awesome moments! But at the end of each day the work of creation is pronounced good.

Goodness is not so much a matter of quiet and peace, tranquillity and calm as it is the state of creation under the perfect will of God. Good is God’s rule and design being played out without protest or question. God determined the limits of the water, commanded the sun to run its course, as the morning stars “sang together” (Job 38). These were good moments.

We get glimpses of the goodness of creation now and then, but the ultimate experience of good is yet to come when Christ returns and the new heaven and new earth appear. Next time you see a beautiful sunset, or gaze into the starry skies, experience the beauty of a flower garden or see a newborn baby, let that be a reminder of the goodness of God. Surely we have enough reminders of sin and its consequences. Thankfully we have testimony to God’s goodness and creative glory. And as we await the full restoration of all things, we can also thank God that we have a Savior who showed us goodness in his life of perfect obedience to the will of God, and who is our righteousness, hope and salvation.
The day of double blessing

August 19, 2014

Genesis 1:9-13

9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

11 And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

When we were in Israel, our guide told us that Tuesday was often chosen for couples’ wedding day because it was the day of the double blessing. On the third day of creation, God caused the waters to be gathered, and the land to appear. He saw that it was good (v. 10). Still on that same day, God caused plants and seed-bearing fruits to grow, and again we are told, “God saw that it was good” (v. 12). Twice on that one day of creation, God pronounces his creation good. Tuesday is the day of the double blessing.

I don’t know what today will hold for you, but I’m wondering if we might start a new tradition in the Twitter, FB, and Pinterest, worlds – double blessing Tuesday. Like “Throw Back Thursday,” we could post photos of things that we perceive to be double blessings from God: twins, spouse and children, a beautiful day with an opportunity to go for a walk. I am quite certain that through the creativity and thoughtfulness of others, we could multiply and number of those double blessings.

When you experience a gift from God, you will certainly see it as a blessing for which you thank him. When we see the double blessings – coming on any day – we will want to be doubly thankful as well. Of course there is yet another third day which brings a double blessing: the day Jesus rose from the dead. He was raised for our justification and because he lives we too will live. What are the double blessings for which you can give a double portion of praise and thanks to God today?
The Beginning of Life as We Know It

August 18, 2014

Genesis 1:26-28

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

²⁷So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

²⁸And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

We will celebrate Rally Day at St. John next Sunday August 24). The major emphasis of this annual event is Christian Education. We highlight the ministry of our Destination Discipleship Sunday School program. We share the topics and teachers of our Adult Bible Study Communities. We will have special guests, Sven and Dean who connect with folks young and old alike. It’s a great day capped off with an inside picnic for all in attendance.

This year we will also begin our series, THE STORY, a thirty-one (31) session overview of the entire Bible in chronological order. We will start with Genesis (The Beginning of Life as We Know It), and work our way through Revelation and the End of the World and the Life of the World to Come. It promises to be quite an experience. I’m excited about what lies ahead for all of us through THE STORY.

It strikes me that in these verses we learn that God spoke about making man in his image, but actually formed man out of the dust of the ground. “Let us make man in our image…” God says. Not only is this an intentional act, but God also announces his intent. Perhaps this has to do with the fact that in creating man God knew the cost that would be exacted in order for man to fulfill his full destiny. Perhaps he drew a deep breath in realizing the sadness and pain that sin would bring as a result of the sin of Adam and Eve, and the horrific price that the Son of God would pay to redeem us. Perhaps it is also to alert us to the care and extra attention God put into this act, announcing his intent, forming out of the dust, breathing into his nostrils the breath of life, creating man in his image, now a living being.

These words are poetically beautiful. But they are much more than that. They ground us in our identity: we are creatures of the Creator. They let us know that we are not a happy accident. They tell us that God put his thumbprint on us – much like a child would do to a picture he would give to his mom. The begin a story of which we are a part worth celebrating. They set us into a relationship with others whereby we live that adventure together, and call us to share the journey with those along the way.
The Gift

August 14, 2014

Matthew 25:14-30

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Two gifts stand out in my mind: one of which I gave, and the other that I received.When I was a young boy I gave my sister a set of checkers for Christmas. I don’t think she wanted them, but I certainly did, and I was happy to be able to play checkers with her whenever she was willing to do so. The other occasion was my birthday when I received some tulip bulbs from my mom. I had no desire to plant or try to grow tulips at that time in my life (I might feel differently about such a gift today). Neither of these gifts were thoughtful nor appreciated.

God’s gifts are not only thoughtful and costly, but purposeful as well. God allows us to receive many blessings so that we may be a blessing to others. There is clear biblical teaching about this: “You will be made rich in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion…” (2 Corinthians 9:11). But there is also evidence of this truth in this parable of Jesus: The master entrusts with his property. He will come back and take an account of how each of them does with the money they have been given. He expects a return.

The gift of God’s salvation is free and gracious on God’s part. We do nothing to earn it, nor does God give it because we have achieved some degree of worthiness. God gives this gift purely out of his grace and love for Jesus’ sake. As recipients of these gifts and blessings we also have the calling to represent God in the world, pursuing his interests and seeking his kingdom/reign. God is neither thoughtless nor stingy. He is intentional and will one day return to see how we have used the gifts he has given us.

What’s more, as we use these gifts for his purposes we will find even greater joy as he leads us along the path of life.
A Joy Delightfully to be Shared

August 13, 2014

Matthew 25:14-30

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

If the Prime Minister invites you to join the celebration in honor of his niece’s 12th birthday, or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company invites you to his son’s high school graduation, or your best friend is getting ready to marry the man of her dreams (and he is truly a good man): in any of these cases you will surely want to go to the party. To enter into such a joyful occasion would be a great honor and delightful experience.

We have an even greater joyful occasion to join when the King of the Universe (no mere Emperor of the World) invites us to enter into his joy. To enter into the joy of God has to do with embracing all that he has done for us and all people, to appreciate his desire for our salvation, love and faithful service, and to experience his grace first hand – knowing that it is his essential, unwavering, unconditional love and goodness that fuels that desire for all of us.

You may not really want to go to the company back-to-school bash. You may not be all that excited about being invited to Aunt Irma’s garden club tea. Your cousin may invite you to his birthday party only to get a present from you. And if your idea of heaven involves cherubs, harps, and clouds, you might not be very excited about going. But God invites us into his presence for the purpose of celebrating his love and our salvation. The angels will join in the celebration with all of creation. Jesus has paved the way for us, and will be the guest of honor. That will be a joyful day to be sure. I’m looking forward to it. How about you?
When the Master’s away…

August 12, 2014

Matthew 25:14-30

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

When I was 18 years old my parents went on vacation to Europe. They took my sister and left me in charge of the house. I didn’t do too poorly in taking care of things. No wild parties, or broken furniture. Part of that had to do with the fact that long before my parents turned over the house to my care, they had entrusted me with our family motel. I would occasionally stay there for a week or more when we were between managers. I would have charge of 23 rooms, a pool, the cash register and all that goes with it. For whatever reason it never occurred to me that I would benefit from being anything other than faithful and careful with the charge of the motel.

To be honest, however, there may have been one or two things I did at my parents’ house while they were gone that do not fit in the category of faithful care and keeping. I won’t go into detail, but for some reason their absence did offer me an opportunity to abuse – ever so gently – my parents’ house. I don’t think they ever got onto it, but I do admit to the possibility that not everything was done as it would have been had they been present.

Jesus tells us this parable because he knows what is in the hearts of men and women. It’s too easy for us to get distracted when the master is away. As the old saying goes, “When the cat’s away, the mice will play.” Meanwhile…the cat isn’t going to be away forever, nor will the master fail to return.

I learned that in a sudden appearance of my parents – returning from their European trip a day earlier than I thought they were supposed to arrive! Again, fortunately for me, I hadn’t hosted any wild parties, nor counted on being able, on the next day, to clean up the evidence of an inappropriate experience. Things were for the most part in perfect order.

Jesus speaks of the master putting servants in charge of his house, with the expectation that they would do something for his gain in his absence. If we are to be true to the message of this parable we will seek not only “to do no harm,” but we will seek to do that which would accrue to the master’s goals and benefit – even in his absence. Jesus will one day return. He will gather us all before him to give an account of his blessings to us. It is not sufficient to say, “I did no harm.” We are called to bring a return on his investment in us. He welcomes those who are faithful into his joy. Truly that is a worthy joy.
Gifted beyond one’s character

August 11, 2014

Matthew 25:14-30

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Perhaps you’ve seen the rising star who burns out in a blaze of glory. Whether he got too much attention, was never told no, or was so famous he lost track of his weaknesses, a man can crash and burn in the rubble of an over-inflated ego. Such is the danger of being gifted beyond one’s character: we can easily lose sight of our need to retain self-control.

In the case of the parable of the workers in the vineyard, the threshold of beyond-character gifting, however, is quite low. Those servants given 2 or 5 talents seem able to handle their giftedness. The one who receives only one talent is incapable of handling the trust he had received.

When one realizes he has been given a great trust it may bring out the attendant level of responsibility. Perhaps in real life it is those who have succeeded with the single-talent gift who receive the 2 and the 5. But even if it is one who cannot handle the single talent, the failure to do so brings grave and catastrophic pain: weeping, and gnashing of teeth.

If we are to live within our character, we must learn l to handle the small gifts that have been entrusted to us. That would require that we realize the smallest trust or the most extravagant gift is a sacred trust, and worthy of our best efforts of self control and humility. We recognize that these are gifts to be used for God’s glory and not simply to make us famous or simply to over-inflate our egos.
Piece of Work

August 8, 2014

Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

There are those works of art that are obviously the result of painstaking effort, skill, and an artistic eye. The Venus de Milo is one example. The statue of David in Florence, Italy is another. Such works of art required many hours, great skill, and an artistic eye.

We who have been saved by God’s grace are said to be God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. Our purpose as these works of art is to do the good works that God has prepared for us. Those good works are the encouraging words, acts of kindness, and thoughtful gestures of good will that we extend to one another. They may be in the context of a loved-one’s sorrow at the time of death. They may be a word of hope to a discouraged friend. They may involve a generous gift to someone in need.

Often our own painful experiences heightens our awareness of other’s needs. It may be that we have experienced a generous gift when we were in desperate need. Or we may have benefited from a word of encouragement at a particularly challenging time in our lives. All these gifts and blessings we have received – especially those coming to us in difficult times – make us more fit and ready to do the good works when the time comes.

God works in our hearts and lives to refine us, to make us more sensitive and responsive, and gracious in our relationships with others. His workmanship sometimes rubs off the rough edges, sometimes mends broken hearts, and at other times binds up feeble knees. Perhaps the challenges and difficulties you are facing today are God’s means of making you a beautiful work of art, a piece of work that will bless one special person today. When we act in that way we are also God’s workmanship in the other person’s life, for God works not only on us, but through us. What a privilege and blessing is ours who have been saved!
What is Grace?

August 7, 2014

Ephesians 2:4-10

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 Forby grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

The question caught me completely off guard. She asked, “What is grace?” Amazing; I thought everyone knew what grace was. But then I tried to define it. The classic definition is “God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.” And that is actually pretty good. Grace is the freely-given treasures of God, poured out because Jesus offered his life as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. It comes to us apart from our merit or because we deserve it.

God does not give grace because we’ve earned it. It doesn’t come to us because we’ve done good works or even because we’ve made up for the bad things we have done. Grace isn’t a matter of reward for having paid our dues or even because we have repented and asked God for it. Grace comes to us by God’s initiative. And it comes not only apart from our merit, but without regard to anything we could ever offer to cause God to give it.

Grace is the kind, good-willed gifts and love of God poured out on people who need it – even when they don’t know the need it. The Bible is very clear about this: “While we were still sinners Christ died for us” (cf. Romans 5:6-8). Grace is a gift we receive through faith, and by which we are saved.

We may cheapen grace if we take it for granted, or use it as an excuse to ignore God, or abandon his ways believing that by grace God will always take us back. But that’s not why we’ve been saved. We’ve been saved by grace so that we may walk in the good works that God is preparing for us to do each day. Does someone you know need a word of grace today? Speaking that word may be just the good work that God has prepared for you to do.
Saved by Grace, through Faith, for Good Reason

August 6, 2014

Ephesians 2:4-10

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 Forby grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

I had the opportunity to ask a simple, but important question of my Senior Pastor Prayer Partners this morning. I meet with these men each week for breakfast, conversation, prayer and mutual encouragement. I typically ask questions for advice on ministry decisions, or for general good natured kidding. Today I asked them the question: “What does it mean to be saved?” The comments were insightful. One said that he could not be reminded often enough of that fact: it is so important and good, but so easily forgotten. Another talked about how we who have grown up in the church don’t really have a clear idea of what it means because we have never been consciously un-saved.

Another comment was shared later in the day: We have been saved from ourselves. We don’t have to follow our own self-destructive ways; we’re not stuck in self-righteousness; we’ve been delivered from selfish ways. All this is for a purpose. We’ve not been saved just so we can be saved, but for the purposes of living under Christ in his kingdom and serving him. We serve him by doing the good works he has prepared for us to do as we walk along life’s way.

I thought about that last thought a bit more and came to a possibly helpful metaphor. Imagine your house is on fire and you could safely run in and grab only a very few items. You might grab a computer, your important documents, a favorite piece of jewelry or a collection of rare keepsakes. Most people would grab their photo albums. But you wouldn’t save these items just so that they could enjoy that status of salvation. You would save them so that you could use them, so that you could benefit from their continued safety.

We’re far more important than keepsakes, jewelry, or even photo albums. And God’s purposes for our salvation are not just for his personal satisfaction, any more than our salvation is for our personal enjoyment. We’ve been saved by God’s grace so that we may live as God’s works of art bringing grace, mercy, love, and kindness to others along the way. All that comes to us by faith – the means by which God’s gifts find their place in our hearts and lives.