David Bahn - Reflections

Here's the link to Pastor DeMik's message on Palm Sunday. The message starts at 46:26 into the service.

Maybe there are tables that need to be overturned in your life. I’m sure there are in mine. Perhaps you recognize there are fruitless and barren spaces in your heart. Thankfully, when Jesus overturns tables, he makes a way for people to come to God. And when fig trees are cursed, he uses it as an opportunity to teach us about the impact of our prayers before the throne of God.

Today is a good day to pray. God has made a way for us to do so. His name is Jesus. And when we pray in his name, we will be heard.

Years ago, when a coworker found out that I was going to the seminary, he asked Diane, "What do you do for fun?" I suppose he thought every moment of a pastor's life was filled with sermonizing, Bible reading, praying, and religious stuff. We do spend all our time with Jesus - at our best - and need him most at our worst. But he's with us on the front lines of the mission as well as in the moments of rest and relaxation life sometimes affords. And on more than one occasion, we've been able to share the gospel even in those down times. You never know when the opportunity may arise.

God's providence shines through all of Paul's missionary work. It is for the sake of Paul's wellbeing and even more for the sake of the gospel message. Followers of Jesus need never be bullied. Standing up for the sake of the gospel is sometimes necessary. Sometimes it may bring trouble. But sometimes even governmental regulations can aid and protect God's servants. I thank God for those brave men and women who will not be sidelined in their witness to Jesus.

Perhaps there was a Mr. Jailer's mother-in-law, or father who was praying that God would touch this man's heart. And now their prayers were being answered - perhaps even beyond their imaginations. To become a God Fearer meant that a non-Jew would be sympathetic to the Jewish faith. They might observe certain of the Jewish customs, rites, and traditions. But they would not be fully Jewish. They would, however, respect and appreciate the Jewish faith, and morality. There is no evidence of any such person in Mr. Jailer's household. But it is interesting to me that the whole household rejoiced that they had believed in God. 

There may be a lost son, a wayward daughter, a stubborn husband, an estranged mother, or a good friend for whom you would rejoice were he or she to come to faith. Whether or not there was a person in Mr. Jailer's household who was praying for his conversion, you can be the person who is praying for that one. May God honor your prayers and bring him or her to himself. Hopefully it won't take an earthquake or a night in jail to make it happen!

The true, living, gracious God did not need to be manipulated or bought off. His favor came to people by his grace. And just as the jailer discovered, he wanted nothing more than their faith. And even that was not a matter of his need, but of our blessing. For to believe in his goodness, grace, love, and salvation aligns us with the gifts he offers. We're saved by faith because the gift is already there. Faith receives it.

I'm certain I don't often enough give thanks to God for my faith, for his salvation, for coming to me, for showing me himself. This jailer and his family are good reminders and examples for us all.

Maybe you can identify the place and time the Gospel message impacted you and your loved ones. Perhaps it wasn't a whole family event. It might have been. Be sure of this, however, the stone the builders rejected has made quite an impact in many people's lives down through the ages. And the ripples continue to spread.

Whether or not the Jailer was asking for a worldly salvation, Paul was offering him an eternal one. And in the end the jailer believed and was baptized. Rather than believing in Caesar’s power, his superior’s control, or any of the many false gods of his day, Paul told him to put his faith in Jesus.

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved,” is still a good message for us. We can look to false gods, fear, money, sex, power, or a myriad of other demigods. None of those will give life, much less eternal salvation. The question is whether or not we fully understand the depth of our need for Jesus, or the full meaning of being saved. When we put our faith in Jesus we will be saved. And there’s no question about that.

Diane and I have gone on several foreign mission trips. Most of them have been to teach pastors and their spouses about effective ways to expand their work in the Mission of God. Many of these pastors and church leaders are completely committed to sharing the message of Jesus Christ. They put into practice what they learn about multiplying disciples, leading change in their churches, and doing this with character and integrity. 

But we spend much more time and energy pursuing God's mission right where we are. Thankfully, we've  been kept safe here and in our mission travels. It is important for us to remember that safety isn't just so we can live easy lives. But thanking God for "quiet and peaceful lives" we delight to be part of God's work in his mission field wherever we may be. 

What's going on here? Is God orchestrating all this just so that Luke has something interesting to report? Is this just the makings of a Christian cinema offering? No. And no. Luke will write about it; we're reading his book even now. And this would make a great movie. But this isn't about books or movies - plotline or not. This is about the grace of God and his desire for all people to be saved. It's about helping us understand that through faith in Jesus we are saved. That's true whether we've lived a life totally apart from God from our birth, or claim a lifelong commitment to Jesus and a front pew in the Church on the Corner of Grace and Truth Streets.

When we were facing some grave medical concerns over our youngest child, I would often go into the sanctuary of the church I served. I'd get there early and pray and sing hymns. I came to love the hymn, Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heart. Now, when I wake up in the middle of the night I'll sing the Agnus Dei or Kyrie (in my heart-not outloud!). I'll silently pray the Lord's Prayer, and recite psalms in those quiet hours. These calm my heart and God grants peace in those moments.

You may or may not have a great singing voice. But I'm confident that God loves to hear the songs we sing from our hearts and to his glory - no matter how well we may sing them.