David Bahn - Reflections

Last time I checked, everything means every thing. So no matter what you are called upon to do today, do it as unto Jesus, in his name, as his ambassador, to his glory, and in his loving grace. For God has an incredible inheritance prepared for us who are his. And if we're his, we will surely want to serve him well - he who served us perfectly and completely, and saved us: Our Lord Jesus Christ.

I try, once in a while, to listen to talk radio, or top 40, pop, or (don't judge me!) even easy listening music. I enjoy movie soundtracks and highly regard John Williams' incredible movie soundtracks. But I come again and again to classical (with many religious/faith roots and allusions) or Christian contemporary music. These bolster my spirits and shape my soul. How about you? What's on your playlist?

Diane and I celebrate our 47th wedding anniversary today. Some reflections on that, with special application to the thoughts of Colossians 3:12-19

What is your station in life? Are you husband, wife, child, mother, worker, employer, teacher, student, customer or vendor? You will likely have an opportunity to express the unique manner in which Jesus' love and calling takes shape in your life. And no matter who you are, Jesus' command to love God first and love your neighbor as yourself is perfectly fitting.

There are many troubling things in the world. They vie for our attention, concern, and even prayers. We are not to close our eyes to others' suffering. Nor are we to shut our hearts to the pain we feel in the face of loss. But we do not grieve without hope. We do not despair of God's goodness in the face of evil. Sometimes, however, we do need to shift our focus to the eternal blessings of God. Even as we live, and move, and have our being in this broken and fallen world we can look to Jesus and rejoice in his love and salvation.

A paradigm shift will mean we are brutally honest with the troubles we face, while being eternally hopeful for the goodness of God to sustain us and those we love.

We’re called to truth-telling, and truth living. We need never pretend. We must not deceive ourselves, but confess our sins, and acknowledge our need for our Savior. We certainly ought never boast in anything other than the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Cf. Galatians 6:14) And that’s no lie.

God's words to those who realize their sin, and turn to him in repentance are words of mercy and grace that heal sin-sick souls. He says, "I do not condemn you. I forgive you. You are mine. Now, go and speak truth to your neighbor in kindness, gentleness, humility, and love. Those are words that heal.

Language is a powerful tool to bless and heal, or to hurt and offend others. God's calling to truth telling is not just a matter of being polite, but a matter of giving witness to his character. How will you honor him today with your words? Let's speak the truth in love!

From my blog, DavidBahn-Reflections.com. 

When Jesus hung on the cross he cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" This is the cry of anguish when we experience the wrath of God. His abandonment creates a void that absorbs our very soul. This is wrath of the worst kind: God takes his hands off of us. If he is chastising us, and his hand is heavy on us, there is hope of his presence, kindness, goodness, and grace. His hand may be heavy, but it's there. But what if there is no hand. No goodness. No love. No grace. Just the utter black hole of a godless eternity. I do not want to face that.

Thankfully we don't have to face that utter black hole of a godless eternity. Instead we look to the nail-scarred hands of Jesus, in whom we hope, and for whom we look in glory.

Jesus had tons of spiritual capital. He had wisdom, power, and authority beyond all comparison. He healed diseases. He raised the dead. He walked on water. He confounded his enemies. He had "all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). Jesus was and is the source of incredible power for us today as well. Paul prays that we know "the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead" (Ephesians 1:19-20).