Proper 12
Devotional
Pause Before The Pulpit
Personal Reflections For Pastors On The Lectionary Readings
John 6:1-21
Last week's lesson, from Mark 6, was the introduction and conclusion to the two accounts in today's text. There we noted the fatigue factor in serving our Lord. In these two accounts, I want us to pay careful attention to Jesus' words. First of all, notice the leading question he asked Philip: Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat? Jesus was not stumped or overwhelmed by the enormity of this task. Nor was he looking to Philip for advice, but rather looking for signs of maturity and faith.
In our ministries, Jesus leads us into difficult situations and then asks us leading questions (through our thought processes) as to how we are going to carry out his mission. For example: Suppose you have planned a summer vacation Bible school and want to reach as many of the unchurched neighborhood children as possible. Your advertising efforts paid off, for the attendance is overwhelming. However, you didn't staff enough people, purchase enough crafts, nor prepare enough snacks. And Jesus "asks," "How are you going to share the gospel with all these children?"
How often do we come up with answers that sound similar to Thomas'? Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little. What a typical reply based on human reason. We do the math, we think logically, and then we come up with some ridiculous, faithless, pessimistic response. You see, Jesus doesn't want us to think merely along the lines of reason when it comes to his kingdom work. He wants us to balance reason with faith.
Now Andrew was a little closer to this balance, for he came with an idea that would require faith and a miracle, even though he had no clue as to how it would work. There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people? Ah! Now we're getting somewhere! Jesus simply said, Make the people sit down. In other words, "Prepare to be amazed. You are about to witness a miracle." Jesus did not do what he could have done. He could have created a wonderful meal out of nothing. He could have sent manna and quail from heaven. Instead, he took something tangible that reason could take hold of, and applied it to a scenario that would require faith. Presto! A miracle!
When Jesus leads us into seemingly impossible situations, he doesn't expect us to pull things out of thin air, nor does he tell us to just sit by while he does a miracle. He asks us to take tangible things, combined with a balance of reason and faith, and through that he accomplishes things we could never accomplish without him.
Going back to our earlier example with all the VBS children; the task seems impossible, but the Lord gives you the idea to call someone, who calls someone else and together they get others involved in helping, donating food and items for crafts, and praying. By the end of the week, you look back at a successful VBS program and hear the Lord whisper, Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost and you realize you just witnessed a miracle! For there was enough of everything you needed and then some. That's how our Lord works in our ministries today.
I want us to hear one more brief statement from our Lord. It came late in the night while the disciples were leaning into their oars, battling a fierce storm on Galilee. They saw what appeared to be a ghost coming near them and they cried out in terror! But a voice came to them over the wind and the waves: It is I; do not be afraid. Pastor, are you afraid right now? Is there a "storm" in your church and you don't know how to deal with it? Is the time right for a miracle? Jesus is there. He knows all about it. He knows what you and others are feeling and thinking. He knows what it's going to take to bring peace and calm to the situation. He knows what miracles you need to encourage your faith and to carry on his work. Listen to his still, small voice: It is I; do not be afraid.
A Pastor's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I need a miracle right now. Things are overwhelming and I don't know what to do. Please remove my doubts and fears. Help me to know what I am to say and do, and when I am to let you do your powerful work through me and others. Thank you that you care. Thank you for being in the midst of our ministry, especially during the storms. Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21
This prayer, which Paul prayed for the Ephesians, is a wonderful, pastoral prayer. I mean that in two senses of the expression, for it is a wonderful prayer for pastors to pray for their parishioners, but is also a wonderful prayer for parishioners to pray for their pastors. Our people need prayer, but we most certainly need their prayers as well. Blessed is the congregation whose pastor prays for them, but in turn, blessed is the pastor whose congregation prays for him/her.
Paul first prayed that the Ephesians might be strengthened in [their] inner being with power through [God's] Spirit. Oh, how we need the power of God in our inner being to carry on his work. We need his power to love others as he loves them. We need his power to be patient with those who are slow to respond to his word. We need his power to preach boldly when Satan and others would want us to fall silent. Yes, we daily need to be strengthened in our inner being with power through God's indwelling Spirit.
Our people need to be strengthened as well. They need God's power to resist temptations. They need his power to serve faithfully in the church in accordance with the gifts God has given them. They need his power to be bold witnesses for Christ in the workplace and in their schools -- places where pastors can seldom go and witness for Christ. Pray that your people will be strengthened in their inner being with power through God's Spirit.
Secondly, Paul prayed that Christ may dwell in [the] hearts [of the Ephesians] through faith, as [they were] being rooted and grounded in love. Just because we are pastors doesn't mean that we don't need this prayer. Our faith is shaken from time to time. We have questions and doubts about Christ, and to what extent he actually dwells in us when we face our struggles with sin. There's always room for improvement when it comes to being more deeply rooted and grounded in love -- for God and people.
So, too, the people we minister to desperately need this prayer. It doesn't matter if they've been a Christian all their lives or are brand-new believers. Far too many Christians have a head knowledge of Jesus, but he does not dwell in their hearts by faith to the degree that God desires. If the church, as a whole, were more deeply rooted and grounded in love, what a difference that would make in the personal lives of Christians and the life and ministry of the church! Faithfully pray this for your people, and urge them to pray this for you.
Last of all, Paul prayed something huge for the Ephesians: I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Paul longed that the church in Ephesus might begin to comprehend that which cannot be fully comprehended -- the love of Christ. We need this prayer prayed for us, too, for at the heart of every successful pastorate, is a love for God and a love for people. Both are dependent, to some degree, on our comprehending the love that Christ has for us. The more we can comprehend the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ's love for us, the more we will be filled with all the fullness of God.
This is so true for our people as well. Few people truly grasp the extent of Christ's love for them. They know he loves them, and that warms their hearts and gives them hope, but they don't know how much. If they did, it would be more evident in their words, attitudes, and actions. It would be more evident in their service and giving to the church. We would see in them the fullness of God. Pray this prayer for your people, for they desperately need it.
It is easy for pastors to become cynical about prayer when they see so little fruit from it. But I encourage you to hear and believe what Paul said in his benediction: Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine. Never forget, that whatever you are thinking and actually asking of God, he can do infinitely more than that. Think large, dear friend, and by faith, pray even larger!
A Pastor's Prayer:
(Pray the text as a prayer for yourself and your parishioners.)
Amen.
Last week's lesson, from Mark 6, was the introduction and conclusion to the two accounts in today's text. There we noted the fatigue factor in serving our Lord. In these two accounts, I want us to pay careful attention to Jesus' words. First of all, notice the leading question he asked Philip: Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat? Jesus was not stumped or overwhelmed by the enormity of this task. Nor was he looking to Philip for advice, but rather looking for signs of maturity and faith.
In our ministries, Jesus leads us into difficult situations and then asks us leading questions (through our thought processes) as to how we are going to carry out his mission. For example: Suppose you have planned a summer vacation Bible school and want to reach as many of the unchurched neighborhood children as possible. Your advertising efforts paid off, for the attendance is overwhelming. However, you didn't staff enough people, purchase enough crafts, nor prepare enough snacks. And Jesus "asks," "How are you going to share the gospel with all these children?"
How often do we come up with answers that sound similar to Thomas'? Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little. What a typical reply based on human reason. We do the math, we think logically, and then we come up with some ridiculous, faithless, pessimistic response. You see, Jesus doesn't want us to think merely along the lines of reason when it comes to his kingdom work. He wants us to balance reason with faith.
Now Andrew was a little closer to this balance, for he came with an idea that would require faith and a miracle, even though he had no clue as to how it would work. There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people? Ah! Now we're getting somewhere! Jesus simply said, Make the people sit down. In other words, "Prepare to be amazed. You are about to witness a miracle." Jesus did not do what he could have done. He could have created a wonderful meal out of nothing. He could have sent manna and quail from heaven. Instead, he took something tangible that reason could take hold of, and applied it to a scenario that would require faith. Presto! A miracle!
When Jesus leads us into seemingly impossible situations, he doesn't expect us to pull things out of thin air, nor does he tell us to just sit by while he does a miracle. He asks us to take tangible things, combined with a balance of reason and faith, and through that he accomplishes things we could never accomplish without him.
Going back to our earlier example with all the VBS children; the task seems impossible, but the Lord gives you the idea to call someone, who calls someone else and together they get others involved in helping, donating food and items for crafts, and praying. By the end of the week, you look back at a successful VBS program and hear the Lord whisper, Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost and you realize you just witnessed a miracle! For there was enough of everything you needed and then some. That's how our Lord works in our ministries today.
I want us to hear one more brief statement from our Lord. It came late in the night while the disciples were leaning into their oars, battling a fierce storm on Galilee. They saw what appeared to be a ghost coming near them and they cried out in terror! But a voice came to them over the wind and the waves: It is I; do not be afraid. Pastor, are you afraid right now? Is there a "storm" in your church and you don't know how to deal with it? Is the time right for a miracle? Jesus is there. He knows all about it. He knows what you and others are feeling and thinking. He knows what it's going to take to bring peace and calm to the situation. He knows what miracles you need to encourage your faith and to carry on his work. Listen to his still, small voice: It is I; do not be afraid.
A Pastor's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I need a miracle right now. Things are overwhelming and I don't know what to do. Please remove my doubts and fears. Help me to know what I am to say and do, and when I am to let you do your powerful work through me and others. Thank you that you care. Thank you for being in the midst of our ministry, especially during the storms. Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21
This prayer, which Paul prayed for the Ephesians, is a wonderful, pastoral prayer. I mean that in two senses of the expression, for it is a wonderful prayer for pastors to pray for their parishioners, but is also a wonderful prayer for parishioners to pray for their pastors. Our people need prayer, but we most certainly need their prayers as well. Blessed is the congregation whose pastor prays for them, but in turn, blessed is the pastor whose congregation prays for him/her.
Paul first prayed that the Ephesians might be strengthened in [their] inner being with power through [God's] Spirit. Oh, how we need the power of God in our inner being to carry on his work. We need his power to love others as he loves them. We need his power to be patient with those who are slow to respond to his word. We need his power to preach boldly when Satan and others would want us to fall silent. Yes, we daily need to be strengthened in our inner being with power through God's indwelling Spirit.
Our people need to be strengthened as well. They need God's power to resist temptations. They need his power to serve faithfully in the church in accordance with the gifts God has given them. They need his power to be bold witnesses for Christ in the workplace and in their schools -- places where pastors can seldom go and witness for Christ. Pray that your people will be strengthened in their inner being with power through God's Spirit.
Secondly, Paul prayed that Christ may dwell in [the] hearts [of the Ephesians] through faith, as [they were] being rooted and grounded in love. Just because we are pastors doesn't mean that we don't need this prayer. Our faith is shaken from time to time. We have questions and doubts about Christ, and to what extent he actually dwells in us when we face our struggles with sin. There's always room for improvement when it comes to being more deeply rooted and grounded in love -- for God and people.
So, too, the people we minister to desperately need this prayer. It doesn't matter if they've been a Christian all their lives or are brand-new believers. Far too many Christians have a head knowledge of Jesus, but he does not dwell in their hearts by faith to the degree that God desires. If the church, as a whole, were more deeply rooted and grounded in love, what a difference that would make in the personal lives of Christians and the life and ministry of the church! Faithfully pray this for your people, and urge them to pray this for you.
Last of all, Paul prayed something huge for the Ephesians: I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Paul longed that the church in Ephesus might begin to comprehend that which cannot be fully comprehended -- the love of Christ. We need this prayer prayed for us, too, for at the heart of every successful pastorate, is a love for God and a love for people. Both are dependent, to some degree, on our comprehending the love that Christ has for us. The more we can comprehend the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ's love for us, the more we will be filled with all the fullness of God.
This is so true for our people as well. Few people truly grasp the extent of Christ's love for them. They know he loves them, and that warms their hearts and gives them hope, but they don't know how much. If they did, it would be more evident in their words, attitudes, and actions. It would be more evident in their service and giving to the church. We would see in them the fullness of God. Pray this prayer for your people, for they desperately need it.
It is easy for pastors to become cynical about prayer when they see so little fruit from it. But I encourage you to hear and believe what Paul said in his benediction: Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine. Never forget, that whatever you are thinking and actually asking of God, he can do infinitely more than that. Think large, dear friend, and by faith, pray even larger!
A Pastor's Prayer:
(Pray the text as a prayer for yourself and your parishioners.)
Amen.
