Drinking from the Well

Posted on September 10, 2013 by David Nuottila

fountain3I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. Philippians 4:12-14

For Christians living a life of discipleship, each day brings with it a new set of challenges, new places to go and an invitation to experience a roller coaster ride of emotions. Being a follower of Jesus is joyous and exciting, yet it is also demanding. Being one that is sent out into the world for mission means giving of self, putting the needs of others before one’s own and being present and able to “walk through the valley” with those who are grieving. Taking up one’s cross of discipleship is not easy; it takes discipline, requires encouragement, and one thing is for sure, no one can live it alone.

In their ministry, Disciples of Jesus are surrounded by people. There is hardly a time when one who is engaged in mission finds themselves totally alone. The very idea that the Church is made up of God’s people who are called, gathered and sent compels us to be with others. Such ministry takes the people of God out into the world where we minister to the neediest among us. We encounter the lost, the lonely, the poor and the hungry. As we go, we tend to their needs and bring to them God’s message of salvation through Christ Jesus. Yet, even as Christians are called to such mission, living such a life takes a toll. Surrounded by people, disciples of Jesus can often find themselves broken and alone.

The painful truth to living as a disciple of Jesus is that we too are sinful human creatures. As we tend to the woundedness of those who surround us, we must also face our own woundedness. Those called to be disciples are confronted with the same challenges of earthly life as everyone else. Neglecting such woundedness weakens our ministry and leads to infection. Confidence, courage and passion can soon give way to apprehension, fear and doubt. Even as disciples use their strengths to minister to the weak, we need the strength of others to help bear our burdens also. This means understanding when it is time to gather at the well.

Broken, tired and weary, we come to the well to be refreshed. The well is a place for Christian worship.  It is a place for learning and fellowship. The well is a place where we gather with the people of God in order to share our stories, hear the stories of other disciples and give thanks to the One who calls us to such ministry. At the well we marvel at the good things God has done in the lives of those we encounter and are amazed by our transformation also.

Disciples come to the well to be rejuvenated, encouraged and to have the flame of our passion rekindled through the power of the Holy Spirit. We gather in such a place to confess our brokenness and receive God’s forgiveness. We share our faith and receive encouragement from the faith of others. As God invites us to take our place at the table, we sip from the wellspring of living water which is Christ the Lord. Then, fed and nourished, God sends us into the world, disciples on a mission, people of God living for the sake of others.

God calls his people to be present in the lives of others. God calls us to tend to the neediest and weakest among us, making his grace a present reality in the lives of those who seek him. In order to do so one must first be present; the disciple must be faithful and strong. This begs the question; When do you go to the well? How are you strengthened and refreshed for the sake of your ministry? Don’t neglect to gather with the faithful. Be sure to draw from the wellsprings of faith. In your own woundedness, lay your burdens down at the foot of the cross so that you too may drink the water that gives life.

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The Living Well

Posted on September 7, 2013 by David Nuottila

Northville WellThe woman said to [Jesus], “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?” John 4:11

Our world is filled with challenges and pitfalls. Just when we feel we are gaining the upper hand, something else comes along pushing us three steps backward. It happens to all of us, in life, in school, in career and in discernment. Even God’s people of faith can grow tired and weary of the task of producing good fruit for God’s kingdom. After all, no one said life is supposed to be simple and ministry would be easy. No one promised Christian people that because you have faith in Christ Jesus, your life and future will go smoothly according to your plan. No, in most cases just the opposite is true, especially for disciples of Jesus.

Living a life of Christian discipleship often demands that we go to places we would rather not go, do things we would rather not do and showing compassion for people we would otherwise avoid. God calls people of faith to live differently than how people given into the world live. For the sake of others, God calls his people to follow the example of Jesus, loving their neighbor, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the sick and tending to the aged and orphaned. This is every Christian’s calling, to show the love of God in Christ Jesus, thus bearing good fruit for the kingdom of God. Living this life of discipleship is hard work that often leaves God’s people tired and weary.

Another aspect of living such a life is taking time to look inward. In order for people of faith to live for the sake of others, we must also be able to see our own brokenness and need for healing. Looking inward through the lens of our faith we must see how it is we do some things well and how we should do some things differently. The most difficult part is pruning away the unproductive branches in order to quit doing those things that get in the way of producing good fruit. Looking inward is also hard work; it makes us struggle, brings many questions and sometimes even reduces us to tears. It means often confronting emotions, anger and even denial. Faithfully reflecting on our own self can be excruciating and certainly leave a person of faith feeling tired and weary. In these and so many other instances, living a life of discipleship means understanding when it is time to draw water from the Living Well.

When Jesus was tired and thirsty, he came to a well in Samaria and asked a woman who was there to give him a drink. This woman was just like anyone today; she was a sinner and someone struggling against earthly life. This woman, like us, often fell short of God’s expectation. Even still the Son of God asks her for a drink to satisfy his thirst. In this exchange, Jesus reveals to her the springs of living water that flow from God’s love for his people. Those who have faith in the One who saves may come to this living wellspring of eternal life. As the woman’s eyes are opened to receiving the Messiah of God, she is compelled to share this good news with everyone in her community. Such is God’s love and desire for his people and the water of life that causes us to bear good fruit for God’s kingdom.

In our brokenness God invites us to the well. Through the waters of Holy Baptism, God pours out the Holy Spirit and sanctifies his people. As we come to God’s table of grace we are nourished through the Bread of Life and Cup of Blessing that is Christ the Lord. Then God sends his people of faith to live a life of discipleship showing the love of Christ and proclaiming the gospel. Christians are called out in love and service for the sake of others that they too might draw from this Living Well of God.

In my previous post I spoke of God’s people living well, practicing the marks of discipleship so that we might live fruitful lives for the sake of others. This life of discipleship is not easy; it can leave us weary and thirsting for God’s goodness and strength. In these times, God’s people of faith must recognize when it is time to draw from the Living Well of God’s love. For such is the water that refreshes forever as it springs into eternal life.

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Living well

Posted on September 5, 2013 by David Nuottila

IMG_1435But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

A couple of days ago I wrote concerning success, the world view of success and what might be a better way of contemplating success. Success in the worldly sense is fleeting, but success according to the fruit of the Holy Spirit leads us to eternity. Disciples living faithful and fruitful lives nurture and care for others, strengthen them and help bring others to faith, faith in the One who saves, faith in our Lord and God. Thus, disciples who are successful are not evaluated by their material goods, words or deeds, but rather by their humility, compassion and service toward others. With every disciple that is called fruitful or successful, it is God who is praised and glorified.

Living a fruitful life for the sake of the gospel means living well. It means living according to the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth and following his example. It isn’t simply enough for one to say to another “Jesus loves you” and not live as an example of such love. As Christians worship and proclaim the love of God in Christ Jesus at worship we must remember that our worship does not end as the pastor or assisting minister gives the exhortation “Go in peace; serve the Lord.” This is not an ending, but the beginning of another week at worship and living as a disciple of Christ in ministry and mission. It is the beginning of another week of being a proclaimer of the gospel and an example of Christ’s love for the world.

Living a fruitful life for the sake of the gospel means living among God’s faithful people and practicing the marks of discipleship in the community of believers. Daily prayer, weekly worship, reading the Holy Scriptures, having spiritual friendships, serving others and giving alms are all marks of a life of discipleship. Living such a life is not easy, it takes faith, courage, trust and of course discipline. Yet, this life of discipleship is the example our Lord Jesus set for us. Living well, therefore, means living in community with Christ among God’s faithful people and doing these together. As we encourage one another in faith, God equips and empowers us to do the work of the gospel, inviting those who have not seen or heard the good news to come and see the goodness of God.

Lastly, if living well means following Jesus’ example thereby becoming faithful and fruitful disciples, it must also mean having faith enough to confess those instances when we fall short of God’s expectation. Since the day Adam and Eve bit into the forbidden fruit, humanity has been captive to sin. By our very nature we are sinful creatures in need of a Savior, that we might receive God’s mercy and grace. As John writes in his first epistle,
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9).
As we confess our sins, repent (turn away from sin) and receive God’s forgiveness, we must learn to live as forgiven people. Just as God forgives us, we forgive those who have sinned against us. Forgiveness is complete, it is a restoring of relationships that have been broken and it is the balm that heals the woundedness that exists between brothers and sister in Christ. Once forgiven, we do not revisit those sins upon our neighbor.

Living well is not always easy. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ often means making personal sacrifice. It means following Jesus even as God leads you to those places where you would rather not go. It means admitting that sometimes we are wrong and fall short of God’s expectation. It means coming to repentance and asking God’s forgiveness then receiving His grace with thanksgiving. Such faithful living produces good fruit for the kingdom of God.

God’s desire is that we live well in the Lord. As God’s calls us out to faithful living in mission for the gospel, we are blessed to know that as we go we do not go alone; Christ is with us. And when our sojourn through this earthly life continues unto its eventual end, we can rest from our labor knowing that as we have lived well and produced good fruit for the kingdom, our life has been a success. Thanks be to God!

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The meaning of success

Posted on September 3, 2013 by David Nuottila

0629nepeaches1_w250“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. Luke 6:43-44

What is it that makes a person successful? Make no mistake; the world has many definitions of success.  One of the most acceptable definitions of being successful is having the ability to create something that can benefit others, then multiply it and make it readily available at a fair price. Successful people are those who are in control and have the respect of others. They are high energy people who are not easily swayed from achieving their goals. Successful people are well known for their diligence and can measure their success in several ways.

People who are successful can usually point to tangible evidence that makes their case for a successful life. Whether it is a large home, an expensive car, or a wardrobe of fine clothes, the world most often measures one’s success by the amount and quality of material possessions. On a cautionary note, that doesn’t necessarily mean that successful people are so caught up in their stuff that they are only focused inward, guarding what is theirs. There are many successful people who are also generous and humble. Taking that into consideration, could it be that there is another measure of success?

Another way of measuring one’s success is by his/her fruitfulness. Success and fruitfulness are both positive traits, but they are vastly different. Success is born mostly out of strength and control while fruitfulness is born primarily out of humility and unselfishness. While the world measures success in things tangible, measuring fruitfulness is done in terms of non-tangibles such as love, joy, and community. So while both success and fruitfulness can be measured, their value is much different. Another way of looking at value is by measuring the amount of return.

According to the world’s definition, as success grows wealth is spread, but not always proportionally. Typically, as success and wealth are spread, there is usually someone at the top whose gains are more substantial, and is therefore viewed as being more successful than those found beneath. Worldly success is so subjective that it cannot be identified by a singular trait or circumstance. Success also does not come with a guarantee. All too often, the success of one depends on the failure or misfortune of another. Yet there is home for those striving for success. We simply need to turn from the worldly definitions and look for the biblical model.

Our Lord Jesus defines success with a much different word, fruitfulness. Fruitfulness always gives way to fruit of the same kind. Fruit bears seeds which produce even more fruit. Love breeds love; joy breeds joy, and like a flower blooms and grows, producing even more beautiful flowers, Christian community breeds Christian community. Followers of Jesus Christ are known by the fruit they produce. Each time we express God’s love, God plants a seed that when fed and nourished by faith will also produce the same loving fruit of the Spirit.

Certainly pleasure can be found in success; but such pleasure is fleeting at best. Fruitfulness gives way to joy, which is long lasting. As proclaimers of the gospel of Christ, we should take care to remember the differences that exist between success and fruitfulness. In all of our successes, we should take time to measure our fruitfulness, so that we take pleasure in the joys of others and glorify our Father in heaven.

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Jesus loves the little children

Posted on September 2, 2013 by David Nuottila

7373baptismPeople were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Mark 10:13-14

Memories of Labor Day for our family are filled with trips to the mountains. I remember one particular time several years ago, we traveled through the Smokies enjoying some cooler temperatures and fresh mountain air. We stopped at a very nice little restaurant for breakfast, one of those “mom and pop” hideaways that you run into so often up in the mountains. It had a dining area on the deck out back that was adjacent to a beautiful mountain stream, so naturally we asked to be seated outside.

As I sat there with my family, drinking my coffee and watching all of the hummingbirds, I began to notice that this particular diner was obviously owned and operated by good Christian folk. The coffee mug was tattooed with the words; “This is the day that the Lord has made.” The staff wore t-shirts with Bible verses printed on them, and the kids menu was a coloring picture of Jesus welcoming children. The picture’s caption read, “Jesus loves the little children.” That is when the Lutheran in me, (you know, Law and Gospel; grace, forgiveness) wanted to come out to play.

In this peaceful and relaxing atmosphere, one couldn’t help notice the hammer of the Law swinging down on the heads of those children that Jesus loves so much. Everywhere you looked there were signs such as “Parents, don’t let children play with the merchandise.” “Children are not to lean on the rail (out on the deck).” And my personal favorite, “Children are not to color on the tables.” The best part about that last one is that even though they had a great picture for coloring, the kids weren’t given crayons.

Sometimes it seems that Jesus loves the little children, as long as they are seen and not heard, do what they are told, and don’t make too much noise. Ok, I’m being a little sarcastic, but like I said, the Lutheran in me couldn’t help it. I wanted to give my girls a pen and tell them “Go ahead, sin boldly!”

Now to be fair, let me say that the service in this little hide away was great. The food was wonderful and we all enjoyed our breakfast by the stream. The owners have a wonderful restaurant and the staff did a fantastic job making sure our visit was very pleasurable. I even bought one of their coffee mugs.

Jesus loves the little children, so does this pastor. When children are present at worship they remind us that God’s blessings continue generation after generation. When they make their presence known during our worship (you know what I mean) we should rejoice that they are with us. Jesus loves the little children and wants them in worship with God’s people. And when we allow them to be the little children that they are they will show us just why Jesus feels this way about them. Perhaps as we learn to rejoice when children make their presence known, we will learn from them what it means to be children of God. Rejoice that they are with us. As they grow older teach them how to be respectful while they are being adorable. After all, isn’t that what Jesus teaches us?

Photo – My first baptism as a pastor

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