David Bahn - Reflections

Whenever we can we ought to invite others to imitate our faith and way of life. You say you've got some failures, sin, and missteps in your walk with Jesus? So does everyone else. Lead by example of contrition, repentance and a renewed commitment to live out the truth that God has revealed to us. He will come for his own and we will be eternally happy because of his great love and merciful redempt...

When a love of truth is combined with an attitude of humility great beauty unfolds. Discarding truth sullies humility, turning it into sentimentality. Truth held without humility is like a noisy gong and clanging cymbal (cf. 1 Corinthians 13). We have both of these in these few verses. I hope to display that beauty in my  teaching and life. I hope you will too.

The word of God, and the conviction that I stand on God's word, clearly expressed and conveyed gives me the strength and will to continue. I wouldn't suffer much resistance for any other reason. No political affiliation, no human association, no club oath, no ethnic identity deserves such complete and total allegiance.

My message at Fishers of Men Lutheran Church in Port Isabel, Texas

Jesus is at work in us. He even now offers supplications before the Father's throne, and seeks our good. He works also through those who serve his kingdom's goals, and sometimes in spite of us. And his work is not in vain if we daily repent of our sin, and take up our cross and seek to "walk in a manner worthy of God."

Paul speaks of his attitude toward the people at Thessalonica when he says, "We were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children" (v. 7). There is a time for tough love. There were times when Paul was harsh. But on this occasion especially, his tone is kind and gentle, reflecting the very nature of God's tender love for us. That soothes my soul and comforts my heart. I...

Some people don't feel the need for God's grace. Their consciences are seared. Some reject the idea that he is the sole repository of truth and the only way to God. Some people reject God's word. Some people want nothing to do with what they call, "your truth." But this is our confession, our delight, and our joy: Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father apart from him...

If I am to order my life around pleasing God, I will be true to his word. I will obey his commands. I will encourage others in their walk. I will look to him for guidance. I will trust him above all things. That will sometimes mean suffering. I may be ridiculed. I may forego some worldly pleasures. I may miss out on some so-called fun. But I am choosing to align myself with God's will and ways. Wh...

I'll be away from the microphone this week so there will be no audio version of my blog posts. I look forward to getting back to recording soon. Blessings in Jesus!

We’re not God. We don’t have the wherewithal to speak things into existence. We cannot know all there is to know. We don’t see the whole panorama of history. We don’t have a full grasp of even our own sins or motives. We cannot take the place of God and try to improve on what he has revealed. Nor are we well served by taking out things that God has said. There are only two religions in the world:...

“All the prophets of the Bible, all the apostles of the Bible, all the threatenings of the Bible, all the promises of the Bible, gather themselves up, and focus themselves into this one burning ray, ‘Come to Jesus. Come, and take the water of life freely.’” (Charles Spurgeon) Have you heard this invitation? Heed it. Invite others to join you as you come to Jesus and receive his free gift of the wa...

Here we have a final word - a single ping, if you will - at the end of the whole book. "Amen." While some of the ancient Greek manuscripts omit the "Ἀμήν" (Amen), many modern translations include it. And it is found in other ancient Greek manuscripts. The word means truly. It's the exclamation point of all that John has seen through this revelation of Jesus Christ to him. "Yes, yes, it shall be so...

Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. These are the true words of God. You don't want to miss this party! Neither do I.

In Revelation 19 we have a picture of the end of all deceivers, persecutors, tormentors, and tempters. They suffer utter doom. They are completely vanquished. And the hosts of heaven rejoice in their demise. They realize how destructive those are who attack followers of Jesus. They realize how much Christians have suffered for the faith. And now that it is ended, they rejoice in God's vindication....

Revelation 18 is a rehearsal of the fall of Babylon, symbolizing the complete demise of Satan's kingdom and powers. It reads almost like one is gloating at Babylon's downfall. And make no mistake, its downfall is horrific and cataclysmic. Complete and undeniable. Total and irrefutable. One after another judgment is pronounced in poetic form. It is a scathing judgment against all the powers, forces...

God's judgments are just. And as we reflect on his holiness and purity, his justice and righteousness, it is good to realize that there will be a day of judgment. That day will be catychlismically horriffic. But we take comfort in the end in two things: Jesus has satisfied God's justice for all who believe. And God's greater delight is to forgive and save. Save us, O God! Have mercy and save us! A...

This hymn of Revelation 16 makes the point that God's judgements are completely just. That's the point of the second of these two hymns of praise. “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!” Amen. But let us never forget that the judgment of God was unleashed 2000 years ago...on his Son. Jesus bore the sin of the world. And no one need endure the kinds of eternal doom that is d...

Our yearning for justice and vindication may not be as urgent, it is certainly well-founded when we desire God's ultimate rule and reign in our lives. When he reigns we are able to rise above the tumult of this fallen world. When he rules we are able to find joy even in our sufferings. When his justice and righteousness prevails, schisms, divisions, and scandals are healed. All that happens when w...

The days leading up to the Great Last Day will be tumultuous. Many will faint for fear. And those apart from God will not have smooth sailing by any means. But the redeemed of God recognize their need for a Savior, and realize that Savior is Jesus Christ who has come to redeem us. We will find perfect peace in him. I look forward to that day. I think it's getting close.

There are times when the apparent winning ways of the world overwhelm. There are times when we are amazed at man's accomplishments. There are times when we celebrate great human accomplishments as though they are the ultimate expressions of power and glory. There are times when we laud the athlete, idolize the celebrity, or put our hopes on a political leader. None of these are truly great and ama...

Our Lutheran founding father spoke of the wrath of God as a great reality about which they had not merely read in books, but the withering blasts of which they had felt in their own hearts. Likewise the grace of God was to them not a mere titulus, but a boon which had come to them like the dawn of a bright morning after a night of harrowing gloom and destructive storms. God's wrath will one day en...

Suffering will one day end. Worldly worries will cease. Troubles will be completely forgotten. Faith will become sight. Hopes will be realized. Temptation, trials, troubles, and tumult will all end. We must remember this and join in the hymns of praise to the One who will replace them with pure joy and true happiness, which will never end. For a photo of our family in Florida, click on the link be...

The salvation that belongs to our God is his gift to all. But sadly not all want this gift. They want to live under the delusion that they can chart their own course. They don't want to be accountable. They do not want to admit they need a Savior. We can do nothing about that except continue to proclaim the truth of God's majestic might and his glorious grace. In the end his might will be fully re...

The main focus of these hymns in Revelation points us to an eternity of praise to God. And in that space and place we will never grow weary of doing that. The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23). There will be a new cause for praise to God each new morning in heaven....

When we see this picture of heaven in Revelation 7, with living creatures, elders, angels and multitudes of people falling down in worship of the Lamb, it makes an impression. Every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth. And every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (cf. Philippians 2:10-11 ). And not only do they fall down in worship, th...