The Christ Factor

living_wageLiving in the Spirit
July 24, 2015

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21

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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.—Ephesians 3:20-21

Synergy is the systems term used to describe that which is greater than the sum of its parts. It is the Christ Factor in the church. When we work in cooperation and collaboration with Jesus Christ we never work alone. When we work together as part of the whole Body of Christ the oneness that results can and does change the world. We forget that at times.

I am not talking about dumbing down enabling everyone to get along just for the sake of getting along. I am talking about jumping into the deep end of love where we struggle to understand one another, seek the Lord in every person we encounter, and reach toward the abundant life that Jesus talked about and that the letter to the Ephesians describes in our scripture today.

I have a passion for living in a world where everyone who works earns a living wage. In striving toward such a reality, I have learned how very hard it is to accomplish for small service industry businesses. Making a living wage even possible will take all of our creative efforts and major systems changes over time in our tax structures, for example. The winners and losers will have to shift a bit, but, I believe, all will eventually benefit from a world where all people are able to live to their full potential. Of course, a living wage is just one facet of that abundant life but it is a facet that is in our grasp and is foundational to other progress.

Christ’s call to oneness was accompanied by the promise of his presence. We need to lean on that promise as we spread the love of God throughout the world.

Prayer: Holy One, we thank you for your constant presence with us. When we falter and turn away, draw us back to you. Show us your way. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.