Tag Archives: Knowing God

Jesus as Role Model

Eastertide

June 2, 2019

Scripture Reading: John 17:20-26

‘Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’ –John 17:25-26

What does it mean when Jesus says I made your name known to them? I will not attempt to deal with what that statement might mean in the Jewish tradition in which I understand, the name of God is held in highest esteem and is afforded the respect that demands. As one who is reading one English translation of the Greek quote of Jesus, I am on fragile standing attempting to ferret out what Jesus is attempting to say in my native language. Yet this phrase intrigues me.

How did Jesus make God’s name known to Jesus’ disciples? If we accept that Jesus is God incarnate than Jesus’ very way of being was a textbook on knowing God. Jesus communed regularly with God. Does God desire to commune regularly with us? The stories told about him indicate that he never missed the subtle layers of social interactions. He knew what his disciples were about even when they did not. For example, when James and John wanted to be promoted to high authority in Jesus’ kingdom*. Jesus also treated people equally which was unheard of in first century Israel—rich and poor, men and women, aliens and natives. (It is fascinating to me that we humans who believe all humans were created by God create hierarchies of worth regarding other humans.) What do you discern about the nature of God from the life of Jesus?

When Jesus says and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’ Is he indicating that his followers’ ways of being will make God’s name known to others, if they follow Jesus’ way of being? If so, how are we doing with that?

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we fall short of following your way of being, guide us to the right path but also help those who are observing us see you more truly even through our failures. Amen.

*See Mark 10:35-45

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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Power in Love

Eastertide
May 16, 2018

Scripture Reading: Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
   may the Lord rejoice in his works—
who looks on the earth and it trembles,
   who touches the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
   I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
   for I rejoice in the Lord.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Praise the Lord! –Psalm 104:31-34, 35b

As I write this, molten lava spews forth from eruptions from Hawaii’s Big Island Volcano inundating the island. Property is being destroyed, and lives and livelihoods threatened. In our scripture today such a volcanic eruption is used to illustrate the all-powerful nature of God. Perhaps such a devastating illustration of God’s capabilities is included to get our attention. Do we take God for granted? Do we recognize God for all aspects of God’s being, not just the parts of God we pick and choose because they fit our comfort zone? Can we envision the power of God’s love streaming overall spreading God’s love with the force and power of a volcano? We are called to be the conduit of that love enriching lives rather than destroying them.

I heard on the news that a truck struck the unmarked car of a highway patrolman resulting in enough damage to the vehicle it was rendered inoperable. The truck drove on as if nothing had happened. Did the driver realize he or she had hit someone? Probably, although he or she never faced the consequences of his or her actions. How often do we rush through life causing small or even large incidents that tear at the heart of God’s love at times being oblivious to the results of our actions?

And that brings us to the need to maintain open lines of communion with God in all of God’s manifestations: Creator, Redeemer, Counselor/Advocate. Getting in synch with God through our meditations and practice of other spiritual disciplines enables that relationship which prepares us to love like the muscle memory of skilled athlete without any conscious efforts.

Prayer:
May my meditation be pleasing to [You,]
for I rejoice in [You.]
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Praise the Lord! 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Naming God

Living in the Spirit
June 11, 2017

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Theologians have struggled to describe God for centuries. Library books overflow with books trying to explain what is now called the Holy Trinity. Curiosity is built into human nature. The more we to understand God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the better we can model our lives toward being in sync with The Lord. I must confess I have as much trouble with naming God when I write as the scribes of the Hebrew Bible had. My go to name is The Lord. In my mind, it covers all the dimensions of One who is indescribable except in the reported experiences, small glimpses of truth those who love The Lord share. When I use “God,” “Jesus,” “Christ,” or “the Spirit.”,  I am thinking of a specific trait that fits my text. God is Creator/Parent, Jesus is Mentor/Role Model/Teacher, Christ is Messiah/Savior/Judge,  the Spirit is Counselor/Advocate/Constant Companion. I am sure there are more.  Each title holds its own significance for me. Forming relationships with each requires me to be malleable in my total growth and development, particularly spiritual development.

Paul’s final salutation in 2 Corinthians speaks to his understanding of the various aspects of the Lord. I am sure his sharings have influenced mine. Perhaps this is what he is referring to in Philippians 2:12b when he says, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Prayer:  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Communing with God

reflecting_the_character_of_god_op_607x455Living in the Spirit
July 15, 2015

Scripture Reading: Psalm 89:20-37

I have found my servant David; with my holy oil I have anointed him;
my hand shall always remain with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.
The enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble him.
I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.
My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him; and in my name his horn shall be exalted.
I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
He shall cry to me, “You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!” –Psalm 89:20-26

Our poet today, perhaps David himself, is describing his experience of the very character of God. God is steadfast, enabler, protector, always faithful, always loving, and always present.

It is almost impossible to describe God without our viewpoint being filtered through our own perceptions, but the traits listed here are common among the descriptions shared by all of God’s children. These collective histories provide credence for our understandings of God and lend validity to the importance of living as God’s children in community. We are called to hold each other accountable within the bounds of love.

One of the ways we attempt to bring objectivity to our discussions, important to us scientific era people, is to turn to the Bible in search of inspiration, which is a good thing for this practice includes that wonderful cloud of witnesses, spoken of in the book of Hebrews, to our deliberations. This practice, however, has its pratfalls. The Bible was written in a time when the search for truth were treated differently than the fact bases scientific methods used today.

Such dialogue is difficult. Even in community, we humans are capable of growing synergy for evil as well as for good and God. I love the quote from Abraham Lincoln when challenged to deal with the belief that God was taking sides in the War Between the States, his response was: Sir my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.

Our challenge today is seeking individual and collective communion with God letting our shared experience and knowledge base feed our love for God and for one another as we strive together to be on God’s side.

Prayer: God, and Rock of my salvation, lead me guide me individually enabling me to make whatever contribution I can to your community of faith. 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.

 

Eternal Life

Be stillEastertide
May 15, 2015

Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:9-13

And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. –1 John 5:11-13

Bible commentators are not sure who wrote the three letters of John or even if the same person wrote all three. They do not necessarily believe that the apostle John was the author but these letters have certainly been influenced by the theology of the apostle John. So what is said about eternal life in today’s scripture above follows well these words from John 17:1-3:

 ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

I do not have a clue what happens after our physical deaths, but I take great solace in the idea that eternal life is tied to knowing God and Jesus Christ. I can grasp the understanding that it will truly take forever and forever to know God and that God’s sending Jesus Christ into the world enhances my knowing. I was privileged to have a mother who dedicated her life to knowing God. I claim to have been introduced to God in the womb as she read scriptures and prayed during her pregnancy. I have also observed the dedication of those who met God at some point later in life and have seen their gratitude and immersion into knowing God more because of the time spent in their life when they did not know God.

I think the important thing we are to remember is that eternity started the moment we met God. We are to live our lives as a reflection of that knowing in our love. When we do that, eternity will take care of itself.

Prayer: Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits Thou hast given me, for all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me. O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may I know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly and follow thee more nearly, day by day*. Amen.

*Prayer of Richard, Bishop of Chichester, 1253 see at http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/139.html

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.

Divine Love

agapeLent
March 17, 2015

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34

No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord’, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.— Jeremiah 31:34

What does it mean to “know God”? Sometimes I wonder if it is even possible to know another person, fully and completely. 1 John 4:7-8 talks about knowing God: Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. If we truly know God, we must love one another. When we humans reach the point of all loving one another then we will also fully love God and thus know God.

So what is love? The Greek word translated love in 1 John 4:7-8 is Agape* and is often described as divine love. What seems to set Agape love apart from the other forms of love in the Greek language, the love of siblings for each other or erotic love, is that Agape love, God’s love, results from choice. God chooses to love each of us and we are to follow God’s example and are free to choose to love one another. Agape love centers in moral preference. God calls us to prefer to love one another always and to live that love.

When I worked at children’s hospital years ago, we helped a family whose baby had a very rare condition that resulting in his emitting a strong foul odor most of the time. Besides that he was very large for his age and very delayed in development. It was backbreaking to carry him and at that time he was too big for infant strollers and two underdeveloped to sit in a wheelchair. We could use a gurney to move him about at the hospital. I think the family used a padded wheel barrel at home. His family could have chosen to walk away from him. They did not. The mother chose to love him with all her heart and the resulting care was still there when he died in her arms a few months later. I have also seen substitute caretakers chose to love unconditionally when primary caretakers cannot. In many instances it takes both.

Sometimes the people we deem the most unlovable are the ones who we need to love the most.

Prayer: Lord, enable us to love each other particularly the least of these. Amen.

*http://biblehub.com/greek/26.htm

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.