Tag Archives: Power of Love

Power of Love

Living in the Spirit
August 21, 2018

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43

‘Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name—for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm—when a foreigner comes and prays towards this house, then hear in heaven your dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built. 1 Kings 8:41-43

God spreads the fear of love. While the Bible includes all kinds of stories of violence carried out in the name of God, God’s own rules posit that love is more powerful than any violence that exists. Violence is the tool of lust for power and greed. God having no need for either, invests all efforts in wanting the very best for all God’s creatures and the worlds in which they exist. God’s power of love is the only force that can overcome the power of evil and evil does fear it.

In preparation for a bible study, I will be facilitating this fall about the return from Babylon of the Israelites to Jerusalem, I have been studying recently the fall of Israel when it was taken into captivity. That made me wonder about the failure of Rome, so I started looking at its history. Both explorations invoked concern for the USA as we seem to be falling into the same behaviors. Both the history of the fall of Israel and of Rome are presented very pessimistically as inevitable. The principalities and powers of evil cannot be contained.  I disagree with the inevitability of the USA failing but our path to salvation is daunting.

 The only power that is greater than the powers of evil is the power of love and evil knows that. Evil works hard at coercing the energy of love into selfish gain robbing it of its true nature and thus its power. Divide and concur is one of evil’s favorite tools.

Those of us who trust in the power of God, in the power of love which is one and the same thing must work hard to purify its components in our own lives and love evil to death and resurrection into the body of Love.

Prayer:  Lord, create in us pure hearts and so fill us with your love the only inevitable result will be more love. 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.

Saving Lost Sheep

Living in the Spirit
July 13, 2018

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14

In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory. –Ephesians 1:11-14

Somehow over the years, Christianity has morphed into an individual-oriented faith. We are all about being saved ourselves and leading other individuals to be saved, becoming a rather elite self-identified group of individuals. The Hebrew prophets spoke first of the salvation of the Hebrew people and eventually migrated to the recognition of the universal salvation of all of God’s children. Jesus picked up this theme and Ephesians continues it as it talks about the redemption of God’s own people.

One could argue that if all individuals are saved all of God’s people are redeemed and that is true, but it misses the point. Individual salvation is a means to the end of the creation of a world ruled by love. Individual salvation is not an end unto itself. It is the means to an end.

I was reminded of the parable of the lost sheep* as I followed the rescue of the Thai soccer team from a flooded cave. The rescue took hundreds of people from many nations with special skills to save twelve boys and their coach. One man gave his life in the rescue. Uncountable people from various faith groups around the world were praying for all involved. I can imagine Jesus smiling down on that whole process.

Prayer: God who is Love and the Source of all Love, thank you for your presence with the Thai soccer team and with all those who as one entity worked to save them.  Let that be a reminder of the power of oneness and love. Amen.

*See Luke 15

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.

The Power of Love

Power of loveAdvent
December 5, 2015

Scripture Reading: Luke 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, –Luke 3:1-3

Luke apparently felt it was important to establish the exact timing of John’s entrance onto the stage of the coming of Jesus based on Luke’s assessment of those who were thought to hold power at the time. A Roman Emperor, a territorial Roman governor, a Jewish ruler, and influential religious leaders all made the list. John, the Baptist, apparently did not put much stock in such leaders. His call was for the people to repent to turn around, to receive forgiveness for the world was about to change before their very eyes.

I cannot remember a time in my life when it has been more important for common people to take up the message of turning around, receiving forgiveness, and taking up the task of changing the world through the power of love not war or any violence or power or wealth. Those of us who live in the USA actually already have the avenues in place to make such a move. The real question may be whether we truly believe love is stronger than fear and more powerful than violence. I would challenge us today to wonder if we truly want the very best for everyone in the world or if we want to reserve just a little more for ourselves than some others. This challenge comes because the answer to the first question about love is answered in our response to the challenge.

The sad truth is that as long as any of us wants to be better than others of us, all of us will be worth-less.

Prayer: God whose image is imprinted in every heart of every person on this earth, teach us to love each other. 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.

Servant of All

servant-of-all-large-image-zoomLiving in the Spirit
November 1, 2015

Scripture Reading: Mark 12:38-44

As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’ –Mark 12:38-40

There it is again, Jesus warning us about our need to be better than another. I cannot help but wonder if he mused at times, “How many times do I have to say this before it sinks in?” Two thousand years later the admonition is as relevant as it was in the first. Some group who does those sorts of things just announced that Vladimir Putin, the leader of Russian, was the most powerful person in the world right now followed by Angela Merkel, the leader of Germany, with President Obama coming in third. Some in the United States interpreted this as a sign of weakness on our part. How the group came to this judgment and what difference it makes, I do not know. I do know, the most influential man over the last 2000 years is the one who said we are to be servants of all. (Mark 9:35)

Jesus clearly saw the value in every one of God’s creatures being as fully the person God created them to be as every other one. This is the foundation of God’s kingdom. Actually the use of the word “kingdom” here is an oxymoron. God’s love is so expansive that God is willing to share the singular role of “king” with all of the “kingdom’s subjects” on the condition that all subjects emulate God’s love. That is the power of servanthood.

Prayer:
God of grace and God of glory,
on your people pour your power;
crown your ancient church’s story,
bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour*. Amen.

*First verse of the hymn God of Grace and God of Glory by Harry S. Fosdick see at http://www.hymnary.org/text/god_of_grace_and_god_of_glory

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.