Lent 2014
March 21, 2014
Read Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22
For [Christ] is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.’
—Ephesians 2:14-16
Paul may have felt like a broken record because he had to write so often encouraging fellow Christians to become one. Why was that important? It was important because division usually distracts people from pursuing the purpose to which they are called. [Jesus] … said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.—Matthew 12:25. It is time we Christians stop fighting against each other and find the things on which we can agree.
Think what might happen if we could retarget our energies from the battlefields of politics to the enhancement of classroom learning? Surely, through Covenantal Conversations, we can find the common ground that will shape a public education system designed to provide a quality education for every child. What is a Covenantal Conversation? Covenantal Conversation is driven by a deep desire to love God and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. It is designed to help us work toward wholeness, oneness, and justice. Covenantal conversations grounded in love are characterized by:
- Profound listening not only to the words but also with attention to the emotions and the cultures that contribute to the words.
- Openness to being refined by God’s cleansing power as we strive toward a closer and deeper relationship with God.
- Expansion of our perspectives to consider the long-range impact of issues. We are called to weigh each issue that confronts us regarding how it impacts the furtherance of the Kingdom of God today and tomorrow.
All participants in Covenantal Conversations do not necessarily have to be Christians but all Christians need to practice and model Covenantal Conversations between each other and among all people. Once we find the common ground we then can use the synergy that results from our unity to reshape our schools to better serve our children.
Prayer: God of Unity, help us find the common ground on which we can grow a brighter tomorrow for our children. Amen.
The identities of students, families, or staff in stories that are shared in the devotions have been altered to protect their privacy. Any similarities between these stories and the experience of others are coincidental. No stories about students, families of students, or staff from Putnam Heights Elementary School are included in any of these devotions.
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.