Living in the Spirit
May 30, 2015
Scripture Reading: John 3:1-17
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. –John 3:16
This may have been the first memory verse I learned. I use to love to sing it. I don’t know if children continue singing it today. The song I learned may not pass the Theologically Correct test, but here are the words, I still like them:
For God so loved the World,
He gave His only Son,
To die on Calvary’s tree,
From sin to set me free;
Some day He’s coming back,
What glory that will be!
Wonderful His love to me.*
“Second Coming” was the phrase used in my childhood to name the phenomenon described in the Bible as Jesus’ return to earth at the end of ages. We use a classier word, eschatology, now. I, for one, think God intends for us to work toward God’s righteousness right here and right now and the end of time will take care of itself.
In a bit of fancy, it cross my mind recently Christ may be waiting to return because we are so far from getting it right we would not be able to handle his full presence living among us. Pure love would not fit comfortably in our five or seven point plan for success. Perhaps world calamities, wars, and rumors of wars must die from lack of the nourishment of hate, greed, and hunger for power before we will be able to welcome Christ as an event of glory. It is something to think about.
Prayer: God of Grace and God of Glory on thy people pour thy power** so that right here and right now we may work toward your righteousness. Amen.