Living in the Spirit
July 24, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 11:1-13

‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’ –Luke 11:9-13

Have we lost our way as God’s people? Do we consider all people children of God? Are the questions included in our scripture today truly descriptive of our attitudes and behaviors regarding all of God’s children? It seems we have drawn our lines of kinship, which skirt around some and totally ignore others. To whom are we passing out snakes and scorpions?

The question we most need to ask God is, “How can we love like Jesus?” Searching the gospels would be a great place to seek how Jesus loves. With the beginning glimmers of knowledge about Jesus’ love, we can actively knock on other doors, interact with strangers, recognize all of God’s children as our neighbors.

Come down, O Love divine,
seek thou this soul of mine,
and visit it with thine own ardor glowing;
O Comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear,
and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing*.

Prayer: Lord, tell us and show us how to love like Jesus. Cleanse our hearts, O, God and fill us with your Spirit of love. Amen.

*The first verse of Come Down, O Love Divine by Bianco da Siena. See at http://www.hymnary.org/text/come_down_o_love_divine

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.