Living in the Spirit
September 29, 2016
Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-14
Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
–2 Timothy 1:8-10
It seems a little strange to find in one of the books of Timothy words that support the absolute worth of all of God’s children. The books of Timothy work hard at keeping woman in their “right” place. Yet, here I am. Our scripture today seems to acknowledge that God created each of us for a purpose. Our task is to fulfill that calling even when society does not agree with our receiving some assignments.
The role of women in service to God dates from the beginning of the recorded history of God. Certainly, most often these roles are traditional roles of mother, caretaker, and hostess. Then we discover Deborah, a judge, who led the way saving the people from being overthrown.
I do not believe that bigotry is in our DNA, but it surely lies close to the center of our being. So close, we sometimes have trouble recognizing its existence to our peril. God created a world dependent on justice for all for that world to survive and thrive. Any time we prevent anyone from fulfilling their call we hurt ourselves and everyone else. We move away from the Kingdom of God not toward it.
Prayer: God of Justice, help us to see the bigotry that lurks in all our beings, cleanse us from it, and enable our work toward a world ruled by 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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.