Living in the Spirit
November 13, 2016
Scripture Reading: Luke 21:5-19
‘But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls. —Luke 21:12-19
Athletes talk about muscle memory or learning to see the whole field or court at once. As followers of Christ we need to develop what I call Soul Memory. We must attain a degree of wholeness that every action or reaction is filled with the spirit of God. In times like these we need soul memory.
Our tasks of being the Body of Christ in the world is vital now. We tend to think that our chaos is the worst chaos, but consider what Luke and the disciples experience at the beginning of our journey. We can bury our heads in the sand or we can recognize our current situation as an opportunity to testify to the love of God through Jesus Christ. Remember Christ will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.
There is a place of quiet rest,
near to the heart of God,
a place where sin cannot molest,
near to the heart of God.
Refrain:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us, who wait before thee,
near to the heart of God.
Prayer: Lord, help us grow our soul memory so we can hear your words guiding us to tell your story. Amen
First verse and refrain of the hymn Near to the Heart of God by Cleland Boyd McAfee see at http://www.hymnary.org/text/there_is_a_place_of_quiet_rest