Eastertide
April 20, 2018
Scripture Reading: 1 John 3:16-24
And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. –1 John 3: 23-24
I feel like Jacob sometimes wrestling with the angel. What is prayer? What does it mean to commune with God? Dealing with people is sometimes difficult. Finding that common center is often allusive. Is the Spirit the One who comes in the wee hours of the morning when all is quiet and wakes me from my slumber to struggle with an issue that seems beyond my control that I so want to control?
The Spirit tugs at my stubborn discontent until I finally release my fierce grip on not dealing with what must be solved and accept that I am responsible for my own malcontent for I am the one who sees what others do not see or do not care to address. I own the problem. Does the Spirit plant those seeds of discontent in calling me to service or is the Spirit trying to cleanse me of my preconceived notions that are getting in the way of being of service? Probably a little of both as the wrestling match continues.
Is abiding in Christ and Christ abiding in us part of this intersection with the Spirit? We are called to an extraordinary life of loving until the way of love wins. In a world where personal, family, team, national success is everything to many we who follow Christ must choose to always let love rule. As I listen to the news and view the discord in our world today, I gain a far greater appreciation for those wrestling matches with God as God saves me from myself and enables me the privilege of being a part of the Body of Christ working to welcome the full Kingdom of God to this earth.
Come and find the quiet center
in the crowded life we lead,
find the room for hope to enter,
find the frame where we are freed:
clear the chaos and the clutter,
clear our eyes, that we can see
all the things that really matter,
be at peace, and simply be*.
Prayer: Holy One, never stop wrestling we me until I perfect loving like you. Amen.
*First verse of Come and find the Quiet Center by Shirley Erena Murray. See at http://www.hopepublishing.com/html/main.isx?sitesec=40.2.1.0&hymnID=2366