Living in the Spirit
July 14, 2018
Scripture Reading: Mark 6:14-29
King Herod heard of [Jesus’ growing ministry and popularity], for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, ‘John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.’ But others said, ‘It is Elijah.’ And others said, ‘It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.’ But when Herod heard of it, he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.’ –Mark 6: 14-16
Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely. –Lord Acton, British Historian
From birth, humans must deal with power and how it impacts our lives. Babies develop a quick sense of what it takes to get their needs met. Parents try to discern how to raise a child with healthy self-esteem and healthy attitudes toward others dependent on what they consider healthy in both cases.
How we deal with power matters. Herod knew he was wrong in beheading John the Baptist. John had goaded Herod for marrying his brother’s wife. Herod arrested and jailed John for his criticism, but the execution resulted from wanted to look good among his peers. Each corrupt act makes the next easier. Child development experts indicate that we establish much of our ethics by the time we are three years old. The older we get, the harder it is to change patterns of power that were wrong from the beginning.
Adults can change. The Saul to Paul saga illustrates that as does the story of John Newton, author of Amazing Grace. Newton was a slave trader to England in the 1700’s. Never particularly religious, he had a harrowing experience in a storm at sea in 1748 when in absolute desperation he called out to God for mercy and survived. He continued his slave trading for a few years while he pursued his spiritual development until 1755 when he saw the disconnect between slave trading and his faith and began studying for the ministry.
As people of faith, we must use our power wisely and respond to the interconnections of power we experience in life through the lenses of our faith. Doing so requires a firm foundation in our relationship with God and reliance on the Holy Spirit for guidance.
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
“In every condition, in sickness, in health,
in poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth,
at home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
as days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.”
“Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.”
Prayer: Lord, mold our ethics after your will. Amen.
*Verses 1-3 of the hymn How Firm a Foundation by George Keith see at https://hymnary.org/text/how_firm_a_foundation_ye_saints_of