Kingdom Building
August 15, 2019
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:29-12:2
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven, received the spies in peace. –Hebrews 11:29-31
How’s our faith doing? Have we measured it recently? We might forget to check it like the women awaiting the bridegroom who forgot to get oil for their lamps and were not prepared when he arrived*. Would we have had the faith to leave the oppression of Egypt to cross the red sea?
Most of the people fleeing oppression in El Salvador (86%), Honduras (87%), and Guatemala (87%) are Christian. They flee their sons being kidnaped and brainwashed into become gang members, they flee their daughters being kidnaped and trafficked into the sex trade industry, they flee with the faith that God goes with them. Where are we followers of Christ as they flee?
In Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection, we were invited and chose to join a team challenged to create a world ruled by God’s love with many first experiencing God’s love through us. At want point are we allowed to rest on our progress and say, “Things are going well for me and my family-church-community-state-country, why do I need to worry about anything else? Won’t keeping these fleeing people out of my country, improve my quality of life?” It will not. As we install alert systems and build walls and do safety drills our lives are being revamped as we climb into our bunkers of fear.
Let us step forth in the faith of the Israelites as they fled Egypt and claim peace and tranquility through the power of God’s love not just for us but for all of God’s children.
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Give me oil in my lamp, I pray
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Keep me burning till the break of day
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the Servant King
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna, let us sing
Give me peace in my heart, keep me loving
Give me peace in my heart, I pray
Give me peace in my heart, keep me loving
Keep me loving till the break of day *
Prayer: Lord, lift us from our complacency and renew our faith as we strive to spread your love throughout the land. Amen.
*First verse, refrain and third verse of Give me Oil in my Lamp see at https://www.google.com/search?q=give+me+oil+in+my+lamp+lyrics&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS852US852&oq=giveme+oil+in+my&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0l5.5637j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.