Living in the Spirit

June 21, 2020

Scripture Reading: Matthew 10:24-39

‘Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.  –Matthew 10:34-39

I said yesterday, Jesus spoke some challenging words. Quoted above are some more of them. Jesus came to earth to stir us from the complacency of accepting what is standard in our society as just when it is not righteous in God’s ways. As students of the Bible, we must judge what is righteous, based on God’s rules of love. That is not an easy task.

Over time, I have come to accept that people’s relationship with God is driven by who they are regarding the importance of scripture. Some flourish in knowing a set of rules to follow; others build their life based on the model of Christ’s life. In both instances we must commit ourselves to to delving deeply into the Spiritual Disciplines to understand Christ’s ways better. Christ is the only one who knows each and all of us well enough to see if we are aligned with God’s ways.

I find it interesting that people can be raised by the same parents with the same ancestors and see how totally different they think. Jesus and his brother James are good examples. While James did eventually come around to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, he continued his intense need to follow the traditions of his Jewish faith. Even in life, Jesus translated scriptures as what was the best benefit for God’s mission and God’s people, like plucking wheat to eat on the Sabbath.

So, where does that leave us in meshing our faith with family members, friends, and sisters and brothers in Christ? Listening to not only words said in dialogue but also the driving intent behind them is essential. Listening to another’s responses after expressing ourselves rather than planning our next response also helps. Building any discussion based on first acknowledging to ourselves that the person with whom we are communicating is a person we love is vital. We must remember we are called to love all our brothers and sisters in life and in Christ as we interact with them.

Prayer: Lord, help us be Spirit-led in all our interactions with one another. 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.