Living in the Spirit
June 27, 2020
Scripture Reading: Matthew 10:40-42
‘Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.’
Who do we welcome? We citizens of the USA have had difficulty adjusting to wearing masks and “social” distancing as precautionary measures to bring COVID 19 under control. Most churches, I think, are trying to use the word “physical” distancing as we continue to continue social contacts. Some also seem to have a stream of thought that “no one can tell me what to do.” I supposed that arises from our intense feelings about individualism that is often connected with 19th-century individual salvation.
The same Savior from whom our ancestors and we sought individual salvation is the one that modeled for us welcoming all. Jesus Christ is the one who judges each of us. We do not have to apply any measure of worth or faith to the ones we welcome. We are called to love them. Jesus invested time among people. He was conversant enough with them to know them—there joys and sufferings, their aspirations, and their fears. We cannot love our neighbors unless we know our neighbors. Jesus said, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. –Matthew 5:16 That is a command to all. We must know our neighbors well enough that their light illuminates our being, too.
Prayer: Lord, help me see your light in each person I welcome into my life and help me to move out of my comfort zone to learn your love from the neighbors I do not yet know. 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.