Living in the Spirit

October 12, 2020

Scripture Reading:
Exodus 33:12-23

Moses said to the Lord, ‘See, you have said to me, “Bring up this people”; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, “I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.” Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.’ He said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ And he said to him, ‘If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.’

The Lord said to Moses, ‘I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.’ Moses said, ‘Show me your glory, I pray.’ And he said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, “The Lord”; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

Moses prayers for his salvation and for that of the people he leads. The Lord responds that God will be gracious to Moses and otherwise will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. Paul says in Philippians 2:12–Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

Moses is praying for protection regarding the Israelites escape from Egypt of both the individuals and the collective involved. Paul, too, seems to be instructing the Philippians as they strive to be the Body of Christ in an unwelcoming world in the same manner. God cares for us as individuals and as part of the family of God, and God holds us accountable as individuals and as the collective Body of Christ. The further we get into the story, the Exodus illustrates that Moses had his hands full, occasionally dealing with his fellow Israelites working together, following God’s ways.

Those proclaiming to be the Body of Christ in the USA today are torn asunder with the various sides, not recognizing the other groups as relating to the same Christ. We, too, must pray for God’s presence to go with all who call on Christ’s name that we might be the One Body of Christ working together toward building the Kingdom of God.

Prayer: Be gracious with us, Lord, forgive us for our sins of self-righteousness. Let your love flow through us, enabling us to love 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.