Epiphany

January 11, 2021

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20)

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”‘ So Samuel went and lay down in his place. –1 Samuel 3:1-9

What is God calling us to do? How do we discern what is of God and what is of the world? How do we live in the world but not be of the world?

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. –Romans 12:2

Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever. –1 John 2:15-17

‘Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’–John 17:25-26

The anger, discord, and violence in our world today is not of God. So, how do we determine its source and turn away from its entanglements? We must spend time in prayer discerning what makes us so angry and why we have such a need to express that anger violently? Violence is often a reaction to helplessness. If we cannot change what is disturbing our lives, we tend to respond with violence. So, what is so confusing in our world over which we sense we have no control?

One reality that impacts us all is that the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer, and we all want to be rich. The stock market reached new highs during this pandemic. Even before COVID-19 struck, Oklahoma’s unemployment rate was one of the lowest in the nation, while the number of people living below the poverty rate was among the highest. With the pandemic, the unemployment rate has risen, as has the number of people in poverty. The purpose of government is finding common ground to provide for the Common Good. According to the U.S. Constitution, our government’s purpose is to:

• Form a more perfect union
• Establish justice
• Ensure domestic tranquility
• Provide for the common defense
• Promote the general welfare
• Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity

The Common Good means this purpose applies to all our people. Thus, our need to work for that more perfect union is paramount. Being One was also a great desire of Jesus for all of God’s children.

Prayer:  Lord, search me and show me the areas of my being that do not conform to your desire for your people to be one. Restore my soul and make me a conduit of your love for others. 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.