Eastertide
April 20, 2021
Scripture Reading: Acts 4:5-12
The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is
“the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;
it has become the cornerstone.”
There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’
My heart breaks a little every time I see a social media post or other media linking Christianity to hate or privilege or prosperity. I find myself not using the word Christian instead choosing to use Christ-followers. I recently read an article, sorry I cannot cite it, that chastises those of us who are giving up on that word of identity. We do need to own who we are and whose we are. If that is the case, we need to be who Christ calls us to be and do what Christ calls us to do. Every word and every deed playing out in our lives needs to reflect the image of God in us, the truth of God with us, and the hope of Christ’s vision of a world ruled by love. Micah 6:8 describes this attitude well:
He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
Justice and kindness both have the quality of balance. Justice denotes equality and equity. Kindness* sometimes translated mercy, extends to the lowly, needy and miserable a hand up to bring them in sync with the fulness of life. Humility is the fulcrum that makes justice and kindness possible.
Prayer: Lord, help all know we are Christians by our love. Amen.
*https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2617.htm
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.