Living in the Spirit
August 20, 2021
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20
Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak. –Ephesians 6:18-20
In these times of social media, discerning when to respond and when to keep silent, when to forward and when to let something lay fallow, and when to initiate is difficult. Although I innocently posted a correction I thought was a typo, I was blasted for being out of touch with reality. Part of the problem is the wide variety of people with whom I share comments. Groups help, but I surely do not want to ever step on anyone’s feelings. I also read some of the comments others have received and am appalled at the malice in some responses. Of course, there is always the choice of not following any social media, but I think we are called to be in the world and not of the world.
The scripture above, written in the first century BCE, seems tailor-made for our world today. Keeping in sync with the Spirit is always a good idea, including using the Spirit as a sounding board to help guide our information exchanges. While we may feel alone, we are never alone. Not only is the Spirit with us, but also all of God’s saints are with us, those striving to stay in line with the Spirit that we know and ones we do not know. We are called to persevere with them. Prayers for our faith leaders are always appropriate.
This quote is applicable.
“Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult-once we truly understand and accept it-then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.” ― M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth
Prayer: Lord, teach me to love like Jesus, understand your expectations of us, and guide us in carrying them out. 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.