Living in the Spirit
Living in the Spirit
September 10, 2021
Scripture Reading: James 3:1-12
How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh. –James 3:5b-12
If no person can tame the tongue, then we must rely on God’s saving grace to guide our words and still the uproar within our being that allows our mouths to spew forth venom. Once hurtful words get out, they can never be erased. Often such words exponentially grow as they draw on responses, either in support or in angry opposition.
The COVID pandemic has brought out the worst in many instances when frustration has led to harm-filled shouting and placing blame while not accepting responsibility for one’s own actions. Experiencing helplessness can cause such behavior. We are never alone in any situation, good or bad. The Spirit of God is present. An old hymn, we rarely sing probably because the music is so slow and ponderous, informs our faith,
God is working this purpose out,
as year succeeds to year;
God is working this purpose out,
and the time is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be:
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea*.
In times like these, we need to be reminded of God’s Love for us and continuous work to bring about God’s Kingdom. I do not believe God sends pandemics or storms or fires to punish us, but he does allow them to happen. Our negligence in caring for the earth and its people is often a direct or indirect cause of such calamity. Therefore, we would do well to work toward a better perspective of what is happening and what we need to change in our lives and society to work toward oneness in Love.
Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we let the world’s fears and frustrations supersede your plan for our lives. Open our hearts and minds to work with you toward gaining your purpose. Amen.
*First verse of God Is Working His Purpose Out by Arthur Campbell Ainger see at https://hymnary.org/text/god_is_working_his_purpose_out#Author
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.