Living in the Spirit
September 11, 2021
Scripture Reading: Mark 8:27-38
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. –Mark 8:27-30
The Title Messiah*, translated into Greek as Christ, describes the God-appointed King of the End of Time, also called the Anointed One. All the Kings of Israel were anointed, and all were very human. Therefore, the Messiah would be the ideal King to rule at the End of Time. The phrase End of Time evokes ideas of perfection attained and continuing, or the opposite everything lost, and chaos returns.
God did not create the world to fail. God cared so much about the world and the people in it that God dwelt with us in the person of Jesus, who gave his life, gifting us with grace. God did not leave us without help. The Spirit of God was sent to be with us as we strive toward being the people God created us to be. God longs to keep company with us, but we must choose to keep company with God, who is Love. God will only live in community with us in mutual Love. Loving God and one another is what we are called to perfect. Revelation 21:3 expresses God great desire to dwell with us,
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
‘See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
When greed, lust for power, or any other sin overcomes our quest for God’s Love and loving like Jesus, we become a part of an evil empire. Such entities have attempted to rule throughout the history of God. If we continue in that quest, we will fail. Paul puts it this way, For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Prayer: God, who is Love, today let us choose Love, and when we fail to love like Jesus, guide us to wholeness. Amen.
*The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, an Illustrated Encyclopedia, Abington Press 1981
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.