Living in the Spirit

October 31, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbor as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.

How far are we from the Kingdom of God? In my college freshman New Testament course 103, Professor Fred Craddock taught that salvation was a gift of grace. He drew two lines on a blackboard. The top line indicated obtaining salvation. The second line illustrated the level of good works we had done. The distance between the two revealed the presence of God’s grace, making up the shortfall. God’s grace opens the entrance for each of us into the Kingdom of God.  Indeed, one can obtain God’s grace even when there is much distance between the lines at the time. We recognize God’s love for us and accept Christ’s gift of grace. Our love of God fulfilled in this gift of grace propels us to follow Jesus’s ways of loving God and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. I imagine God knows joy when God’s followers love one another and all others. God experiences greater joy when we create a world where all are loved and valued, where all have enough of the necessities of life, and where justice prevails. When those qualities exist, we will not be far from the Kingdom of God. Indeed, we might find ourselves in it.

Prayer: God of grace and God of glory,
on thy people pour thy pow’r.
Crown thine ancient church’s story,
bring its bud to glorious flow’r.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour. 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.