Living in the Spirit

October 3, 2022

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Yesterday was a very busy day for me. About 9:30 pm, I finally kicked back in my recliner and pulled up the national newspapers to read. It was depressing, to say the least. Reports from the impact of hurricane Ian laid out grime details of its destructive, deadly impact. The division in our nation seeped through almost every other article. A line from the Christmas carol, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day came to mind

For hate is strong and mocks the song
 Of peace on Earth, goodwill to men*.

Jeremiah, in the scripture above, provides good advice for us today.  Continue to build the beloved community no matter what is going on around us. The carol goes on to say,

Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on Earth, goodwill to men*

Prayer: Let it be so. Amen.

*From the hymn, I heard the bells on Christmas day by Henry W. Longfellow, see at https://hymnary.org/text/i_heard_the_bells_on_christmas_day

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.