Living in the Spirit

June 4, 2023

Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:16-20
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’

I am with you always, to the end of the age. Funny how I remember songs l sang in church 70 years ago as a child that are still stored somewhere in my brain. I thought the title of the following one was Never Alone, but apparently, the title is I’ve Seen the Lightning Flashing. No one knows who wrote it or when it was written. It probably arose from the cotton fields of slavery and was passed down through the generations.

I’ve seen the lightning flashing
And heard the thunder roll,
I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing,
which tried to conquer my soul;
I’ve heard the voice of my Savior,
He bid me still fight on:
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.

Refrain:
No, never alone,
No, never alone;
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone:
No, never alone,
No, never alone:
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone*.

I remember that for a couple of months, after my mother died, it felt like my prayers were not getting past the ceiling of my room. I felt alone, but I was not. Eventually, I prayed and knew I was heard and had been heard all along. God understands grief. God also understands the times we separate ourselves from God because we are wrestling with ourselves over what is right and what is wrong and are tempted to believe that what is wrong is right. We must remember that we never have those battles alone.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the constancy of your presence. Open our hearts and minds to your presence as we battle with what is justice. Amen.

*The First Verse and Chorus of I’ve Seen the Lightning Flashing, see at https://hymnary.org/text/ive_seen_the_lightning_flashing

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.