Living in the Spirit

September 17, 2023

Scripture Reading: John 3:13-17
No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Some snake bites can kill, but all snakes play a vital role in the ecosystem by eating insects and small mammals. Growing up on a farm requires understanding which snakes are dangerous to avoid poisonous snakes and even non-poisonous snakes, too. They still can bite.

The free will that was invested in our creation established the reality that we must choose what is right and what is just for ourselves, all people, and our world. We have been guided in making such decisions by the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, and the example of Jesus. Jesus even died on the cross to help us understand the breadth and depth of God’s love for us. Free will is a gift of grace, and all gifts of grace are accompanied by the responsibility to live life so that our world is graced with becoming the Kingdom of God by our choice, desiring what God desires by choice.

Prayer: Lord, we live in a chaotic divide-and-conquer world. Help us rise above such a worldview and work toward a love-dominated world. 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.