Living in the Spirit

July 17, 2023

Scripture Reading: Genesis 28:10-19a
Jacob left Beersheba and went towards Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the Lord stood beside him and said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’ Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!’ And he was afraid, and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’

So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called that place Bethel; but the name of the city was Luz at the first.

A frightened young man who had just cheated his brother out of his birthright finds himself on the run. Worn out, no doubt, he lays on the ground to sleep, and he dreams of a benevolent God appearing to him in a dream, assuring him he still has a future and a God who is with him despite his behavior.  This is not the first time Jacob gets caught in a mess. He will eventually wrestle with God on his return trip home.

None of us are perfect; we all make mistakes, and God is always there to help us find ourselves and learn from those mistakes.  

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your presence with us and for helping us find who we are and what we can positively contribute to building a better 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.

Living in the Spirit

July 16, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!’ –Matthew 13:1-6

A community is a body of individuals organized into a unit or manifesting usually with awareness of some unifying trait*. Jesus was a community builder. He attracted groups of people and melded them together in the unifying trait of love.  Jesus challenged us to build such a community among all people. It starts with getting to know each other. Learning that we are not as different as we may think. Wanting the best for everyone.

Prayer: Lord, help us be community builders. Amen.

*https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/Community

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.

Living in the Spirit

July 15, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

‘Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’ –Matthew 13:18-23

This is a very important scripture for those dedicated to building Christ’s beloved community. I grew up on a farm, and anybody in my family would assure you that I am not a gardener. My mother and my sister were both born to plant and harvest. That said, I very much appreciated the fruits and vegetables of their labor. I see pictures of people tossing seeds across the land and do not recall at all my mother planting in that manner. Preparing the soil before planting was a very important task. Forming a community requires getting to know one another and learning to love one another for who we are and who we are becoming. We are not called to shape people in our image. All are made in the image of God and, therefore, come equipped with the skills and talents God created within each of us. The Beloved Community works to make the very most of what God has provided for us. Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:5-6 puts it this way:: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.

Just think, if everyone had the opportunity to optimize their God-given abilities, what a wonderful world it would be.

Prayer: Lord, guide us in building the Beloved Community. 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.

Living in the Spirit

July 14, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Romans 8:1-11

But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. –Romans 8:9-11

I have a grammar checker on my computer. Besides my writing, it notes any corrections that might be identified in a quote. Because it is a quote, I do not make the changes recommended. I do make one exception to that rule. I use a scripture source from the United Kingdom, which spells some words slightly different than we spell the same English word in the USA. I alter those spellings to USA English because it does not impact the original interpretation but might distract from the readers’ concentration. In the above scripture, Paul is trying to help us understand what is of God and what is not.  He differentiates the flesh from the Spirit.

The Greek word for Flesh sárks (“flesh”) is not always evil in Scripture. Indeed, it is used positively in relation to sexual intercourse in marriage (Eph 5:31) – as well as for the sinless human body of Jesus (Jn 1:14; 1 Jn 4:2,3). Indeed, flesh (what is physical) is necessary for the body to live out the faith the Lord works in (Gal 2:20).]*

The Greek word translated in this scripture as spirit is pneúma, which means breath or wind**. Breathe is the source of life itself. This is described in Genesis 2:7 when God breathed the breath of life into the human, and the human became a living being. In Mark 15:37, we are told that Jesus breathed his last breath from the cross, and his flesh died.

Being human comes with all the attributes that define the human. Humans are given the choice of using those attributes for good or evil and, more likely, all the attributes that lie between good and evil. God did not leave us, however, without counsel in our choices. God implanted God’s own Spirit within us to guide us in our decision making and God’s breath is eternal.

Prayer: Lord, open our hearts and minds to receive your guidance as we strive to serve you as the humans that we are. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/4561.htm

**https://biblehub.com/greek/4151.htm

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.

Living in the Spirit

July 13, 2023

Scripture Reading: Psalm 65:(1-8), 9-13

By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,
   O God of our salvation;
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth
   and of the farthest seas.
By your strength you established the mountains;
   you are girded with might.
You silence the roaring of the seas,
   the roaring of their waves,
   the tumult of the peoples.
Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs;
you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.

Our world, our country needs hope. I fear we create our own hopelessness. I grow weary of hearing political leaders complaining about what is happening in our world but refusing to work together to solve problems. The compromises that are finally reached often make some things worse. The advent of prescription drugs being added to Medicare was supposed to reduce the cost of health care for people with disabilities and the elderly. The compromise of not allowing Medicare to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies resulted in the high cost of prescription drugs we all pay today.

Hope means to desire with expectation. Hope is not magic or even a miracle. Hope is the steam that drives hard work toward the goal of creating a better world. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:13– And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. I like the way he wraps hope amid faith and love. The better world we desire cannot be actualized without faith and love sans greed and lust for power.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we get caught up in the divide-and-conquer attitude that is driven by what is in it for me. 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.

Living in the Spirit

July 12, 2023

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:10-13
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
   and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
   giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
   it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
   and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

For you shall go out in joy,
   and be led back in peace;|
the mountains and the hills before you
   shall burst into song,
   and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
   instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,
   for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

This felt like an odd scripture to read when streets all over much of the USA are flooded with too much rain propelled by too much wind. Oklahoma’s lands are now oversaturated, and rivers are threatening to overflow their banks. The first rains were a joy. The torrential rains have been deadly. Yet there is a message in that also.

Matthew 5:44-45 ‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

I fear we may be partially responsible for the weird weather we are experiencing. By burying our heads in the sand, we have not been good earth stewards, hoping that climate change will just disappear. It won’t.

Prayer: Lord, help us find our way to care for your earth as you intended. 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.

Living in the Spirit

July 11, 2023

Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:105-112
Your word is a lamp to my feet
   and a light to my path.
I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
   to observe your righteous ordinances.
I am severely afflicted;
   give me life, O Lord, according to your word.|
Accept my offerings of praise, O Lord,
   and teach me your ordinances.
I hold my life in my hand continually,
   but I do not forget your law.
The wicked have laid a snare for me,
   but I do not stray from your precepts.
Your decrees are my heritage forever;
   they are the joy of my heart.
I incline my heart to perform your statutes
   forever, to the end.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light to my path was one of the first songs I learned as a child. The scripture above is from the NRSV and uses the word “to” rather than “unto.”  “Unto” is forever seared into my brain. I have the same issue with the ending of Psalm 23. The RSV was published in my childhood, but King James was already my go-to scripture. I think we had to memorize more when I was a child than is prevalent now. I do not know whether that is good or bad. We do need to know how to use modern tools. I once had a catalog of phone numbers memorized. I barely know my own now.

The psalmist in the above scripture describes a forever relationship with God. For some, it started at birth, perhaps with songs that soothed us. For others, it may have come as a revelation later in life. While songs and grammar may change over time, the love of God is forever, and we rejoiced in that.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for sharing your love in word and song through eternity. 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.

Living in the Spirit

July 10, 2023

Scripture Reading: Genesis 25:19-34

Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, ‘Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!’ (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, ‘First sell me your birthright.’ Esau said, ‘I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?’ Jacob said, ‘Swear to me first.’ So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:29-34

I am a fan of some of the English mysteries available on PBS, particularly among the wealthy. They often portray family intrigues like the one described in the above scripture. The tribe of Abraham had a very well-defined culture regarding families. The firstborn was the heir apparent to take over as head of the family when the father died. This story, however, is the first one outlining the sly ways Jacob soon mastered to enrich himself. Conning his brother out of his birthright was just the first of many.

We live in a different culture at a different time, but we remain as human as Esau, Jacob, and their parents. As Christ-followers, we are challenged not to think in terms of hierarchies of people but that we are to love all people for who they are and who they are becoming.  Still, we differentiate among people for their wealth or their talent. I read a book a few years ago that made a compelling argument that the USA operates in a caste system, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson. I cannot envision a world where we are all the same. We need to work toward a world where everyone has enough and feels loved and cherished.

Prayer: Lord, help us guard against being caught in the clutches of greed and enable us to build the beloved community to support that vision.  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.

Living in the Spirit

July 9, 2023

Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ –Matthew:11:25-30

What criteria did Jesus use to determine anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him? Jesus said he revealed God’s truth to infants. What are the characteristics of infants? My sister told me about her great-granddaughter’s visit to my sister’s house on the 4^th of July. The great-granddaughter turned one year old a couple of weeks ago, shortly after she had taken her first steps. It took the whole family to keep an eye on her. She was everywhere at once, curious about everything. MedlinePlus.gov describes infants thusly, The infant prefers the human voice. Touch, taste, and smell, mature at birth; prefers sweet taste. Vision, the newborn infant can see within a range of 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 centimeters). Color vision develops between 4 to 6 months. Infants start life with a clean slate.  

Infants have the, sometimes dangerous, enthusiasm to learn uncluttered by previous experience. We cannot claim such innocence by the time we are two years old. I was a cradle Christian, so I have no idea what it feels like to never have known about God. That was true about the cradle Jews Jesus was trying to reach with a new approach to a relationship with God. The last piece of this scripture is one of my favorites. We are assured that God is always with us as we grow in faith, just like my great grand niece, who was allowed to explore under the watchful care of loving relatives.

Prayer: 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.

Living in the Spirit

July 8, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Romans 7:15-25a
I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin.

Laws are needed to bring about order. For example, that is the purpose of stop signs. Laws are helpful in that accord and are malleable to change as situations in societies change. Our driving rules changed when we switched from horse-drawn vehicles to cars and trucks. As traffic increased, stoplights were installed. The Torah, the first five Bible books, is described as God’s laws. They are a combination of what we practice today as rules related to our relationship with God, civil rules, and even etiquette. Civil rules and etiquette change over time. In the USA, we are more precise in indicating the differences in these rules. The Bible describes a similar separation as the Israelites advanced from wandering in the wilderness where they developed a system of judges to mediate differences to eventually recognizing a government ruled by a king—we call it separation of church and state. From the beginning, the two communicated. The Prophet Nathan was not hesitant to call King David out for his sins as did Martin Luther King Jr. when he organized the first Poor People’s Campaign.

Fast forward to the first century when Paul and others mingled Greek philosophy and their Jewish background to help spread the teachings and example of Jesus.  So, we get the language of flesh and spirit doing battle with each other. Why do we do what we know better than to do? Jesus, himself, said that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:40-43) I think that is why we were given an overriding law that does not change from one generation to another; God commanded us, and Jesus repeated it just to make sure we understood that we are to love God above all others and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Leviticus 19.18 and Matthew 19.19)

Prayer: Lord, help us get our priorities straight if we live in the Spirit daily. 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.