Tag Archives: God’s Love

Sin Is

Living in the Spirit

October 26, 2022

Scripture Reading: Psalm 32:1-7
Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
   whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
   and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

While I kept silence, my body wasted away
   through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
   my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
   and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’,
   and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Therefore let all who are faithful
   offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
   shall not reach them.
You are a hiding-place for me;
   you preserve me from trouble;
   you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.

Sin is a transgression of religious law: an offense against God*.

Sin is missing the mark. who are always being instructed and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (II Timothy 3:7)

Sin is being separated from God.

Sin is A condition of dreadful estrangement from God, the sole source of well-being**.

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

**The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, page 361

Most people of faith in God may consider sin as the dictionary describes it breaking religious laws. We get more serious about missing the mark or being separated from God. But I had never considered sin as dreadful estrangement from God who is the sole source of well-being. That just makes me want to cry. God wants the very best for all of God’s children as the sole source of well-being. That is something to meditate about.

Prayer: Lord, help us recognize your love in our lives and know you as our source of well-being. Protect us from those who try to divide us from your love. 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.

Absolutes

Living in the Spirit

September 17, 2022

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.

I do not remember when I memorized John 3:16. My guess is before I could read. The words written above were not the words I memorized. Mine came from the King James translation: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. When reading the above translation, I got stuck on the word “may”. It seemed to make a less powerful statement than should, but I think the original leans more toward the word “shall”, not present in either translation. Shall is an absolute word.

Indeed, we must be very careful when we use absolute words. We are hearing a lot of them in this election system in promises to keep and in defining the worth of an opponent. I hate all the emails and texts I am not getting asking me if I approve of a specified candidate. Ask me if I agree with a candidate’s stance on issues. I do not even know what they mean when they ask if I approve of the office seeker.

I trust the absolute nature of a loving God whose word is a lamp unto my feet and a light into my path (Psalm 119:105). And I do trust that everyone who believes in Jesus Christ shall not perish but shall have eternal life.

Prayer: Lord, help us remember that where humans may fail you never will. 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.

What is in your Purse

Living in the Spirit

August 6, 2022

Scripture Reading: Luke 12:32-40

‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. –Luke 12:32-34

My paternal grandmother died when I was five. While I remember her, I did not know her as an adult. For example, I did not know that it was forbidden for anyone to get into her purse but her. So forbidden that after her death the last purse she had was stored on a shelf at our house never to be opened for many years. I do not remember the details of the great opening, but I was present when we did open it and discovered it was filled mostly with the mundane items that most women might carry. It contained very old and dried-up lipstick for one, a handkerchief, paper tissues that did not exist then, a coin purse with a few cents in it, and so on. The one thing I did find that surprised me was an official mortgage using one cow as collateral rendered to buy groceries. There was more than one of these. They were all marked paid. They were written during the depression before public assistance or social security existed. My grandfather died suddenly and unexpectedly in 1928 when my dad was ten and became the breadwinner running the farm for the family with his younger brother. Her children were my grandmother’s treasure, and she took care of them in the best way she could. I did wonder why she kept those receipts for so many years. To remind her of the hard times, maybe. I am glad I broke her rule and opened the purse. It shed a lot of light on a grandmother I barely knew.

God cares for each and all of us and we are God’s treasures. We must never forget that as we return God’s love through our lives.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for those who love us as you love them. 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.

Vanity

Living in the Spirit

July 26, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Ecclesiastes 2:18-23
I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me —and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish? Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.

What legacy will each of us leave? Will it matter? I certainly have inherited some of my mother’s ways of being. I often describe my mom as the world’s best egalitarian. Every grandchild got equal to the same thing from her whether it was an Afghan or a quilt. When she made out her health care directive, she insisted that all three of her children were listed equally. I may not be as good at treating everyone equally as she was, but it crosses my mind in my decision-making. I dare say she may have developed this attitude because she saw the opposite in some of her life experiences. We do sometimes change patterns of behavior because we have seen the negative results of such behavior.

On the other hand, as the world changes so must our responses to those changes. Children today have no concept of a world without instant communications. I laughed at myself when I drove away from my house and by the time I reached the end of the block, I realized I had forgotten my cell phone. I turned around and got it and then wondered how many times before I had driven down I-35 toward the Stillwater exist near my family’s farm with no means of communication. We worked hard to create a more efficient and effective world. Our descendants hopefully will do the same thing. Some now would argue whether instant communication is always good.

The Hebrew word “Hebel”, translated here as vanity means worthless, more like in vain, than perhaps a perception of false pride*. We are called to do our best to leave our descendants a more advanced world than we may have inherited but the wisdom and love of God are constant and this too we must pass on to coming generations and pray that our example is not in vain.

Prayer: Lord, let the love we inherited from you be the greatest gift we pass on to our descendants. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1892.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.

Trusting God

Lent

March 7, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.’ But Abram said, ‘O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’ And Abram said, ‘You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.’ But the word of the Lord came to him, ‘This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.’ He brought him outside and said, ‘Look towards heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness. –Genesis 15:1-6

Abram had a very close personal relationship with God. He discussed everything with God even the fact that he and his wife were unable to conceive a child. Hannah also had this same type of relationship with God. It does not get more personal than that. I have, I guess, a forever habit of starting my prayers with several titles for God, Dear Heavenly Father, or Creator of All. I sense that God has gotten used to my habit and patiently waits for me to get to the point. God does already know who God is. I now realize that I need to tell myself who I am addressing and to acknowledge my respect for God. Is not that why we seek the most qualified person we know to get advice about something?

Abram trusted God, and we can too.

1 When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2 Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your trustworthiness in a world that sometimes cannot be trusted. Amen.

*First and second verse with the refrain of Trust and Obey by John H. Sammis, see at https://hymnary.org/text/when_we_walk_with_the_lord

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.

God’s Beloved

Ordinary Time

January 11, 2022

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
   and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
   and her salvation like a burning torch.
The nations shall see your vindication,
   and all the kings your glory;
and you shall be called by a new name
   that the mouth of the Lord will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
   and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
   and your land shall no more be termed Desolate;
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
   and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you,
   and your land shall be married.
For as a young man marries a young woman,
   so shall your builder marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
   so shall your God rejoice over you.

I just arrived home from attending my brother-in-law’s funeral. He and my sister had been married for 58 years. She and their children carefully crafted a service I think Bill liked. He was a storyteller, and they had compiled short stories that described who he was and who he was not in some instances. Bill was rich in helping and welcoming others but was not much into pomp and circumstances. While he worked at various jobs, he was a farmer at heart. One of his grandsons just posted about the service on social media ending his comments by saying Now he is walking with God in heaven farming and taking care of cattle.

A lot of marriages do not last two years, much less 58. So, Isaiah is talking in the scripture above about the permanence of our relationship with God using as an example the marriage relationship that when well lived, in the good times and the bad, is an eternal source of joy and love to both God and us God’s beloved.

Prayer: Lord, we asked today for special blessings for my sister and her descendants as they grieve the loss of their beloved one. Help us always be a delight to you as we seek to live your love. 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.

God’s Abundance

Ordinary Time

January 10, 2022

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
   and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
   and her salvation like a burning torch.
The nations shall see your vindication,
   and all the kings your glory;
and you shall be called by a new name
   that the mouth of the Lord will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
   and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
   and your land shall no more be termed Desolate;
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
   and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you,
   and your land shall be married.
For as a young man marries a young woman,
   so shall your builder marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
   so shall your God rejoice over you.

God has always wanted the best for all God’s people. However, problems arise when trying to discern God’s best from the world’s definition of best. So, how does God describe the best—being loved and loving others. Jesus explains that at John 10:10b, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” “More abundantly” means beyond what is anticipated, exceeding expectation; “more abundant,” going past the expected limit*. How do we measure abundance–how the world measures abundance with more excellent salaries, bigger homes, and fancy cars? Or do we perceive the abundant life as abounding fullness of joy and strength for spirits, souls, and healthy bodies? Jesus set the minimum in Mathew 25:34b-36, Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick, and you took care of me I was in prison, and you visited me. Abundance is not measured by wealth but starts when all have enough of the necessities to grow and flourish as God created them become.

Prayer: Lord, as we work toward a world where all have enough, let us also celebrate the advancement of our ability to strengthen our spirits and souls. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/4053.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.

Blessings

Christmastide

December 27, 2021

Scripture Reading:

Numbers 6:22-27

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: you shall say to them,
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.

I was introduced to this beautiful blessing early in life. It tells us that we are always God’s children. To bless means to make sacred, and keep means to retain forever. The light of God shines on us so that we can see our way forward. For example, I had to get a new thermostat some months ago, and the one installed had a more prominent face. During the day, it is hardly noticeable, but at night it illuminates the whole room well enough for me to find my way when darkness is all around me. The face of God provides such light on all we do. God being gracious to us indicates God’s gift of grace filling in the blank space between where we are and where we should be related to kindness and courtesy.

As a child, I most likely did not understand the word countenance. It means one’s mood, emotions, or character. For God to project those traits on us is an interesting circumstance to consider. When God is pleased with us, we will welcome his countenance. I am reminded of the scene when Jesus drove the money lenders out of the temple, which was undoubtedly an expression of God’s countenance. That took courage on the part of Jesus. Would we have the tenacity to do such a thing? And how would we have felt had we been one of the money traders?

The blessing follows the countenance challenge with the promise of peace or shalom where we are granted completeness, soundness, wellbeing.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for your blessings and dedication to our wellbeing. 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.

Blessed

Advent

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12)

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. –Hebrews 1:1-4

On the evening sports, I watched Tiger Woods hugging his son after coming in second in some father/son golf tournament and saw the love from both as they walked off the green together. Earlier in the year, Tiger was nearly killed in a terrible car accident and faced the possibility of losing one of his legs. That event changed them both. Both recalculated what is most valuable in life.

As we look forward to celebrating the coming of God with Us in the form of the infant Jesus, let us envision the love God has for God’s Son and how much the Son loved God. God’s giving Jesus as the Christ is the greatest gift we will ever receive. Jesus willingly modeled the way of love in his life, death, and resurrection, is the greatest blessing of all.

Children have always been our future. Therefore, we must invest our better selves in providing them with the faith, hope, and love that will prepare them for whatever calamity they may meet and how to make the best of their skills and talents to create the world God envisioned for us at creation. I mentioned calamity first because we seem to be surrounded by it now with pandemics, violent storms and other challenges of climate change, violence on the streets, and poverty in all our communities. However, our commitment to using our skills and talents as partners in God’s Kingdom prepares us to deal well with calamity and blessings.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your saving grace and the gift of your Son as a model of how we are to love. 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.

Love is a Choice

Advent

December 19, 2021

Scripture Reading: John 1:1-14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

What does it mean to be born of God? The stories of Jesus’s birth relate the great mystery of one born of God, assumed to be a king. Jesus was born into a world full of gods of all types and purposes. The Roman kings of the first century all claim to be divine. Jesus’s being proclaimed as the Son of God was not unusual in that time and place. The unexpected element of Jesus’s ministry was having been given the power to make everyone children of God.

John reminds us that Jesus was with God at the beginning of the world when all humans were created in God’s image. John then tells us that God wants humans to choose to accept and love God. I do not believe it is possible to make anyone love someone else. Love does not love unless it comes from the heart and soul of the lover. The whole idea of free will is tied to that concept. We often interpret free will as the right to sin or not. I think John may be viewing the free will that God grants us as the right to love God by choice. What accompanies the choice to love God is the commitment and empowerment to love others as we love God. Indeed, separation from God exists when we choose not to love God, and all types of folly can follow. We are experiencing that in our world today.

Prayer: Creator God, You designed a world that functions at its most excellent efficiency when love rules, help us let go of anything that distracts us from living in love.  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.