Tag Archives: In Sync with God

Out of Sync with God

Lent

March 23, 2023

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:6-11
To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

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.

 I wanted to share the expanded definition of this word because I do not think I have given it enough attention. It is used throughout the Bible. 171 times in the Hebrew Bible and 117 in the New Testament. The Hebrew uses relate to our bodies and primarily that the flesh results in death.

The Greek word for flesh used in the New Testament is “sárks”.

4561 sárks properly, flesh (“carnal”), merely of human origin or empowerment.

[4561 /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).]

4561 (sarks) is generally negative, referring to making decisions (actions) according to self – i.e. done apart from faith (independent from God’s inworking). Thus what is “of the flesh (carnal)” is by definition displeasing to the Lord – even things that seem “respectable!” In short, flesh generally relates to unaided human effort, i.e. decisions (actions) that originate from self or are empowered by self. This is carnal (“of the flesh”) and proceeds out of the untouched (unchanged) part of us – i.e. what is not transformed by God*.

The word flesh is used primarily in the New Testament to describe that which is not in sync with God or is done outside the guidance of God.  The story that comes to mind is in Luke 12:16-21, Then [Jesus] told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’

Prayer: Lord, as we move ever closer to Holy Week, let us examine ourselves to measure where we might not be in sync with God and work to restore that relationship. Amen.

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

Getting in Sync with God

Living in the Spirit

October 25, 2022

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 1:10-18

Hear the word of the Lord,
   you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the teaching of our God,
   you people of Gomorrah!
What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
   says the Lord;
I have had enough of burnt-offerings of rams
   and the fat of fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
   or of lambs, or of goats.

Come now, let us argue it out,
   says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
   they shall be like snow;
though they are red like crimson,
   they shall become like wool. –Isaiah 1:10-11, 18

Have you noticed that the people who do not want anyone to tell them what to do in life are the same people who want to tell others what they can do? That seems to be what Isaiah is challenging. The people of his day brought all kinds of burnt offerings etc. to gain God’s blessings when God wants his followers to change their way of being. My Sunday School class just finished a study of the Ten Commandments. None of them mentioned burnt offerings or fatted calves. They talk about how we should love and respect God and treat one another.

It is in the depths of our studies and communion with God that we can discern the ways of God. Daily self-examination will help us find our way. One way to do that is to spend time discerning how we fair at following those Ten Commandments, reviewing the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, or Jesus’s outline of how he judges us found in Matthew 25:31-46. Look for common faults that need to be addressed. Target the issues that are out of sync with God’s teachings and seek God’s guidance regarding how to correct our behavior.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we choose to honor you in ways that do not bring you glory. 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.

Faith

Living in the Spirit

August 4, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. –Hebrews 11:1-3

Conviction of the truth of anything, belief (Plato, Polybius, Josephus, Plutarch; θαυμάσια καί μείζω πίστεως, Diodorus 1, 86); in the N. T. of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and conjoined with it*.

I have regrated for some time that no verb form of the word “faith” was created in the English language. The word “believe” corresponds to the word “belief” describing the action element of the word. The writer of Hebrews defines the word faith as assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Truth is fundamental to faith. I think people of faith fall back on the word believe because they have no other choice. Trust might work better. The verb believe has the essence of something being true unless or until proven wrong. That option is not available with the word faith. The word hoped intrinsically carries the idea of something wanted but might not happen. Add faith to hope and it becomes assured.

Prayer: Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief**.  Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/4102.htm

**Taken from Mark 9:24.

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 God’s Timing

Living in the Spirit

July 10, 2022

Scripture Reading: Luke 10:25-37

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’ –Luke 10:29-37

Who indeed is our neighbor? The USA has worked hard over the years to segment our society with red lines and highway construction separating people by race and income. The principalities and powers have taken it upon themselves to define who can live with whom over the years that we are just now trying to seriously correct. Oklahoma City was hit last night by a storm called a microburst, a localized column of sinking air, that can cause a lot of damage in a small area. We apparently had more than one. What I noticed this morning, as the news showed pictures of people cleaning up the mess, was that the neighborhood included a very diverse group of residents and they were all working together to return their neighborhood to wholeness.

God’s love is infinite. This story shares that concept well. Another scripture that applies is when Jesus is asked how many times must we forgive someone, seven times? Jesus’s response was seven times seventy. (Matthew 18:22) Jesus may have been recalling Genesis 4:24–If Cain is avenged sevenfold,    truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold.’ The number seven in the Israelite culture represented completeness.

God’s love exceeds any boundary we might want to set. We must be very sure when we make decisions about our interactions with others that we are well aligned with God’s will and ways.

Prayer: Lord, as we deal with people help us to clearly understand your desire for our interaction. Guide us in understanding our time to help and our time to refrain from helping apart from our setting our own boundaries of 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.

Finished with Sin

Pentecost

June 1, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
   may the Lord rejoice in his works—
who looks on the earth and it trembles,
   who touches the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
   I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
   for I rejoice in the Lord.
Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
   and let the wicked be no more.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Praise the Lord! –Psalm 104:31-34, 35

I want my meditations to be pleasing to me. I had not realized that until I read this psalm that says May my meditation be pleasing to (God). I meditate to calm down or collect myself. Now, God is most likely pleased with me calming down and getting my act together, but this scripture made me wonder if I am entering into meditation for the wrong reasons. The true purpose of meditation is to get in sync with God. This is important in our crazy world today where discord is common, and some seem to intentionally focus on keeping people divided. We are all much better at reading the world about us in truth when we are in sync with God.

The other piece about this scripture that caught my attention was the phrase, Let sinners be consumed from the earth. That reads like the sinners will be destroyed. I looked up what the Hebrew word Tamam translated as consumed in this Psalm and found that it means to be finished. I can identify with that. Romans 3:23 says since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. We still must work at outgrowing our turning to sin as a lesser way of dealing with the realities of life. Our goal is to trust in God enough that following God’s ways is the higher ground we are called to follow. We are also promised that if we stick with God’s ways, God’s grace fills the gaps we may not even see when necessary.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you (Psalm 19:14) Amen.

   O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. 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.

A Lightened Load

Discipleship

January 29, 2021

Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that ‘all of us possess knowledge.’ Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him.

Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that ‘no idol in the world really exists’, and that ‘there is no God but one.’ Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ‘Food will not bring us close to God.’ We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling-block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.

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. (Romans 7:18-20)

Why do we seek lesser gods? In the scripture for today, Paul writes about idol worship. In Romans 7, he writes about not being able to do what is right but does the evil he knows he should not. The thing about idols that is so compelling is we can craft them into anything we desire and call it god. On the other hand, God created us in God’s image so that our being in sync with God results in that which is good, not only for us but for all of God’s children. God built into our creation the right to choose whether to live in alignment with God or not. Jesus said that my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:30), but like two-year-old’s, we test God to establish the trust needed in any relationship. We carry that testing into maturity or lack thereof. Our primary life’s work is growing into relationship with God through good times and bad until evil is no longer attractive. When we pursue that work with all our hearts, God is always with us to share our challenges and joys.

Prayer: Creator God, thank you for making us who we are. Guide us in fulfilling all the promise you built into us at our creation. 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.

Words Matter

Living in the Spirit

August 25, 2020

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 15:15-21

Therefore, thus says the Lord:
If you turn back, I will take you back,
   and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
   you shall serve as my mouth.
It is they who will turn to you,
   not you who will turn to them.
And I will make you to this people
   a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you,
   but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you
   to save you and deliver you,
says the Lord.
I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
   and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless. –Jeremiah 15:19-21

What a wonderful scripture to consider during an election year. I hear a lot of worthless words in political ads that are targeted at hooking emotional responses. If we distill the information provided in these ads, we could assume that the only things our elected officials do relate to hot-button issues and the economy. Of course, they never say what they mean by “the economy.” Does that mean a booming stock market or a living wage for all or both or neither?

What are the precious words that God wants to hear that are representative of God? Not just things we speak related to politics but how we speak on God’s behalf in all aspects of life. In answer to the question ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ [Jesus] said.., ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

When [the word love is] used of love to a master, God or Christ, the word involves the idea of affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, grateful recognition of benefits received**. In general, loving our neighbors, for example, love means embracing God’s will (choosing His choices) and obeying them through His power**.

To choose God’s choice, we must maintain a deep and abiding relationship with God. We must be incredibly careful about projecting our choices as God’s.

Prayer: Lord, open our hearts, souls, and minds to understanding your choices for ourselves and our world. Amen.

*Taken from Matthew 22:36-40
**https://biblehub.com/greek/25.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.

Known by Our Actions

Living in the Spirit
October 16, 2017

Scripture Reading: Exodus 33:12-23

Moses said to the Lord, ‘See, you have said to me, “Bring up this people”; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, “I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.” Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.’ He said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ And he said to him, ‘If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.’ –                                                                                                                                                      Exodus 33:12-16

I do not know how many times I have sung the words They’ll Know We are Christians by Our Love*. I believe that sentiment to be true. What frightens me is the many ways love seems to be defined by Christians. In some instances, we exclude people by what we consider to be their sins. Does that reflect God’s love?  Other times we set people apart because of the color of their skin, their religion, or their place of origin? Does that reflect God’s love?

In all the devastation we viewed on TV over the past few months, stories of people who risk their lives for others abound. I certainly saw Christ in each of these people,  though I do not know anything about their religious affiliations. Perhaps if we wish to reflect God with us, we need to turn our attention to being in sync with God rather than projecting what we have gleaned from a world that does not know God.

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they’ll know we are Christians by our love 

We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.*

Prayer: Lord, enable our lives to reflect your love, filtering out the world’s ways we claim as yours. Amen.

*Taken from the song We are One in the Spirit  by Peter Scholtes, see at https://hymnary.org/text/we_are_one_in_the_spirit

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.