Tag Archives: Jesus

Loving the Stranger

Border CrosserLiving in the Spirit
August 17, 2014 

Scripture Reading: Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28

Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.’ But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.’ He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly. —Matthew 15:22-28 

Ever wonder at what point in his life Jesus really knew who he was? We have the story of his first visit to the temple at the age of 12 when he said he needed to be about his Father’s work but there is little else to define his awareness of who and what he was  and what his calling was. The story in our scripture today suggests that it was later in his ministry that he realized his calling involved more than the Jewish community with which he was so very familiar. He could not turn away someone, a woman even, in great need even though she was one of the unclean. My hunch is that he had always known who he was and what his calling was but that the reality of what it meant unfolded as he grew in wisdom and in strength.

I have a friend who is a very talented natural, although now well-trained, musician who comes from a family where no one else is a musician. He knew he wanted to be a musician from his preschool years even though he probably didn’t really know what a musician was at the time. He just loved music.

Jesus just loved God. Loved God so much that he could not turn his back on any of God’s children even an unacceptable, woman from a different culture than his own or her precious child.

When the question arises, “What are we going to do with all these children flooding our southern border?” Remember this story. If we love God we will also love them and through the complications of violence and culture and distance and language barriers, we will do what it takes to let them know we love them and that we have their best interest at heart.

but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’–Matthew 19:14

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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

The Rhythm of God

creative-danceLiving in the Spirit
August 12, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Genesis 45:1-15

Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, “Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. I will provide for you there—since there are five more years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.” — Genesis 45:9-11

I’ll bet that was an interesting trip home. Ten brothers, nine of them having sold the twelfth brother into slavery some years ago, are pondering how they are going to tell their elderly father that they had lied to him about Joseph being killed by a wild animal, that they had sold Joseph into slavery, that somehow in his position as a slave he had worked his way into being the prime ruler in Egypt right under Pharaoh, and that Joseph now wanted his dad and all his brothers to come live with him in Egypt where all their needs would be met. Probably even more interesting was Jacob’s reaction to this news.

Did you notice the change in the language in Genesis as it moves to the story of Joseph from the story of Jacob? Jacob’s life was shared as human history except for the dream at Bethel and the wrestling match at Penuel. Joseph has found God in all of life and credits God with what has happened to him. This is the rhythm of God and humans throughout the Bible and actually ever since it was canonized. The devotion of individuals and groups ebbs and flows. But God’s rhythm is always there, people sometimes move too far away to hear it or they just do not listen.

This scripture reminded me of one of the sayings of Jesus: ‘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.’ (Matthew11:28-30)

Prayer: Lord of the Dance, Let me share your yoke so that I may always be close enough to hear your rhythm. Open my ears that I also will always listen for it. 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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Adoption

Living in the Spirit
July 17, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Romans 8:12-25 

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. —Romans 8:14-17

Slavery as it is described in the Bible may have been the absolute ownership of another human being usually a foreigner perhaps taken in war, but, particularly among the Jews, it was more like what we called indentured servants in the early days of the founding of America. When someone could not pay a debt they were indentured to work for their creditor until the debt was paid. Many people came to the US via an indenture of work in return for their ship passage. Others, like one of my ancestors was indentured to learn a trade. He worked for room and board for seven years to learn how to operate a forge. He may have worked alongside the children of the forge owner who also were learning the trade and not getting paid but who would at some point inherit the forge, a subtle but very important difference.

Paul likens our relationship to God as being like a child accepted into a family as a family member with all the benefits that go with that status unlike slaves who worked until their debt was paid and then were released or worked until they were no longer able to work. They most likely then become the beggar in the street. Our homeless in America today are very much like these outcastes of centuries ago, only in most places here it is against the law for them to beg.

The interesting thing about such divisions by status is that Jesus opened the door to recognize all people as the true children of God that they were. Paul, following his lead and his command, extended the invitations throughout the known world. We should not miss what a radical concept this must have been for a society that was so comfortable with haves and have-nots that they accepted them as the norm. Is it still a radical concept in our world today?

Prayer: Lord, give us the spirit to take up the mantel of Jesus and Paul as we too open the door for all to be welcomed as your children. 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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Greed

Living in the Spirit
July 5, 2014

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

‘But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another,
“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
   we wailed, and you did not mourn.”
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.’ — Matthew 11:16-19

 I sense the same level of discontent in our society today as that which Jesus describes in his own time and place. We are a people who can neither be happy or sad. We are critical of those who act and of those who do not. We want to have our cake and eat it too. I particularly see this in the reaction of the public to government. I have literally heard campaign ads that in one sentence criticize an opponent who is trying to cut military spending, but in the same ad is demanding that the opponent cut taxes. Apparently we cannot see the contradiction in those two actions.

I actually find it rather frightening to read the prophets of old as they describe similar attitudes among the Israelites before the fall of first, Israel and later, Judah. The people were so caught up in greed and self-indulgence that they could not see that their own behavior was causing the disintegration of their society.

Greed is epidemic in America today. It rules our lives as we stand in long lines waiting for stores to open so that we can get the newer, better version of a gadget that was updated only a few months earlier. We want the government to stay out of our business unless we need its services and then we complain because it is not efficient and effective enough even though its resources have been cut and cut and cut some more. We want anyone else besides us to pay taxes, but we want the services they provide right now.

Our scripture today quotes Jesus as trying to get this same message across 2000+ years ago. The prophets spoke about it 4000 years ago. Will we ever learn?

Prayer: O God, convict us of our greed and other sins that are tearing at the heart of our society. Cleanse us, forgive us, and make us true disciples. 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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

Guard My Tongue

Living in the Spirit
July 3, 2014

 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. — Romans 7:15-18

What is maddening to me is that I know that making the response that pops into my mind will not help the situation at all and will most likely make it worse. I know that, but the comment that has irritated me seems to develop a life of its own. I must volley my bullets of words back at it to what—Make me feel better, give me the upper hand, make me whole? It never works. I always feel worse afterward. God provides a scripture lesson for this experience it is in the first chapter of James chapter 1 verse 26: If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.

We must work every day at staying in synch with God. Whether we spend time in prayer, meditation, study, worship, or solitude, we must make sure that our source of wholeness is God not the lesser gods of self-righteousness or self-control. Paul uses the analogy of an athlete to describe our life in Christ. Athletes work out on a planned schedule, intensively practice their sport, eat food that supports their bodies, and get appropriate rest. They do these things so that when on the field of play their bodies and their minds are so well tuned that their instinctive responses are most often right. Actually some highly skilled athletes mess up the most when they do not have faith in their preparation.

We do have a Savior and an Advocate who run the race with us every step of the way. We just have to get out of ourselves enough to notice that he is there.

Prayer: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
              be acceptable to you,
             O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.(Psalm 19:14) 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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Answering the Call

Living in the Spirit
July 1, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Genesis 24 

They said, ‘We will call the girl, and ask her.’ And they called Rebekah, and said to her, ‘Will you go with this man?’ She said, ‘I will.’ So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham’s servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,‘May you, our sister, become thousands of myriads;may your offspring gain possession of the gates of their foes.’ Then Rebekah and her maids rose up, mounted the camels, and followed the man; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. —Genesis 24:57-61

 Abraham’s servant was successful in finding a bride for Isaac. Her name was Rebekah. Although she probably had no actual say in the matter, her family did give her the choice of when she would leave. When asked if she would go with the servant, she simply said, I will and she left with family blessings and well wishes. Her response is reminiscent of Mary’s response to Gabrielle’s announcement that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Messiah. It also reminds me of Abraham following God’s instruction to leave his home and travel to another land.

Jesus describes the immediacy of our call from God in a rather terse manner in Luke 9:58-60: And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’

The reality is that there is never a perfect time to answer a call to action. Most of us do not live in a vacuum with nothing to do until one day the phone rings and someone says, Could you help…? I was working as a supervisor in a county office in March 1974. I had been turned down for a work related scholarship to graduate school the year before, and had just experienced the ending of a relationship. I thought I had reached the apex of my career and decided to just be the best county supervisor that I could be for the rest of my life. Then a got a call asking if I would be willing to transfer to Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City to supervise its social work unit. I said yes and they said come tomorrow and stop by the state office to pick up your id tag. It had already been created. I have never known if I really had a choice or not, but looking back, it was one of the most pivotal events of my life, got me out of my funk, and put me on a different path of meaningful service then I had ever imagined.

Prayer: Lord, keep me alert to your calls for my service and let me see the doors that you open to make it happen when I say yes. 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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Servanthood

Living in the Spirit
June 30, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Genesis 24 

Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, taking all kinds of choice gifts from his master; and he set out and went to Aram-naharaim, to the city of Nahor. 11He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water; it was towards evening, the time when women go out to draw water. 12And he said, ‘O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. 13I am standing here by the spring of water, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14Let the girl to whom I shall say, “Please offer your jar that I may drink”, and who shall say, “Drink, and I will water your camels”—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.’—Genesis 24:10-14

 Abraham had sent his servant to procure for Isaac a wife. We do not have a lot of arranged marriages in the world today, very few in the USA. Most of us do not have servants and if we do we probably do not call them servants and they are paid for the services they render. So our story today is set in a different culture at a different point in history. Yet we rely on this language to describe our relationship to God, and Jesus has been identified with the Suffering Servant in Isaiah. What can we glean from this story about a servant who is not even worthy to be called by his name?

The servant understands that his wellbeing is intrinsically intertwined with the wellbeing of his master. Thus, he works hard to please the master, which entails knowing the master well—well enough to know what kind of wife he would want for his son. He also knows his master well enough to know his master’s God. His prayer is not for his own gain; it is for God to show his master God’s steadfast love. The servant is aware that he is a part of something larger and greater than himself but doing his part somehow is an important cog that helps to make the whole thing work. Isn’t that true of all of God’s children?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove, weave among us inspiring each of us to do your will for the sake of all 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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Trusting God

Living in the Spirit
June 25, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Psalm 13 

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me for ever?
   How long will you hide your face from me? 

But I trusted in your steadfast love;
   my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
 I will sing to the Lord,
   because he has dealt bountifully with me.—Psalm 13:1, 5-6

My alarm goes off at 6:00 am each morning, but I am always awake when that happens. I find the time between when I awake and my alarm goes off as a precious, quiet time to spend with God.  I go over my plans for the day, reshape then at times, remember the people or situations on my prayer list, and seek guidance on any response needed. Two mornings this week at a few minutes before 6:00 am, just before my alarm goes off and just before I close out my time with God, my whole house has been rattled by an earthquake.

We live in a tumultuous world. Yesterday tornadoes tore across the midlands, a terrorist army advanced into Iraq, and a young pregnant woman lost her baby in a domestic violence beating. It sure feels like the Lord has forgotten us. We long for control and we have none.

In times like these we need a Savior and the good news is that we have one. In the midst of storms and terror, we can cling to Jesus Christ and trust that God is working God’s purpose out.  God has not hidden God’s face from us. The question that we really need to consider is whether we are turning away from God?

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to:
Turn [our] eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace*. Amen.

*Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus by Helen H. Lemmel

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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Prayer

Living in the Spirit
June 18, 2014 

Scripture Reading: Psalm 86:1-10, 16, 17 

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.
All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord,
   and shall glorify your name.
For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.
Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant;
   save the child of your serving-maid.
Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame,
   because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. – Psalm 86:8-10, 16, 17 

The people who compiled the lectionary surely envisioned Hagar when they read this Psalm, which is most likely why it follows her story.  Genesis 21:15-17 (see June 17 devotion) records Hagar’s only prayer as a request not to have to watch her child die. She had given up. In fact, it does not record any words at all from Ismael, but it does say that God heard Ismael’s voice.  I am reminded of Romans 8:26—Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. It is important to pray and to pray earnestly even though we may be way off course in what we ask. God hears our prayers and translate then in God’s infinite wisdom and understanding.

While this Psalm can be seen through the eyes of Hagar, it also can be seen through the eyes of Jesus. Mary described herself as the servant of the Lord (Luke 1:38) when she accepted the call to be the mother of the Messiah. She stood at the foot of his cross and watched him die. I think Jesus would have taken great heart in verse 9: All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. Jesus was dedicated to bringing us all together as the family of God.

Prayer: Thank you for the gift of Jesus, for his teachings and his example, for his understanding and love and for his great sacrifice. 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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.