Tag Archives: Kingdom of God

Oneness

Eastertide

April 6, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Acts 4:32-35
Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

God created a diverse world with all kinds of plants, animals, and people. God said that all of it was good. From the dawn of creation until today, our challenge is working together as a diverse people in one heart and soul. That one heart and soul is the Body of Christ in the world today, of which we are invited to become a part. Following Jesus’ bodily exit from the earth, we were blessed with the gift of the Holy Spirit that binds all creation together. God knows all of our skills and potential to use our talents to the Glory of God in actualizing God’s Kingdom. We mock the wisdom of the Spirit when we chose to fight among ourselves rather than investing in the energy needed to work together.

I have never quite understood Jesus’ warning that the only unforgivable sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit*. I think it somehow ties into our failure to be one heart and soul. I am also not sure how forgiveness relates to redemption. In pondering this, I remember John Newton’s story, the author of the hymn Amazing Grace. He was a slave runner delivering people removed from Africa to lives of bondage when circumstances led him to repent of this sin. He did turn around and spent the rest of his life in service to God. I doubt that he ever forgave himself, but he did recognize God’s amazing grace.

We, too, are called to turn around from anything that is limiting our work in creating a world where all live in one heart and soul.

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
  That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
  Was blind, but now I see.

‘ Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
  And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
  The hour I first believed**!

Prayer: Lord, you have told us that a house divided against itself cannot stand***. Empower us through your spirit to turn around from divisiveness and turn toward oneness to your glory.  Amen.

*See Matthew 12: 31-32, Luke 12:10, and Mark 3:29
**First and second verse of the hymn Amazing Grace by John Newton see all https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/313

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.

Washing Feet

Maundy Thursday

April 1, 2021

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’ John 13:1-17, 33-35

The story is familiar. Jesus takes on the chore of a servant washing his disciples’ feet. Peter protests when Jesus bends to wash his feet, acknowledging Jesus’ status. Status is essential in most societies. Whether intended or not, hierarchies of worth come naturally, though not in the Kingdom of God. Jesus made this point many times in his ministry. As he came to the end of his time on earth, he must have felt the need to underscore its importance. The definition of abundance in the Kingdom of God is unlike the world’s definition. The fulfillment of God’s Kingdom is the source of the abundant life Jesus described in John 10:10. The foundation of God’s abundance is love, not status or wealth.

Today we remember that Last Supper where, as told in John, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. We, too, are reminded that Jesus has called us to be the workers in his service, crafting a new world where all are loved and appreciated for who they were created to be and who we all can become as we grow in God’s justice and mercy by God’s grace.

In whatever way we observe this event, now called Maundy Thursday, let us take a few moments to consider our next steps in making the Kingdom of God a reality.

Prayer: Lord, gift us with the hope of building a better world where all are loved and all have enough to survive and thrive as we do our part in loving like Jesus. 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.

Baptism

Epiphany

January 10, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Mark 1:4-11
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.‘

We know the story of Jesus going to the temple with his parents when he was about twelve years old that he had a special interest in God. His parents had to go back and find him. When they located him, He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ (Luke 2:49) This response leaves us with the impression that Jesus had some indication of who he was at an early age. We only can speculate about what he did between that visit and his baptism, which solidified his identity publicly for those who were present and understood the message. Jesus’ baptism marks the start of His known among the people of Galilee and Judea.

Do you remember your baptism or confirmation? Were you surrounded by people who were well pleased with your decision to follow in the footsteps of Jesus? Have you been one of those pleased people on such an occasion? God created us to live in faith with God and in community with one another. Such interrelationships are necessary for the work of Christ’ Kingdom to not only flourish, but as Jesus says in John 14:12, Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.

I envision God’s Kingdom like a jigsaw puzzle. When all the parts fit together, a full picture appears. Jesus started with a 12-piece puzzle, which has expanded to the potential of including everyone on earth working together, creating synergy while each is being the person God created them to be. Unfortunately, we live in a world where we do not accept some as worthy of being in our puzzle. We do not clearly understand that the world God created functions best only when all the pieces are linked as one. If we truly desire for our world to be based on God’s Kingdom vision, we must throw out all the ways we exclude others and work together to find our common ground in God.

Prayer: Lord, give us your vision and plan for making our world more like your Kingdom. 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.

Renewal

Epiphany

January 9, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Mark 1:4-11
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.‘

I am re-reading the Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. With all that is going on in our nation, I feel the need to be re-grounded in my faith. While I may not agree with him in every aspect of his thinking, he forces me to consider where I am in my faith development. He was one who saw evil working its will on people without their knowledge. John the Baptist also fits that mold. It seems God’s way with God’s people is always to warn them away from unjust behavior before they suffer the consequences of their choices. John prepared the people for the coming of Jesus. Jesus prepared us for the coming of the Kingdom of God and its characteristics. Yet, we at times forget that we are charged with being a part of that Kingdom now. Paul, recognizing that fact, noted his struggle to fulfill the responsibility, For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. (Romans 7:19)

Evil is cunning. Fred Craddock wrote a Bible study many years ago that I am not sure was formally published. I do not even remember the name of it. What I do remember is he posits that people tend to sin not in their weakness but in the areas of their greatest strength. I have heard in the news several times recently that the USA is the example of real democracy. They cannot believe some of the things happening here now, describing them as similar to a banana republic. History has shown us that we pay a heavy price for the outcomes when we become indifferent to our responsibilities. The Hebrew prophets like Amos and Hosea delivered this message. It certainly was Bonhoeffer’s message in response to Hitler.

If we are to live in God’s righteousness/justice, we must practice it in every aspect of our lives and enable others to practice it.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we get so caught up in our culture we forget we are to live in the culture of your Kingdom. 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.

Prevention

Living in the Spirit

November 8, 2020

Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:1-13
‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. —Benjamin Franklin

If 95% of people wore a mask as recommended to prevent COVID-19, 130,000 lives could be saved by February. — (NPR)

The best way to better overall health is to eat right and exercise regularly.

The best way to stop abortions is to prevent unplanned, unwanted pregnancies.

We humans tend to enjoy gambling with our lives and in the case of wearing masks, the lives of others. I wonder if that is a modern reality or an eternal trait. I have noticed that the worst sins our culture identifies relate to limited populations of people of whom the self-appointed sin judges of our society are not members. Those change over time. History tells us that being left-handed was a sin otherwise known as the mark of the devil before the 20th century. Adultery was once a capital crime. I guess it has reached herd immunity of acceptance because it seems to have dropped out of the top ten sin ratings. Self-righteousness may have become this culture’s greatest sin.

The only absolute in God’s Kingdom is love. The only herd immunity in God’s Kingdom is love. All of our ways of being must be driven by love.

Prayer: Lord of Love, open our hearts and minds to setting our priorities within the bounds of 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.

Sing a New Song

Living in the Spirit

September 3, 2020

Scripture Reading: Psalm 149
Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
   his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in its Maker;
   let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
Let them praise his name with dancing,
   making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
   he adorns the humble with victory.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
   let them sing for joy on their couches.
Let the high praises of God be in their throats
   and two-edged swords in their hands,
to execute vengeance on the nations
   and punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings with fetters
   and their nobles with chains of iron,
to execute on them the judgement decreed.
   This is glory for all his faithful ones.
Praise the Lord!

I learned the chorus Sing to the Lord a New Song, many years ago, when I attended a Children’s Defense Fund retreat for advocates of faith. I loved that song and still do. What I am discovering is that we are challenged to sing a new song to the Lord continuously. As we grew in faith maturity and as the world changes all around us, we must sing new songs. Even ten years ago, I would never have envisioned sitting in my recliner with a laptop attending not just routine meetings but things like the Poor Peoples March on June 20 with 1.5 million of my best friends.

Any change evolves in chaos. We are now living in a time of multiple transformations:

  • Shedding white privilege and racism
  • Striving to develop a world where everyone has enough
  • Seeking peace and justice non-violently both locally and worldwide
  • Addressing the impacts of climate change

We often feel as if everything is spinning out of control. It is not. God is in control whenever we are working toward God’s vision of a world ruled by love. When we are in sync with God, we are continually spiraling up to a new plateau of attaining that vision. While we may take a Sabbath for a while, eventually, we will see that we are called to another new song until we reach that perfection Paul envisioned.

Prayer: Lord, grant us both the impatience that identifies the need for change and the patience to make change a reality. 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.

Bearing a Cross

Living in the Spirit

August 30, 2020

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 16:21-28

Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’ –Matthew 16:24-28

My sister and I were reminiscing recently about the small, rural church we attended as children. One of its traditions was to have a more informal evening service where hymns were selected randomly by members of the congregation, calling out a title and page number. Much to my parent’s embarrassment one evening, my sister, brother, and I called out all the songs we sang. New rules were set on the road home. Beyond that, while my sister and brother called out a variety of songs, I almost always requested Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone. It was my favorite song, although it is no longer included in most hymnals. I do not really remember singing all the verses about getting a crown. The first verse was my anthem:

Must Jesus bear the cross alone
And all the world go free?
No, there’s a cross for ev’ry one,
And there’s a cross for me.

As a child, I think I intuitively accepted the theology that the Kingdom of God was launched at the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ. We, as Christ-followers, are called to live into the growth and development of God’s Kingdom in everything we do. I have never thought of it, though, as working toward a prize. It is more like living in a big family where each person, based on their age and skills, has tasks to complete for the good of the whole family. I still believe that today. Jesus taught us to love God and love one another as the foundation of that Kingdom. It is an old, old story but much needed today.

Prayer: Lord, we sometimes need to remember and return to the faith of a child to clear the cobwebs of the world from interfering with our loving one another. Clean our hearts, oh Lord, and help us find and bear any cross you have for us. Amen.

*First verse of Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone, by Thomas Shepherd at https://hymnary.org/text/must_jesus_bear_the_cross_alone

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.

Developing and Sustaining God’s Rule

Living in the Spirit

August 15, 2020

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 15:10-20

Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, ‘Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.’ Then the disciples approached and said to him, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees took offence when they heard what you said?’ He answered, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘Explain this parable to us.’ Then he said, ‘Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.’

I am already tired of campaign ads, and it is going to get worse. During the last election, I started hitting the TV mute button every time any ad played that was not publicly approved by the candidate or party it was supporting or did not indicate who was paying for the announcement. I also generally do not listen to anything that is only critical of the opposing candidate. I do not care about one candidate’s opinion of the other. Manipulating people with hot button issues that will never be a significant part of the work required in the office being sought is also counterproductive to electing qualified officials. I care about the values and principles of the one running for office and what legislation, regulations, or solutions they will pursue to support their ideas regarding providing for the whole Common Good.

In the scripture above, Jesus is stressing the importance of what we say and how we say it in fostering the development of a kingdom ruled by love. Developing and sustaining such a world was and still is his prime directive. In a Christ-follower’s life, this principle exceeds all others. As citizens in a democracy, we are called to discern what candidate is best qualified to move our society toward a world ruled by wanting God’s best for all God’s children.

Prayer: Lord, guard our tongues as we venture through the thicket of politics this election year. Plant in our hearts the words to say or not to say. Help us study each candidate objectively as we discern how to vote. 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 Vision of the World

Living in the Spirit

August 13, 2020

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 67
May God be gracious to us and bless us
   and make his face to shine upon us,
          Selah
that your way may be known upon earth,
   your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
   let all the peoples praise you.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
   for you judge the peoples with equity
   and guide the nations upon earth.
          Selah
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
   let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has yielded its increase;
   God, our God, has blessed us.
May God continue to bless us;
   let all the ends of the earth revere him.

The Hebrew word, mishor, translated equity in the above scripture is anchored in the idea of a level place, uprightness. I like the phrase all things considered in thinking about equity. We judge children using equity. The Child Development Center at my church has a series of outcomes for each age group that measures if a child is on track within the expected range for various developmental skills. Teachers will pay attention to these measures as they direct play and other learning opportunities. While I was never in childcare, I have no doubt my mother worked on my eye/hand coordination and my bet is it still ranks in the lower percentile of normal to this day. I, however, cannot remember being unable to read and comprehend, and much was expected of me in those areas as a student.

God knows each of us better than anyone, even ourselves. God knows what talents and skills we were endowed with at our creation and knows whether we are developing and using them to their highest level. We have a responsibility to test ourselves, try new things, and become fully the person God created us to be. Beyond that, though, we are called to assure that every one of God’s children can do the same. That is not happening in our world today, and we as a world, nation, state, city, and neighborhood are poorer in all aspects of life for it. The Kingdom of God will not flourish until all of God’s children are enabled to contribute their worth.

Such empowerment begins with

  • quality prenatal and ongoing health care;
  • adequate food, clothing, and shelter;
  • quality educations targeted toward enhancing each child’s talents and skills;
  • development of an economy that puts people first; and
  • enrichment of values centered in loving God and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.

Such empowerment flows through all aspects of societies, from our health care system to governments to faith-based communities. God’s values can thrive in differing forms of governments and faith-based entities if we share God’s vision of the world.

Prayer: Parent of all People, bless us with your insight in seeing what kind of a society we can be if we start with loving ourselves and all others. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4334.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.

The Times We Live In

Eastertide

May 6, 2020

Scripture Reading: Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
   for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,
take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
   for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
   You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

My times are in your hand;
   Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
   save me in your steadfast love. –Psalm 31:3-5, 15-16

While I have questioned at times my reasoning in basing these daily devotions on the lectionary, I realize it forces me to read scriptures I might not have otherwise. I am continually amazed at finding how often Jesus quoted from the Psalms. Into your hand I commit my spirit.

The negative side of using the lectionary is that it does not include all the scriptures, and a group of some others determined what is important and what is not. Just as I chose not to quote the entire Psalm above designated for this week.

Those thoughts lead me to deal with the words: My times are in your hand. I note that he Psalmist used the plural form of the word “time.” The Psalmist is not talking about my efficient use of time but rather is addressing what is going on in the world that impacts my life. Everyone must deal with the world we inherit; everyone is charged with creating the world we leave our descendants. We do not get to start with a clean slate.

Hard times over which we are trying to gain some kind of control offer opportunities for positive change and opportunities as with the Israelites for exile. What if the phrase read, God’s times are in our hands. As Christ-followers we are called to create with the Lord a world ruled by God’s love. We need to take that opportunity now.

Prayer:
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us.
Melt us, mold us, fill us, use us,
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us*. Amen.

*http://gospelyrics.blogspot.com/2007/09/spirit-of-living-god.html

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.