Living in the Spirit
September 12, 2015

Scripture Reading: Mark 8:27-36

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’ –Mark 8:31-33

What motivates people to want to make a positive difference in the world? What is the trigger that propels them into action rather than indifference? What set Jesus’ face toward Jerusalem and certain death? Jesus is quoted in Matthew19:26 as saying: ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’ It is the love of God and the sure and certain knowledge of God’s omnipotence that sets hearts ablaze causing God’s people to work toward the fulfillment of God’s Kingdom. Jesus was the quintessential lover of God and by and through our relationship with him we inherited his quest.

The chorus from The Quest* states it better than I can: 

This is my quest to follow that star
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far
To fight for the right without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell for a heavenly cause 

And I know if I’ll only be true to this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm when I’m laid to my rest 

And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star 

The real question is: How do we spread the love of God to the whole world?

Prayer: Lord make us such lovers of our neighbors that they cannot help but know your love. Amen.

*See at http://www.songlyrics.com/man-of-la-mancha/the-impossible-dream-the-quest-lyrics/#ot8wEaRmOCWCl53y.99

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.