Tag Archives: Loving Like Jesus

Being a Blessing

Living in the Spirit

August 9, 2022

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 23:23-29

Am I a God nearby, says the Lord, and not a God far off? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back—those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal. Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the Lord. Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

As in the times represented in the Bible, we today must deal with false prophets. How do we discern a true prophet from a false prophet? Do the prophets’ words meet the test of loving God and loving all of God’s children? We are called to love not to judge. I appreciate Christ taking on this task and freeing all of us to love people for who they are and who they are becoming.

For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; and he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. –John 5:26-29

First, I note, that the things I believe separate me from God may not be the same as those that separate others from God. Second, when I observe people getting caught up in behaviors or ideas that I perceive as being harmful to them or others, my merely judging them and perhaps ostracizing them is not helpful and may be harmful in and of itself. By loving them and walking with them I may be able to assist them in working out their situation or steer them toward others who can aid them without being judgmental. Third, my life experiences are not broad enough for me to fully understand anyone else’s deepest needs. God does know each of God’s children completely and I must depend on God to guide my relationships with others if I might be a tool to help them.

Prayer: Lord, make each of us blessings to others we meet along life’s ways. 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.

Liking and Loving

Living in the Spirit

July 29, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Colossians 3:1-11

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all! –Colossians 3:5-11

The question was asked in my Sunday school class this week, “Does loving everyone mean we have to like them?” Everyone laughed but is a good question. Merriam-Webster dictionary list ten different forms of the word like. I picked the first verb form, to be suitable, pleasing, or agreeable to (a person) and to feel attraction toward or take pleasure in*. What matters most in differentiating the words like and love perhaps is how we respond to the other. In my limited experience as a direct social worker, I did not choose the clients with whom I worked, but once I met them, I could tell the difference between those I looked forward to visiting, those I did not mind visiting, and those I did not look forward to visiting. These possibly define the briefest spectrum of the attitude of liking. The act of liking or not is spontaneous, a gut-level reaction. As a professional, I was required to both get past the emotions of favoring some people and distancing myself from others. My job was to help whoever was assigned to me.

“Love is the will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth… Love is as love does. Love is an act of will — namely, both an intention and an action. Will also implies choice. We do not have to love. We choose to love.” ― M. Scott Peck

Love is a choice of desiring the very best for oneself and for the other. In God’s grand scheme that means all others. Choosing to love someone may require us to look deeper into our “liking” to discern from where our gut-level response came and whether we need to address it.

Prayer: Lord, grant us the courage to love one another and the insight to discern whether our likes and dislikes are meaningful for us to address. Amen.

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

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 Perspective

Living in the Spirit

July 28, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Colossians 3:1-11

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. –Colossian 3:1-4

We are called to seek higher ground. What does that mean? When Jesus sat on the mountain overlooking Jerusalem, he saw a broad vision of what was happening and understood that the way people lived was out of sync with God’s plans for the world God had created. Jesus knew that realigning with God was the only way God’s great Kingdom, God’s beloved community could ever be realized.

‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! (Matthew 23:37)

Jesus eventually gave his life to align God’s children with God.

I wonder what he sees looking over the breadth and depth of our world today. What do we see when taking in the whole picture? Do we need to examine ourselves first and discover the things in our lives we need to change to bring ourselves into sync with God? As we work toward wholeness, do we also need to work harder at finding oneness with all God’s people and our understanding that all people are God’s? Will God’s justice become real in our world if we become real to God?

Prayer: Lord, show us the view from your higher ground and help us discern how to change our lives to be better aligned with you and with all 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Healing of the Nations

Living in the Spirit

July 25, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Psalm 107:1-9, 43
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
   for his steadfast love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
   those he redeemed from trouble
and gathered in from the lands,
   from the east and from the west,
   from the north and from the south.

Some wandered in desert wastes,
   finding no way to an inhabited town;
hungry and thirsty,
   their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
   and he delivered them from their distress;
he led them by a straight way,
   until they reached an inhabited town.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
   for his wonderful works to humankind.
For he satisfies the thirsty,
   and the hungry he fills with good things.

Let those who are wise give heed to these things,
   and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

My mind switched from one picture to another drawn from recent news reports as I read this scripture. I recalled people in Africa living in danger due to famine partially caused by the cut-off of grain exports from Ukraine and fertilizer from Russia. Destroyed buildings throughout Ukraine surrounded the body of a little girl dead in the street. A conference table in Turkey where an agreement was reached to let the grain and fertilizer be exported. More people will survive but the delivery will be too late for some and not enough for many.

Prayer:
For the healing of the nations,
Lord, we pray with one accord;
For a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords.
To a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word.

Lead us, Spirit, into freedom,
from despair your world release;
That, redeemed from war and hatred,
All may come and go in peace.
Show us how through care and goodness
fear will die and hope increase. Amen.

First two verses of For the healing of the nations by F. Kaan/R. Lloyd see at https://pilgrimwr.unitingchurch.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Social-Services-Sunday-various-songs.pdf

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 Common Good and Abundant Life

Living in the Spirit

Kudzu Graveyard

July 24, 2022

Scripture Reading: Luke 11:14-23

Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, ‘He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.’ Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven. But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? —for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

I am not a literalist, but I must say I was a little unnerved when I read from the scripture today that Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house. Oklahoma is suffering from major drought and deadly heat, as is much of the world. Farmers are hunting for hay to feed their cattle over the winter. Wildfires are burning the grass further reducing the production of hay. Just a few weeks ago I saw flooding on TV from Montana to Tennessee watching houses being lifted off their foundations and floating down out-of-control rivers of water. While climate change is destroying living space, our elected leaders are devoting their time to concerns about what restrooms people should be allowed to use and whether our children have the mental stamina to handle studying history. The problem they cannot seem to figure out is how to provide for the common good while assuring that the rich continue getting richer not recognizing that the common good is the foundation of financial stability. Greed is like the Kudzu plant, nicknamed “the vine that ate the South”, it eats everything around it until nothing is left and it dies.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10) Jesus came to bring us the fullness of life where indeed everyone has enough of the necessities of life, but all have the opportunity to experience the fullness of life.

Prayer: Lord, help us provide for the Common Good as a part of our supporting the fullness of life for everyone. 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.

Being the Body of Christ

Living in the Spirit

July 22, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19)

Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God. –Colossians 2:16-19

Paul got that right. The earthly observations of his day have indeed been supplemented over the years by hundreds and thousands of equally absurd practices and beliefs that distract us from being the Body of Christ in the world today. I am stunned by the singularity of our outrage regarding issues that have simple solutions if we cared to use them. Most abortions could be prevented by the availability of quality, affordable and accessible health care, raising the minimum wage to a living wage, and providing quality public education that prepares children for adulthood and good-paying jobs.

I got off the plane with my choir many years ago at an airport in Sweden and rushed with my group to the nearest restroom as is often the case with people getting off planes. I was surprised to see that there were no designated male and female restrooms. Each of the stalls was enclosed for privacy and each contained appropriate plumbing for men and women. The only thing shared was the sinks to wash one’s hands. The long line moved very quickly, and no one had to worry about sharing a restroom with anyone.

We are called to be the Body of Christ in the world today with an assignment to begin and continue the work of creating the beloved community, the Kingdom of God. That requires us to remove ourselves from the shadows of worldly judgments and live in the light of Christ’s loving example.

Prayer: Lord, write on our hearts your desire for our work and strengthen our will and our bodies to carry it out. 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.

Living Our Love

Living in the Spirit

Living in the Spirit

July 21, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19)

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it. –Colossians 2:6-15

When Jesus answered the question, ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘“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.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’ (Matthew 22:36-40) I think Jesus set the plumbline for determining what is right and what is wrong, what is just and what is unjust. If an action, a belief, or a way of being is not of love, it is not of God.

Paul wrestled with defining love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, by defining its characteristics, Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

We live in challenging times where ideas and philosophies, especially empty deceits and human traditions try to define our faith based on those elemental spirits of the universe. We must always assess such ideas against the test of God’s love and live our lives accordingly.

Prayer: Lord, guide us in doing our best to present ourselves to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth*. Amen.

*Derived from 2 Timothy 2:15

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.

Being a Person of Faith and a Citizen

Living in the Spirit

July 19, 2022

Scripture Reading: Genesis 18:20-32

Then the Lord said, ‘How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know.’

So the men turned from there, and went towards Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Then Abraham came near and said, ‘Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?’ And the Lord said, ‘If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake.’ Abraham answered, ‘Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?’ And he said, ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.’ Again he spoke to him, ‘Suppose forty are found there.’ He answered, ‘For the sake of forty I will not do it.’ Then he said, ‘Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there.’ He answered, ‘I will not do it, if I find thirty there.’ He said, ‘Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.’ He answered, ‘For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.’ Then he said, ‘Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there.’ He answered, ‘For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.’

I have observed that religions identify hierarchies of sins and find that the worst sins are behaviors they would never do. I have learned that in many instances, the ones raving the most against some sins are the practitioners of those sins behind closed doors. I was thus surprised that the lectionary writers chose to leave out the description of the sins that caused the discussion in the above scripture. They carefully opened the door that all of us must consider all aspects of our lives that may separate us from God and address those issues.

Politicians have recognized this tendency and instead of campaigning on their vision for the wellbeing of their constituents, they work to get your vote by highlighting divisive issues repugnant to many. As with our Supreme Court Justices, these same politicians soon forget what they promised regarding real problems in our society after they take office. I recommend we each take some time to identify the issues impacting our lives or the life of our friends and find out how candidates plan to address them. Can you afford the medication you or a loved one is prescribed? Do you have the internet access your children need to succeed in school? Have you lost a home or suffered other ill effects from the weird weather that we are experiencing due to climate change? Does your family’s income add up to a living wage (see https://livingwage.mit.edu/)? After you complete your list find out who the candidates are running for office where you live. See what you can find out about each candidate’s positions regarding your concerns. Your local library might be a good place to start. Make a list of the candidates you pick and take the list to the polls with you. Now, ensure you are registered to vote and learn where you can vote. Plan on how you will get to the polls or access absentee voting. Oklahoma City in the past has not charged bus fees for people going to vote. Many groups offer rides to vote if you need help reach out for it. Finally, vote. Your vote matters.

Prayer: Lord, open our hearts and minds to assuring that we are loving you and our neighbors as ourselves in our role as citizens. 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.

Loving Like Jesus

Living in the Spirit

July 17, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Luke 11:1-13

And he said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.” And he answers from within, “Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.” I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’ –Luke 11:5-13

How do we respond faithfully to these scriptures and meaningfully help a loved one dealing with addiction? Bread I would give them even knowing that they would sell their soul for opioids. At some point like the prodigal son, we must let them go, praying that, knowing that God is with them, and at some point, they have the spiritual breakthrough to return home to the God that loves them and can heal them. Indeed, we need to be ready to meet them with open arms when they find themselves as God created them and when they long to shed the weight of the world and put on the robes of God’s gracious love.

We, too, must remain engaged with God as we strive not to judge but to love, and otherwise grow in wisdom and truth learning how to ask for the right responses and knock on the right doors.

Prayer: We thank you, Lord, for giving us your Spirit to guide us through life’s challenges.  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.