Tag Archives: Modeling Jesus’ Love

Setting an Example

Kingdom Building

July 6, 2019

Scripture Reading: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.”

‘Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.’ – Luke 10:1-11, 16

This story seems to extend the call of John the Baptist (Mark 1:3) for others to act as front people to prepare the way for the Lord or make straight the way based on Isaiah 40:3, first to the twelve disciples (Mark 6:7-13) and then to the 70. It makes sense, if you think about it, do we not pay more attention to someone whose credentials have been share with us before we meet them than we do when we have no pre-knowledge of who they are? A good reference opens a lot of doors. Jesus was very carefully to guide them in not being too assertive or pushy and in building positive connections for the future. Jesus also made it very clear that they were representing him thus their behavior matters for the furtherance of Jesus’ mission: the initiation of the Kingdom of God.

Years ago, a relative of mind was a telephone operator in the days when placing an international call was a big complicated deal. A businessman who was also a leader in her church called the operator, my relative, requesting that the call be made. It took several minutes including many attempts just to contact an overseas operator. As time went by the man got angry and took his anger out using very bad language on my relative. She was so shocked she said, “Mr. ___ I cannot believe you are saying such things. I go to church with you.” Immediately after she said it, she regretted it feeling certain she was going to lose her job. He was silent for some time when he said, “You are right, I am so sorry I talked like that.

When we identify as a person of faith, others judge our faith group by our behavior.

Prayer: Lord of Love, let my actions speak loudly of your love in all that I do and say. 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.

Emulating Jesus’ Love

Eastertide
April 18, 2017

Scripture Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-32

‘Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,
“He was not abandoned to Hades,
   nor did his flesh experience corruption.”
This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. –Acts 2:29-32

Even the mighty King David died just like everyone else. He spoke of one to come who possessed power even over death. The disciples present at Pentecost proclaimed Jesus as that Messiah, the Christ, the One and as a result of his coming the world was forever changed.

History is full of influential men and women who left their imprint on society. Certainly, many people whose stories are included in the Bible would make the list. Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Ruth, King David, many prophets, and disciples of Christ. Jesus’ mark differed because Jesus, while well known for his own teachings and actions, specifically enables all he encounters to make their difference in the world too. Death is defeated in resurrection and Jesus’ resurrection is symbolic of the eternal nature of the life of faith resulting from each of Christ’s followers owning and nurturing their piece of God’s developing Kingdom of Love until it comes to full fruition.

Ours is a dynamic calling not only to nurture coming generations but to move the world closer and closer to the rule of love in the now. We first do that by practicing the Art of Love* ourselves.

[Erich] Fromm presents love as a skill that can be taught and developed. He rejects the idea of loving as something magical and mysterious that cannot be analyzed and explained, and is therefore skeptical about popular ideas such as “falling in love” or being helpless in the face of love.

 Jesus taught love best by example, a good model for us to emulate. He took his love to the next step by doing justice on behalf of others. We, too, are called to do justice.

Prayer: God of Love and Justice, make us whole so that we can emulate your love. Grant us courage so we can do your justice. Amen.

*The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm see at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_Loving

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.