Tag Archives: Partners in Christ’s Service

Unbind Us, and Let Us Go

Lent
April 4, 2017

Scripture Reading: John 11:1-45

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upwards and said, ‘Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’ –John 11:38-44

Was Jesus’ primary purpose in coming to earth to unbind us, and let us go now? It is often said upon the death of a person who has suffered grave illness or severe disability, God has freed them of their pain or disability. The Robe was the first movie I remember seeing. It is the fictional story of the Roman who won Jesus’ robe at his crucifixion.  The Roman is haunted by the robe and travels through the Christian world trying to be freed from its powers. In one scene, he comes upon a beautiful young woman playing a harp, although she could not walk because her legs were crippled. The young woman is at peace and joyously proclaims her faith in Jesus Christ. The Centurion challenges her that Jesus did not heal her for she was still crippled. To which she replied that he healed her of her bitterness and self-pity.

Jesus came proclaiming the Kingdom of God is at hand. He does not see the world as others see it. Present at the creation, he knows the potential of the world and all that is in it, including we humans. His is a now and future Kingdom of which we are called as partners to bring it into full fruition. We see evil all around and grow discouraged from its power. John’s gospel does not let us get away with shaking in our boots. Jesus Christ not only unbound Lazarus to return him to his calling, he unbinds us still today if we open ourselves to following in his footstep.

Each day let us lay before God those things that are holding us back from being fully the persons God created us to be and open ourselves to God’s healing mercies as God unbinds us and sets us free.

Prayer: God thank you for your continuous presence with us. Fill the gaps in our lives that limit our responses, clean the filters in our minds that limit our love. Amen.

*See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Robe_(film)

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.

Partners in Kingdom Building

1-corinthians-13-4-7Living in the Spirit
August 16, 2016

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10

See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to pull down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.’—Jeremiah 1:10

Just like the earth exists in a constant pattern of cleansing and growth and harvesting and nature’s composting and reseeding and regrowth so too does the Kingdom of God. Like a river flowing to the sea, God is working God’s purpose out, as we partner in its course. While we may gain great joy from the building or the harvesting, they neither happen without the other processes.

Constant vigilance results in the wise use of our time and energy. Going through the motions of church without commitment to outcomes is not productive. Jeremiah’s call to be a prophet came at a time when the Israelites needed to hear such a message. All people of faith need to hear this message. Our worship and service done without our hearts and minds fully engaged are indeed as Paul described in 1st Corinthians 13:1-3

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Prayer: God of Mercy, enable our loving so that we may further 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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

What’s a King?

Palm treeLent
March 19, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 19:28-40

As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,
‘Blessed is the king
   who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
   and glory in the highest heaven!’ –Luke 19:37-38

Luke once again takes us back to Psalm 118 as he describes the adoration of Jesus entering Jerusalem with the words of celebration from the enthronement of a king in Hebrew history. In this 21st century the role of King has changed markedly in those countries that still use the title. They are more often ambassadors of goodwill or heads of state who oversee the work of an elected legislative body or what we now call a dictator. Because of this paradigm shift in the roles of leadership over the centuries, we are left somewhat befuddled trying to make sense of Jesus as King. I think we are much more comfortable with the term Savior for that is what the people wanted in a world held in oppression by the Roman conquerors.

At some point in time there was another shift, one that personalized the Savior aspect of Jesus’ work to the individual. While there is no more important relationship in my life than my relationship with God through Jesus Christ and I am sure that is true of all of his followers, we limit his purpose markedly when we limit him to our personal salvation. Jesus’ incarnation relates to justice for everyone. Such justice can build from each of Jesus’ followers truly doing justice as partners in the creation of a world where all are freed from both personal and societal oppression.

Prayer: Lord, hone us as tools for planting and growing your justice throughout the world. 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.