Tag Archives: Power of God

Motivation

Kingdom Building

September 8, 2019

Scripture Reading: Luke 14:25-33

Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions. –Luke 14:31-33

My Bible study group is studying 1 Samuel and this week we are reading chapter 24. As the story goes Saul is pursuing David with an army of 3,000 to kill him while David is working hard to avoid Saul with a ragtag group of 600 men. As in turns out, David and some of his men hid in an apparently deep cave which Saul enters to gain some privacy as he defecates. He apparently was unaware of the audience he had behind him. David’s group wants David to kill Saul but David refuses. He does sneak up and stealthily cut off part of Saul’s royal robe. Saul then exits the cave and David follows Saul out to let him know that he had been in danger and David chose not to take advantage of his vulnerability. Saul is impressed and for a moment, only a moment he seems rational and recognizes that David will take Saul’s throne. The coincidence of my study material and our scripture for today made me wonder if Jesus remembered this story of David and Saul when he taught the lesson about being willing to give up everything for God.

The scripture above bothers me because it seems a little overcautious until at the end Jesus drops in that phrase if you do not give up all your possessions. I describe it as overcautious in the beginning because how many times have well trained, large armies been beaten by small and less equipped groups with more motivation. The American Revolution comes to mind.

The scripture is relevant today and the message it sends is crucial, our world is caught in real wars but perhaps more dangerous wars of money and power against the common good. Do we recognize the power we have in Jesus Christ to do the right thing against these odds, to do justice?

Prayer: God of Might, cleanse us so our hearts and minds are in sync with you, then send us forth to protect and provide for the common good. 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.

Prosper Our Work

Living in the Spirit
October 25, 2017

Scripture Reading: Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17

Turn, O Lord! How long?
   Have compassion on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
   so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
   and for as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be manifest to your servants,
   and your glorious power to their children.
   and prosper for us the work of our hands—
   O prosper the work of our hands! –Psalm:13-17

“It’s a God thing” is a phrase often used to describe what some would call a coincidence that has a divine conclusion. In a world seemingly in a downward spiral, we hunger for a glimpse of God at work saving us from ourselves as well as from the perils that surround us.

God’s presence manifests most often when God’s people are doing God’s work. Moses leads the Israelites from Egypt. Elijah takes on Ahab and Jezebel. John baptizes Jesus. The tomb is empty, and a new dawn arises. Jesus’ disciples huddled together in grief decide it is time to get on about the business of building the world Jesus envisioned and they experience violent winds and tongues of fire to empower and shepherd them on their journey.

God meets us on our paths to justice and peace. My grade school playground had a merry-go-round that was low to the ground and divided into equal segments by metal tubes that rose from the outer sides and connected in the middle. Each child would grab one of the metal tubes, and we would run as fast as we could to get it started and then jump on for the ride. Smaller children got on at the start; the runners worked together to maintain a constant speed until all were riding.  I think God manifests God’s presence most often when we commit full steam ahead to work in God’s service and join God who adds power to the ride.

Prayer: Let your work be manifest to your servants.
             and your glorious power to their children.
            and prosper for us the work of our hands—
           O prosper the work of our hands!  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.