Tag Archives: Purpose

Finding the Spirit

Living in the Spirit
July 23, 2018

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 11:1-15

In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him; they ravaged the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

 It happened, late one afternoon, when David rose from his couch and was walking about on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful. David sent someone to inquire about the woman. It was reported, ‘This is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.’ So David sent messengers to fetch her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she was purifying herself after her period.) Then she returned to her house. The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, ‘I am pregnant.’ –2 Samuel 11:1-5

I guess David finally reached a point of being what I call full of himself. He had indeed accomplished much as a general and as a King. Apparently, even the battlefield was boring to him. What is a king to do who has everything except take something that is not his? It is called privilege, we are all capable of practicing it, and it is insidious because we are blind to it. We live in denial when and if it is brought to our attention.

Having worked for 35 years for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, I was often accosted by people including relatives who told me everything there was to know about people in poverty describing them all as being lazy and having babies all the time probably not knowing who the fathers were, living off the righteous person’s hard-earned tax dollars that paid for the welfare and food stamps of those living in poverty. I gave up early in my career trying to share my experiences. These people were not open to listening. What I originally tried to tell them was that people in all walks of life are basically the same. As the movie title suggest there are the good, the bad, and the ugly. None are ever fully one of these. How we treat each other often shapes what others become.

When we suffer times of restlessness, not knowing what to do with ourselves, perhaps seeking new meaning for our lives, we need first to recognize our restlessness. We are most vulnerable as David was at such a time. Has a major life change occurred? Have we obtained a long-sought goal and don’t quite know what to do with ourselves? While evil may lurk about in such a time as these so does the Holy Spirit. Who knows what wonders the Spirit might have in mind for us if we seek the Spirit’s guidance.

Prayer: Lord, help us fill the tug of the Spirit when we are restless and bored. Protect us from evil and guide us to new ventures in your service. 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.

Abide in Christ

 Eastertide
April 29, 2018

Scripture Reading: John 15:1-8

‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

 One year when I was a child on the farm, we grew the most beautiful potato plants. We had had a lot of rain and the plants grew tall with rich green leaves and lots of little flowers. My mother was not happy with these plants at all. Their job was to produce potatoes for us to eat that grow below the ground not create pretty, little bushes we could enjoy for a few days. She was right. When the time came for the harvest these plants either grew no potatoes or only produced small ones.

Identifying purpose is important. It helps establish where limited resources should be targeted, it saves precious time often wasted. What is our primary purpose as followers of Christ? Jesus gave us the answer by saying we are to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. Those two tasks should keep us busy through eternity. God created us as interdependent beings. None of us can do everything; all of us can do something to contribute to a world ruled by love.

I never quite know how to understand the phrase ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. I am not sure everything I wish for is good for me or for anybody else. We cannot separate this phrase from the whole sentence which begins, If you abide in me, and my words abide in you. Relationship with Christ matters as does not only being a student of his words but living his words.

Prayer: God of All, care for me in any way necessary to help me bear fruit toward the coming of a world ruled by love. 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.

Judgement

Eastertide
May 5, 2017

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25

Green leaves and sun light

‘He committed no sin,
   and no deceit was found in his mouth.’
When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. –1 Peter 2:22-25

I believe in the need for judgement but I am not sure what that means. It is important for me to hold myself accountable for what I commit to do. It is also crucial that I identify correct priorities, actions, and behaviors. I wonder if people can be objective, or if it is even necessary to be objective, about the decisions we make regarding our call and our response. The test of time tells me that my instincts are usually right and I still shy away from following them. How does one get past oneself to attain the ability to entrust [oneself] to the one who judges justly? How did the disciples encounter and suffer from constant abuse and not take that as a sign to give up their mission?

Jesus Christ is a just judge. His decisions are always fair. Christ’s judgement regarding our ways of doing and being is the only one that matters. When we examine ourselves in concert with Christ we can be assured that his justice is the right justice. Now granted, I have wrestled long and hard with Christ as I try to comprehend his way, his truth, and his life and as I try to emulate him. I have found over the years that it is better to deal with life’s challenges adjusting along the way trying to stay in sync with God as best I can. My hope is if I do that consistently, judgement, whatever that means, will take care of itself.

Prayer:
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
   test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me,
   and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
   and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
   and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
   and sustain in me a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:10-12)
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

Priorities

angel-appears-to-josephAdvent
December 17, 2016

Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25

But just when [Joseph] had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’–Matthew 1:20-21

We really have no idea how old Joseph was. He possibly was many years older than Mary. He apparently died sometime between the trip to the temple when Jesus was twelve and the beginning of Jesus public ministry. At least he is never mentioned after the trip. Having made the decision to undo his betrothal to Mary, Joseph is brought up to speed with what is really going on by an angel, no less. It is hard to image being in the predicament this couple faced, trying times.

When we consider what some people are dealing with around the world today, it is interesting how bent out of shape we can become over small things. I had a well mapped out Christmas shopping trip one day this week. I was going to Barnes and Noble then to Bath and Body Works and end up a Cabela’s. I knew exactly what I was going to get at each place. Did not think it would take more than an hour. Had to wait in line for a while at Barnes and Noble, got into a terrible traffic jam heading toward Bath and Body Works, stood in an even longer line there. While in that line I decided, I was going straight home on back roads if necessary. I got home in time to watch the noon news reporting on the citizens of Aleppo once again not being rescued from the devastation there.

I enjoy buying gifts for family and friends but that is not the priority at this season. Preparing ourselves for the coming of Christ into our lives is our primary tasks during Advent. Jesus came to save us. Perhaps the primary thing some of us need is to be saved from ourselves.

Take a few minutes to consider where your priorities are in life. Do you need to reorganize them?

Prayer: God of Mercy and Justice, order our lives to put us in sync with your priorities. 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.

Help Wanted

quote-costly-grace-is-the-treasure-hidden-in-the-field-for-the-sake-of-it-a-man-will-gladly-go-and-sell-dietrich-bonhoeffer-212186Living in the Spirit
June 19, 2015

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. – 2 Corinthians 6:3-10

Help wanted: We are looking for a few select people who possess purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God which at all times manifests itself in righteousness.  Persons applying must possess great endurance as the job may entail afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger. All interested applicants please contact your local church.

I laugh sometimes when I hear the TV advertisements for drugs. They usually illustrate the ads with idyllic scenes of attractive, healthy people enjoying life at its fullness as the voice over disclosures sound out a horrifying list of side effects often ending in the possibility of death. Perhaps the pharmaceutical companies used Paul’s letter to the Corinthians as their template. If Paul is using his personal experience as encouragement to sign up for the life of Christ, it might give some reason for pause.

The real question in any task we undertake comes down to: Is the end result worth the investment of our time, energy, hardships, and even death? Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven is worth everything and gave his life in pursuit of realizing the Kingdom.  So did Paul.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:44-45)

Prayer: Lord, we long for your kingdom of justice and love. Equip us for the journey as we work toward its fulfillment. 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.

 

Purpose

Purpose2Lent
March 26, 2015

Scripture Reading: Mark 11:1-11

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.” ’ — Mark 11:1-3

These verses have always make me think that a lot of thought and planning had gone into this trip. While Jesus appears to do random acts of kindness throughout his ministry, there is an undercurrent of purpose in each step he takes.

I coordinated planning for a large multi-functional human service agency for several years. What I learned in that time is that nothing ever goes exactly as planned and rarely are purposes met that are not planned. Most of our lives are spent doing what we might consider mundane, routine tasks that add up eventually to homes being purchased, children going to college, and ultimately, for example, cures for dread diseases being discovered.

Jesus’ purpose, I believe, was to initiate the Kingdom of God throughout the earth. There may have been several course corrections on his path to Jerusalem that day and even more to come over the next several days but he never wavered from his purpose.

We as his followers are the heirs to his plan. We share the same purpose: Loving our way toward the end that the Kingdom of God is actualized throughout the world. Let it be so.

Prayer: Lord, nurture us to love as you loved, open our hearts to your plan, and our brains and backs to your work. 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.

Bread of the World

Bread of life 2Lent
February 28, 2015

Scripture Reading: Mark 8:31-38

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? — Mark 8:34-36

Five years ago, I finally faced the question that had been hanging over my head for probably 20 years: “Do I eat to live or do I live to eat?” It is a tough question. Eating is such an integral part of our social structure, often the center of hospitality. Sharing the symbolism of a meal is actually the central point of Christian worship. Bread is called the staff of life. However, when food, or anything else, becomes our end rather than our means to an end it is as lethal as any weapon.

This is essentially what Jesus is describing in our scripture today. Anytime we invest our energy, efforts, and resources in random targets of self-satisfaction with no purpose, we are wasting ourselves and perhaps more importantly, damaging the synergy that results from the equitable investment of all God’s children in building a better world.

I still eat. In all honesty I actually enjoy my food more now than I did then, probably because I am no longer trying to meet a need with the wrong resource. Jesus called us to partner with him toward the rule of love in our world. Now that is a purpose worth pursuing with all our hearts, minds, strength, and souls.

Prayer:
Bread of the world in mercy broken,
wine of the soul in mercy shed,
by whom the words of life were spoken,
and in whose death our sins are dead:  

Look on the heart by sorrow broken,
look on the tears by sinners shed;
and be thy feast to us the token
that by thy grace our souls are fed.* Amen.

*Bread of the Word by Reginald Heber see at: http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh624.sht
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.

Purpose

Eagle's WingsEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
February 3, 2015

 Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:21-31

He gives power to the faint,
   and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
   and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
   they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
   they shall walk and not faint.  — Isaiah 40:29-31

God created each and every one of us with purpose. In many instances, I have not understood my purpose in life situations until I viewed them from the wisdom of hindsight. At some point, I let go and decided to live in faith that I did not necessarily have to understand what each of my purpose moments were. In all honesty, some of each of our most mundane actions may have been the most important thing we ever accomplished.

Several years ago I received a telephone call from a person I once supervised. I had lost track of her over time, and was pleased when I heard her voice on the phone. She was one of the best administrative assistant I had ever had. I could hear the anxiety in her voice as she began to speak when she explained that she had called to apologize to me for the way she had treated me when I had never been anything but good to her. I truly did not know what she was talking about. She was reserved, but she had never been anything but polite and respectful to me. I told her exactly that and I told her how much I appreciated her hard work and attention to detail. I could almost feel through the telephone line the weight lifted from her very being. I do not know what precipitated the call, I do know that she needed the affirmation I was able to provide. It was a purpose moment.

God is calling us to satisfy our purposes. They give meaning to our lives. When we are fulfilling our purposes, we experience great joy and fulfillment. It doesn’t matter how tired or frustrated we get, when fulfilling our purposes we are able to  mount up with wings like eagles, … run and not be weary, …walk and not faint, because God hardwired us to know God’s joy and because God is with us in every flap of our wings.

Prayer: Gracious God, we thank you for purpose and for sustaining us through joy and love. 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.

 

Saved for What?

Living in the Spirit
August 7, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Romans 10:5-15

 Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them.’ …because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ — Romans 10:5, 9-13

I am thankful for people like N. T. Wright* who help me understand where I have landed when I jump right into the middle of a scripture that deals with issues of the first century. Particularly how those issues relate to the history of God recorded in the Hebrew Bible to which Paul often turns as he does in this scripture today. This background is crucial to our understanding, but since my purpose in writing these daily devotions is to draw attention to wholeness, oneness, and justice, I ask your indulgence, if I head immediately in toward those subjects and recommend further study regarding the wealth of learning that can be excised from this scripture as you will find in the citation below regarding The New Interpreter’s Bible.

The word “saved” translated from the Greek may have a different connotation than our use of the word today would suggest.  Merriam-Webster Dictionary suggests “hoarded” as a synonym for the word “saved”.  Somehow, “hoarded” does not seem remotely connected with Jesus’ intentions, although it may be the way we sometimes live out our faith. I am reminded of the parable of the rich fool who built bigger barns to store his abundance. (Luke 12:13-21) The Greek suggest that saved has the connotation to deliver out of danger and into safety; used principally of God rescuing believers from the penalty and power of sin – and into His provisions (safety).**

If God is not a hoarder, than surely God has some purpose in delivering us out of danger and rescuing us from the power of sin. Our primary purpose is to love God and to love one another to the extent that we become one together in a just world. We have been saved to make that happen.

Prayer: Give me the courage and the wisdom in joining with each of your other servants in loving myself and each of your other children into wholeness, oneness, and justice. Amen.

*The New Interpreter’s Bible in Twelve Volumes, Volume X, The Letter to the Romans, Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections by N. T. Wright. Abingdon Press, 2002.
**From Strong’s Concordance at http://biblehub.com/greek/4982.htm
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.