Tag Archives: Righteousness

God’s Presence

Presence of GodLiving in the Spirit
Light a Candle for Children
October 13, 2014

Scripture Reading: Exodus 33:12-23

 Moses said to the Lord, ‘See, you have said to me, “Bring up this people”; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, “I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.” Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.’ He said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ And he said to him, ‘If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.’ — Exodus 33:12-16

In recent years, I have become very aware of the need to recognize God’s presence in my life and in the life of the community of faith in which I participate. God’s company is not something we should take for granted. God has chosen to make God’s presence known to us. Think about how very hard it is to be fully present to another. We should never take this gift lightly.

This segment of scripture today follows the story of Moses’ receiving the tablets of the covenant on the mountain. As he carried them down the mountain he began to hear the singing and dancing of the people as they worshiped their golden calf. Moses’ anger burned and he threw the tablets to the ground and broke them. Without Moses, the people had lost faith in the presence of God. Our scripture today reflects his frustration and his angst. Was God still with them?

Ever been there? I find myself in that spot regularly as I see the dumb things we humans do to skirt real problems when in the back of our minds we know what is just and what is right. Such knowing is imbedded in our DNA. An old hymn may say it best. You may remember it in a more modern version from Godspell:

Turn back, O man, forswear thy foolish ways.
 old now is earth, and none may count her days.
 yet thou, her child, whose head is crowned with flame,
 still wilt not hear thine inner God proclaim,
 “Turn back, O man, forswear thy foolish ways.”

  Earth might be fair and all men glad and wise.
 age after age their tragic empires rise,
 built while they dream, and in that dreaming weep:
 would man but wake from out his haunted sleep,
 earth might be fair and all men glad and wise. 

 Earth shall be fair, and all her people one:
 nor till that hour shall God’s whole will be done.
 Now, even now, once more from earth to sky,
 peals forth in joy man’s old undaunted cry:
 “Earth shall be fair and all her folk be one!”*

Oklahoma Fact: 12% of Children live in areas of concentrated poverty**

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for your presence. Write on our hearts your justice and your righteousness so that we turn around and forever be fully present to you and your will. Amen.

*Words by Clifford Bax, 1919

**http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/6795-children-living-in-areas-of-concentrated-poverty?loc=38&loct=2#detailed/2/38/false/1201,1074,880,11/any/13891,13892

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.

Give Praise

Putnam Heights ElementaryLiving in the Spirit
Light a Candle for Children
October 8, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23

 Praise the Lord!
   O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
   for his steadfast love endures for ever.
Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord,
   or declare all his praise?
Happy are those who observe justice,
   who do righteousness at all times. — Psalm 106:1-3

What makes you happy? I was surprised at the amount of joy I experienced recently when I read the morning paper. Now, the morning paper is most often a source of prayer for me regarding the bad things that happen in our world. But on that day the first thing I read was that the public school my church adopted almost ten years ago now, improved from a grade of “F” in its annual evaluation to a grade of “C” this year. Now I am not heavy into this testing process and it has been highly criticized, but as bad as it is, it apparently does measure change from one year to the next. These elementary students and their families face multiple challenges: 97% qualify for free and reduced lunches. We packed numerous backpacks for children at this school with food from the Regional Food Bank for them to take home on Friday so that they will have food to eat over the weekend. 17% of the children are English as a second language learners. The mobility of students in an out of this school is astounding to me. I went to the same school from first grade through graduation. These children may change schools two or three times in a school year.

I think it is fair to say that my church contributed in some small way to this success as do the other churches that work with them but most of the gain can be attributed to the Principal and the wonderful cadre of teachers and counselors. Also I give credit to the people of Oklahoma City who voted a few years ago to raise taxes so that every school in Oklahoma City could either be replaced or get a major facelift. This school is now getting its “facelift” and it matters. Our sense of justice and righteousness should be reflected in how we vote.

So today, let us give praise for we have observed justice and righteousness in our time.

Oklahoma Fact: From 2010 -2012, 7.1% of Children missed 11 or more days of school per year due to illness or injury

Prayer: Lord, we praise you for your steadfast love and we ask that you embolden us to love like you do as you guide us in doing justice and righteousness. Amen.

* http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/5202-children-who-missed-11-or-more-days-of-school-per-year-due-to-illness-or-injury?loc=38&loct=2#detailed/2/38/false/1021,18,14/691,30,18/11683

 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.

 

Righteousness

Living in the Spirit
July 30, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Psalm 17:1-7, 15

 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
   when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness. —17:15

Does the word “justice” pop into your mind when you read the word “righteousness”. As with many words in any language, time and application subtly change the understanding of what a word really means. I think many short cut self-righteousness to righteousness thus making the word a negative.

The Biblical use of the word “righteousness” has to do with justice. Righteousness is something that is accurate and just. I am afraid the questions that righteousness raise in our society get lost in the cacophony of voices trying to own its meaning. What is right? What is just? What is accurate?

Isaiah uses the illustration of a plump line to describe righteousness—God’s plumb line.  We humans, I fear, are drawn to use our own measure of what is right and what is just and even what is accurate. We can conjure up studies done by “reputable” scholars who can prove just about anything for the right amount of money or to prove their and our ideologies. We quote scripture that supports our ideas of truth while ignoring vast sections of scripture that challenge us to a better way. We spend an inordinate amount of time and energy defining what is right or just for others, but fail to do the introspection necessary to determine whether that very act of passing judgment is right or just.

The Psalmist calls us to wake up to God’s righteousness and hold our perception of what is right and just and accurate up next to God’s plumb line of justice and righteousness until our perceptions are like God’s. 

Prayer: Let me see and understand your plumb line of justice and then guide me as I line up with your way, your truth, and your life. 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.